EN robotics team demonstrates real-world learning | News Sun
KENDALLVILLE — “Sir Camelot,” a robot designed, built and operated by East Noble High School’s First Robotics Team 8103, showed off its capabilities in a May 3 demonstration at the Community Learning Center for local business and industry leaders.
First Robotics Competition teams design, program and build industrial-size robots according to a strict set of rules and limited time and resources in a real-world engineering project.
Knight Team 8103 members are Benjamin Barker, Braden Golsnerry. Eduarado Gonzalez, Zackery Leichty, Anabel Martin, Bryce Millhouse, Mason Monahan, Jared Price, Kian Ross, Reese Rouch, Joseph Savage, Owen Tackett, Sean Valles, Gunner Willey, Warren Ritchie, Carter McKinley and Ailey Odem.
Mentors are Collin Haynes and Tucker Martin. The team is coached by Shawn Kimmel, the Project Lead The Way engineering and physics teacher at East Noble High School, and Jo Smith, the East Noble Middle School Teacher of the Year.
Sir Camelot is named after one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. The student team members had to design, fabricate and build the robot from scratch to compete in several robotics competitions. The robot is about 3 feet square, very heavy, and designed to pick up a hoop from the floor and launch it toward the target.
The Knight 8103 team painted Sir Camelot in East Noble’s blue and gold school colors to make it stand out on the competition floor.
Sir Camelot performed well this season. Team 8103 finished in third place at the Mishawaka Competition with a state ranking of fifth. At the Columbus Competition, the team finished in 10th place with a state ranking of 17th.
Sir Camelot had its best performance at the Indiana state competition, with the team finishing in fifth place with a state ranking of 14th.
Team members put together a highlight video and slide show to open the demonstration. Team coach Kimmel said the Knight robotics program started in 2020 with a budget of $9,000, which had to cover the cost of the robot, competition fees and lodging for the team.
“We had six in the first class and we had no experience,” Kimmel said.
The team, participated in a video competition in 2021 during the pandemic. By 2023, all of the original team members had graduated.
In the years since, Kimmel said the team has improved with more experience and more guidance from former team members, now in college, returning to mentor the current team members. The team absorbed knowledge by talking with others, and are now viewed as true state competitors who are sought out by other teams for mentoring.
It’s an all-new group of students in 2024. Kimmel said robotics has guided students into thinking about careers in engineering. This year’s senior members are considering Trine University, Marian University Rose-Hulman Institute and Southern Indiana University as places to further their education.
Robots can cost as much as $10,000 to $15,000. Team members have to learn coding to program the robot, and fabricate or order parts for the design-and-build. They learn to design and assemble the electrical system and use impact and other tools
Team 8103’s future goals include forming a second robotics team and increasing the program budget to $50,000 through donations, more sponsorships and fundraising. The program also needs new computers. East Noble School Corporation is providing a second classroom to expand the robotics program but does not provide any funding.
Donations are gratefully accepted for the program, and sponsors are welcome. A golf outing on Saturday, Aug 31, at Noble Hawk Golf Links will help the robotics program raise funds for its budget. Sponsorship levels for the outing are: Blue Knight, $1,000; Gold Knight, $550; Black Knight, $450; and White Knight, $150.
Each sponsorship level includes the registration for a team of four golfers for 18 holes, and recognition in several ways. Contact Kimmel at skimmel@eastnoble.net for sponsorship information or golf outing registration form.
