News
July 2008
M-A Robotics is a team of high school students who participate in the annual FIRST robotics competiions held in late February and March. The team is based at Menlo-Atherton High School, Atherton, California, and usually consists of 20-30 students. Each year, with the help of professional engineering mentors, the team designs and builds a 5-foot robot that can competitively play the "game" specified by the FIRST organization. The team also participates in outreach events, giving younger students opportunities to see and sometimes even drive a robot.
The team provides a great opportunity to learn about technology and engineering, but it also provides an opportunity simply to be involved in something hands-on and team-oriented. There is a wide variety of ways to be involved: from using power tools to creating animations, from programming to working on publicity. NO EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED, all you need is interest and a willingness to learn.
For more information about any aspect of the team (how to join, how to support the team, etc.), contact info@marobotics.org.
Who We Are
M-A Robotics is a team of high school students who participate in the annual FIRST robotics competiions held in late February and March. The team is based at Menlo-Atherton High School, Atherton, California, and usually consists of 20-30 students. Each year, with the help of professional engineering mentors, the team designs and builds a 5-foot robot that can competitively play the "game" specified by the FIRST organization. The team also participates in outreach events, giving younger students opportunities to see and sometimes even drive a robot.
The team provides a great opportunity to learn about technology and engineering, but it also provides an opportunity simply to be involved in something hands-on and team-oriented. There is a wide variety of ways to be involved: from using power tools to creating animations, from programming to working on publicity. NO EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED, all you need is interest and a willingness to learn.
For more information about any aspect of the team (how to join, how to support the team, etc.), contact info@marobotics.org.
Mar 21, 2008
Our robot performed very well at Davis, ending up as the 6th seeded robot after qualification matches, and making it into the semi-finals. We also won a Judges' Award on Friday.
Here's what the judges had to say: "This team struck an impressive balance between team engagement and strong technical success. The robot featured an elegantly designed elevator that proved to be effective in play. They didn't need to be spoon fed ideas. Just a great team to recognize. "Blamo" they are our winners of the Judges Award. The Judges Award for Doing Things Right is presented to Team #766"
766 Wins Judges' Award at Davis
Our robot performed very well at Davis, ending up as the 6th seeded robot after qualification matches, and making it into the semi-finals. We also won a Judges' Award on Friday.
Here's what the judges had to say: "This team struck an impressive balance between team engagement and strong technical success. The robot featured an elegantly designed elevator that proved to be effective in play. They didn't need to be spoon fed ideas. Just a great team to recognize. "Blamo" they are our winners of the Judges Award. The Judges Award for Doing Things Right is presented to Team #766"
Oct 8, 2007
Team 766 participated in the CalGames off-season FIRST event last Saturday at Woodside High School. We did well, placing 10th in the qualifying rounds and advancing as far as the quarterfinals. During matches, we took video from the robot, using a small, solid-state consumer video camera. These videos are currently being hosted offsite at Vimeo.com and are available here. Enjoy the ride!
Robot Videos from CalGames
Team 766 participated in the CalGames off-season FIRST event last Saturday at Woodside High School. We did well, placing 10th in the qualifying rounds and advancing as far as the quarterfinals. During matches, we took video from the robot, using a small, solid-state consumer video camera. These videos are currently being hosted offsite at Vimeo.com and are available here. Enjoy the ride!
Aug 16, 2007
Today marked the completion of this summer's main robotics project: the creation of a new shooter for the 2006 robot to replace an older version that had broken down during outreach in the spring. This is actually the third shooter to be installed on that robot; the full history is available at the Robots page. We replaced two Globe motors driving problematic BaneBots gearboxes with two small CIMs (which are larger and more powerful), welded on aluminum mounting pieces to support the new motors, and swapped #35 chain and sprockets for the lighter #25 chain. Photos and a movie of the shooter in action are available on the Multimedia page. Thanks to everyone who made this possible!
New Shooter Project Completed
Today marked the completion of this summer's main robotics project: the creation of a new shooter for the 2006 robot to replace an older version that had broken down during outreach in the spring. This is actually the third shooter to be installed on that robot; the full history is available at the Robots page. We replaced two Globe motors driving problematic BaneBots gearboxes with two small CIMs (which are larger and more powerful), welded on aluminum mounting pieces to support the new motors, and swapped #35 chain and sprockets for the lighter #25 chain. Photos and a movie of the shooter in action are available on the Multimedia page. Thanks to everyone who made this possible!
Jul 6, 2007
New Resources Section
The website now features a resources page, available here. This page lists material useful to team members and interested third parties. Currently the only available resources are sample programs from the C programming class, but we hope to add more soon.
Jun 3, 2007
Website Transition in Progress
With the end of this school year, the M-A Robotics website will be switching to a new webmaster. Many thanks to Oliver for his hard work on the website over the past several years! As part of the transition process, certain areas of the site may not be immediately operational; every effort will be made to bring things into working order within a week or two.
Mar 21, 2007
A huge thanks to alliance partners Athenian Robotics (852) and Franklin High School (488), we really took it to em!
The Silicon Valley regional was exciting and worthwhile, even though we were beaten in the last elimination round. We were the #1 seeded team for most of Friday, but by the choosing we had moved to number 8th. However, our alliance perservered until we were finally beaten in the last round.
Second Place at Silicon Valley!
A huge thanks to alliance partners Athenian Robotics (852) and Franklin High School (488), we really took it to em!
The Silicon Valley regional was exciting and worthwhile, even though we were beaten in the last elimination round. We were the #1 seeded team for most of Friday, but by the choosing we had moved to number 8th. However, our alliance perservered until we were finally beaten in the last round.
Feb 21, 2007
The robot has been shipped, and as of the last build day all systems are functioning but for the ramp and the wrist. The robot, dubbed "mabear," was a complex and gratifying build, and it will not fail to impress at competition. This date also marks the launch of the Robots Page, dedicated to chronicling past Menlo-Atherton Robotics designs and accomplishments.
Robot is done
The robot has been shipped, and as of the last build day all systems are functioning but for the ramp and the wrist. The robot, dubbed "mabear," was a complex and gratifying build, and it will not fail to impress at competition. This date also marks the launch of the Robots Page, dedicated to chronicling past Menlo-Atherton Robotics designs and accomplishments.
Jan 6, 2007
We look forward to seeing you all at the regionals.
Old News
KICKOFF!
Today marked the 2007 F.I.R.S.T. kickoff. Team members attended a joint kickoff session with Woodside High School (100) and Sacred Heart (2166). The game involves innertubes being placed on 24 prongs sticking out of a cylinder in the center of the field. Like, the 2005 game, more points are scored if the tubes are in long rows or columns, and bonus points may be scored for having the robot high on the ramp at the end of the match. This year is more interesting because there are now classes of robots- sacrificing height for weight or vice versa and plenty of opportunities to turn games around. The joint kickoff was followed by presentations of robot designs, and the abundance of ideas made it clear that while the season is just beginning we will not have the design troubles of last year's robot.We look forward to seeing you all at the regionals.
