Rutland Area Robotics’ IBOTS compete in FIRST World Championships finals for first time | Local News
It has been a year of firsts for Rutland Area Robotics.
Earlier this month, RAR’s high school level robotics team, the IBOTS, competed in the FIRST World Championships Einstein finale tournament after successfully winning their individual division. Both achievements are a first for the team.
The IBOTS and their alliance of three other teams ultimately placed fourth in a field of more than 600 teams.
“We are very proud of the skills and passion that our team brought to the playing field. Our goal is to create excitement for science, technology, engineering, and math. Robotics team members are our future engineers, the people that will meet the challenges of an ever-changing demand for a highly skilled workforce, one that will drive the success of families, communities, and the economy,” stated Rutland Area Robotics President and lead mentor Dan Roswell in a press release.
This year is the third in a row the IBOTS qualified for the international competition, which took place from April 17-20 in Houston, Texas.
FIRST, also known as For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a nonprofit organization that hosts a series of robotics competitions across the globe each year, all of which require competing teams to build a robot that can accomplish several tasks in a game setting.
Margo Thompson, a Rutland High School senior and IBOTS team member, shared that her team is the first in Vermont to reach the Einstein finale tournament playing field.
Last year, her team placed 15th in their world championship division, which did not qualify them for the finals.
“If you don’t get selected, your journey ends there,” she said. “It’s a different environment when you’re in that playoff bracket. Everything gets taken up a notch. The competition is now at its max stress level. Everything’s really amped up. The crowds are going crazy. Every single match feels like the final match.”
But it wasn’t an easy road getting to the World Championships, according to Thompson. She noted that the team had to overcome setbacks and challenges throughout their FIRST journey.
Thompson said there was a moment of shock and awe when her team found out they’d be playing Einstein field, adding that even the announcer reading the names of states moving on to the finals seemed surprised when saying “Vermont” for the first time.
“It’s still unbelievable. If you think about it, a little small Vermont team (was able to) make global strides and rock the waves of the world. It’s truly crazy,” she said.
Despite the challenges, this year also marked the first that a Vermont team received the prestigious “Impact Award” while competing at the district and regional level.
The award recognizes the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST, which involves positively impacting one’s community and promoting STEM education.
In addition to the hard work of her own team, Thompson credited the alliance’s success and enjoyment to their collaboration with other teams.
“We were one big family,” Thompson said. “Not only did we have so much fun playing with teams from all over the world, but we were a part of something that felt truly special. … That’s a huge part of robotics, especially with wanting to learn and progress. If you’re not having fun while doing it, that’s going to pose a challenge.”
Both Thompson and RAR mentor Matt Riley highlighted the dedication and effort of Roswell, noting that though he doesn’t often take the spotlight, he more than deserves it.
“(This program) would not exist without him,” Riley said. “It’s Herculean. And he’s got a very special type of personality that is detail-oriented and keeps him pushing forward. Without him, the robot doesn’t get built (and) the accommodations don’t get booked. He’s got his finger in all of it.”
Though the IBOTS have wrapped up the FIRST season for now, it won’t be long until RAR is back on the field.
RAR’s FIRST Lego League team, the Robo-Rattlers, will compete at an invitation in Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 18 and 19. The IBOTS will also participate in an off-season FIRST event at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in June.
“We’re showing everyone that Vermont is very capable. We’re playing at the same caliber as everyone else. We’re truly impacting everyone, even though there’s only six (Vermont teams). We may be small, but we are mighty,” she said.
