Robot Buys Drink: Customer Happy

Over the past weekend Oakville Trafalgar students and the robot participated in a robotics demonstration at the Ontario Science Centre. Along with students from teams 1114 (Governor Simcoe Robotics) and 2056 (Orchard Park Robotics), OT students demonstrated their robot to visitors as part of the Robots Rule Weekend. Fred, Team 1334's robot, amazed crowds during this event, and even bought students drinks from the food stand. Lego and Vex robotic demonstrations as well as the Canadian National Robotics Games were part of the weekend activies. The event was an outstanding success, and helped to introduce the excitement of FIRST Robotics to everyone who attended.

Leadership Mini-retreat

Recently team 1334 was proud to be chosen by FIRST as a Beta test team for FIRST's new programming platform. We learned the new language, then had to share the information with other Ontario FIRST teams. We chose to share the information by way of a "retreat" at the school Saturday, November 14th. In addition to an excellent workshop given by 1334's student programmer Eric Atkinson, a workshop on team promotion was given by Ed Thompson of AbsoluteMotivation.com and Solid works was demonstrated by Chuck Woods. Concurrently, a Lego Practice tournament was held in the atrium, which attracted alot of attention from the public who were there for a volleyball tournament.

Click here for more information and material on the Team 1334 Beta Test

Red Devils Aim High

The Oakville Trafalgar Robotics team is starting another season with big plans, big hopes and big robots. The team is part of the FIRST organization, and participates in robotics competitions while volunteering in the community. Hoping to build on their performances last year that qualified them for the international championships in Atlanta, Georgia last year, the team has sprung into action early in the school year. Students are already mentoring students in LEGO robotics at schools and libraries across the town, and planning for regional and provincial tournaments is already under way.

Meanwhile the team was also offered a tour of the Hydroform factory in Brampton, where students were able to see first hand what robotics can do. New students are also being shown the ropes and are practicing using the shop's machinery and the various programs on the computers. Thanks to our strong performance last year the FIRST organization has also selected our team to beta test new programs and components for this year's competition. The team's robot, FRED, was showcased at the recent Twilight on the Lake event to give the OT parent community a feel for the high-tech capabilities of this award winning school team. The team has lofty ambitions this year and requires sponsorship. If you know of an employer who can help with a tax-deductible donation, please refer them to: www.othsrobotics.ca