Clarion Area robotics team ready to win BEST

Hundreds of students, family and friends will cheer on their home teams from approximately 15 different schools in a battle of robot against robot. Don’t forget ear plugs on game day, spirit and sportsmanship are also an important part of the competition.

Started by a few engineers from Texas Instruments in 1993, BEST “inspires students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology, and business through participation in a sports-like, hands-on, real-world engineering-based robotics competition.”

The BEST competition has a new educational challenge every year with this year’s theme is “Made 2 Order,” focusing on improving the supply chain.

Working with the industry theme, the Clarion team chose its project name as “Overhaul,” defined as “a thorough examination of machinery or a system, with repairs or changes made if necessary.”

Keeping with the global world challenge theme, Clarion chose the current shipping crisis as its focus.

From the kick off day in September to the day of the competition, Clarion’s robotics team meets approximately five times a week for two and a half hours each day.

Starting with same supplies, each team in the competition has to stay within the guidelines but can use their creative license to make their robots unique.

“With approximately 16 people it took about 80 hours to build (the robot),” said Gabriel Martz a junior on the engineering team.

The robot will move boxes and put in electronics to show a better way to sort items being shipped to customers from big warehouses such as Amazon.

“We are trying to show why it is more effective to use robots than humans,” said Delaney McNamara. “Trying to sell consistency. Humans can make human errors, robots have more accuracy.”

In addition to its robotics team, Clarion Area High School also has a Robotics class, which was started about four years ago and taught by Brian Burford. It was one of the first robotics classes in the area.

“It’s a very good learning opportunity for kids,” said Burford, who is also the robotics team advisor. “This (robotics team) helps kids get ready for the future. And they are a great crew to work with.”

Having the robotics class also allows them to get more done.

“Time is our biggest enemy,” said McNamara.

“During Robotics class, we get a lot of the busy jobs done, do the little changes that take time, for example sanding each (gear) tooth so they mesh better,” said Martz.

Teams also compete in several categories including, engineering notebook, marketing presentation, team exhibit, spirit and sportsmanship as well as robot performance.

The robotics team has approximately 21 active members comprised of students in grades 7 through 12 and everyone does their part.

“A big focus of marketing is outreach to the community,” McNamara added. “We are constantly showing our presence, looking to the future, and getting new members.”

Both agreed they would someday like to see a robotics team at the elementary school.

“You not only learn hands on skills but also life skills, business, teamwork and professionalism,” said Martz. “You can come here and work with your hands for the entire day and get something done, something I love to do.

“I like it so much I did my Eagle Scout project on the robotics room, completely rearranged the room.”

The project included the installation of a dust collection system, provided two new drills, and a belt sander through donations.

“I organized every inch of the room, everything was in the hallway,” said Martz. “I had a lot of help.”

Although there is stress involved in creating the best robot, finding better approaches it all gets done by competition and it gets accomplished through teamwork.

“It’s a lot of collaboration and effort, a lot of dedication,” said McNamara. “The collaboration is my favorite part. It’s so rewarding, it all comes together at the end.”

But it’s not just about working with your own teammates, other teams at the competition are willing and excited to share their ideas, how they made something work and give advice on how to change things to make it better.

Clarion utilizes a golf ball cut in half on their robot, which allows it to turn easier.

“We got that idea from another team,” said Martz. “We learn a lot from other teams.”

And it’s that collaboration that has brought them together not only as a team dreaming of winning, but also about making friends.

“I learn something new and made a lot of friends,” said McNamara.

And Martz agreed, adding, “I talk to a lot of different people I wouldn’t otherwise have known.”

Top three teams will move on to the regional competition being held this year in Denver, Colo. It’s been since 2017 since the team as advanced and the team is feeling confident in their product, despite having a lot of first year members.

Martz is feeling confident and very optimistic.

“This year is very promising,” said Martz. “We want to win — we’re out to win.”