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The Rutland Area Robotics’ IBOTS FRC team 2370 gathered for a group photo at the New England District Championships April 4-6. The team was honored for three impressive accomplishments.
A collection of successful scoring opportunities has propelled Rutland Area Robotics’ IBOTS FRC team 2370 to a return to the FIRST® Championship in Houston mid-April.
Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST® is a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of life-changing youth robotics programs that build skills, confidence, and resilience
A total of 93 New England based teams came together at the Big E fairgrounds in Springfield, Massachusetts, from April 4-6 to compete in the New England District Championships. The IBOTS met three major achievements, each helping to propel them to Houston April 17-20.
Three specific accomplishments led to the IBOTS qualifying to represent Vermont at the 2024 FIRST® Championship, where teams from around the world will gather in Houston to compete.
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Above: The Impact Team 2024 (l-r): Finian Smathers, Emma Cosgrove, Agatha Hopkins, Mia Jepson. Below: 2370 IBOTS on the move during competition.
Dan Roswell, Rutland Area Robotics president and lead mentor said, “We are very proud to announce that Finian Smathers has been awarded the New England District Dean’s List Award for his dedication and leadership as an outstanding secondary school student, both for his personal and FIRST® related accomplishments. Finn is a model for humble excellence and will now compete with his counterparts from around the World.”
Secondly, the IBOTS Impact team of Emma Cosgrove, Agatha Hopkins, Mia Jepson and Finian Smathers succeeded in guiding the IBOTS to receiving the District FIRST® Impact Award. FIRST® describes the award as, “the most prestigious award at FIRST®, it honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST®. It was created to keep the central focus of FIRST® Robotics Competition on the ultimate goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels and respect and honor for science and technology as well as encouraging more of today’s youth to become science and technology leaders.”
The final point generating qualifier was the exemplary performance of the IBOTS robot. The IBOTS drive team accomplished each required mission using an autonomous and human driven robot named Tempo. Tempo was fabricated by the Rutland County area high-school team members. Specialized computer code helped to guide performance with points generated on a playing field of challenging actions, requiring tactical maneuverability, mechanical scoring, and ability to climb. High scoring matches resulted in the IBOTS making it to the final match of the semi-finals round where they performed to the high standards expected of world-class competition.
Roswell lauded the hard work of IBOTS team members and commended the many mentors, sponsors, and parents, all of whom have created an atmosphere for success. “We are ready and excited to be moving on to the championship. We are honored to be representing Vermont,” he said.
