On March 15th-18th, Watertown High School’s robotics team, The Black Magic Team 237, traveled to Western New England University to partake in a competition. They were one of 38 teams competing and ended up placing 16th out of 38. Robotics Advisor, Ms. Beres, said the team had a slow start due to mechanical issues but ended up being happy with their results. She also explained that the task for this competition involved the robots trying to grab yellow balls out of the center of the game area and shoot it back onto their side. 

The robots are controlled by video game-like controllers. Lots of technology goes into them, including radios, cameras, gyros, and computers that help access the brain of the robot. Students with the help of adults with experience, all come together to build it.

For competitions, the team travels around New England with occasional trips farther to places such as St Louis Missouri, Detroit Michigan, and can even go to championships in Texas. Robotics is more than just working with complicated tech to practice “challenges” for competitions. Robotics can build real world skills like teamwork, communication, tech related skills, and metal and woodworking skills. Robotics as a whole, is working alongside adult mentors, programming, electrical engineering, and hands-on experience you aren’t able to get in regular high school classes.