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BUILD SEASON Week Six

student at computer working on programming code
two mentors working on robot base

Everyone was playing it cool last week, but the excitement grows as more and more progress is made on the robot!

 

 

 

 

masked student in shop wearing sunglasses

BUILD SEASON Week Five

Week five complete!

They are on to the arm building this week. High five, anyone?

student working on robot base on shop bench
two students working on robot parts on shop bench
mentors and students around shop bench in discussion
mentor and student installing platform on robot drivetrain
Two mentors and a student working on robot chassis

BUILD SEASON Week Four

This week has been busy and it’s only Tuesday!

Here’s the team working on some programming for the Autonomous phase of the match, wiring up some new batteries for the season, and one of our mentors showing a student how to use the Bridgeport.

four students in front of large monitor discussing programming code
young mentor teaching student to use the Bridgeport machine
Four students and a mentor installing wires on batteries

BUILD SEASON Week Three

students and mentor gathered around robot on shop bench
three students working on robot at shop bench
student smiling at camera
students with the robot in the gym, ready for a test run

Week three done and we are on to the testing stage. Looks like smooth rolling so far!

Two students having a conversation in the shop

BUILD SEASON Week Two

student and mentor at drill press
students working on programming or electronics at computer
close up of hands of student and mentor taking temperature of electronic component on robot

Updating & Testing & Deconstructing! Oh My!

Week Two kept us busy with testing motors, updating systems and disassembling a previous bot in order to reassemble into something new.

students working on robot
students and mentor working on drivetrain
mentor and student working on robot

BUILD SEASON Week One

meeting room of students in shop

Planning and plotting has begun!

mentor at white board pointing to notes
Seven Power Surge team students standing near the competition field at FIRST Kickoff 2023
Power Surge team seated in the audience at FIRST Kickoff 2023

A THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

“As a result of your sponsorship Team 2712, 4H Power Surge Robotics of Waterbury CT was able to travel to the FIRST Robotics 2023 Kickoff in Manchester New Hampshire, hosted by FIRST founder Dean Kamen and Southern New Hampshire University.  You can see the event here:

We were able to see Governor Chris Sununu, Senator Maggie Hassan, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Dean Kamen and celebrity and FIRST sponsor will.i.am along with representatives from HAAS and Qualcomm.  It was an exciting weekend for our students.

May we suggest that you watch the video above, and specifically the comments from Dean Kamen, starting at 24:00 or so and lasting through 35:00 or so. They are fantastic and very relevant.  Feel free to watch 35:00 and on for the Game Reveal.  Again, our kids were super excited for this.

The build season is officially underway. Our first competition is March 11/12. The kids are working 6/7 days a week to respond to this game with a championship robot.

Thank you all for your important support, you can see how much this means to the kids, to the mentors, and ultimately to the entire world.”

– Alan, a Power Surge parent

Find Jack and Hogan ready to inspect the field, in these screen shots from the Kick Off !!! >>>

Power Surge attended Kickoff in Manchester, NH,
home of FIRST HQ.

brainstorming session, student at white board

Every year at Kickoff
teams get a special
Kit of Parts (KOP)
to help start their robot build.

After watching the game reveal, discovering what is in the KOP, and reading the newly released Game Manual, the team starts brainstorming potential robot designs.

Students and Mentors around table planning robot design
Students at drawing board strategy session
Darth Ziptie robot launching game pieces in the parking lot one evening. (It can shoot quite a distance!)

“We have a team full of new members who are eager to delve into the build season.  With a fully-equipped shop and new mentors and sponsors, this season should prove to be the most ambitious so far for 2712.” – Jack

The team has been working on converting our 2020 robot, Darth Ziptie, to being remote controlled and adding an intake system. It is the perfect template for modifying and learning about competitive robots for our new students.

Kickoff is January 7, 2023

Watch the Game Reveal & Kickoff Celebration Broadcast
Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 12:00PM
on FIRSTtv on Twitch

learn more at FirstInspires.org

Kickoff in NH starburst from light in presentation room

We’re going to New Hampshire!!!

Power Surge will be attending Kickoff in Manchester, NH,
home of FIRST HQ.

“I have always wanted to experience Kickoff at the heart of FIRST–especially with many other teams in attendance.  The energy an in-person audience provides will surely make for a memorable event.”
– Jack

Speeches!
Other teams!
This season’s game revealed!
A chance to see the new competition field up close!
Kit of Parts!
Team dinner!

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Thank you to all who bought goodies at our Bake Sale!

Your support is vital to our program. Enjoy the treats!

Bake Sale November 20, 2022 at LaBonnes in Woodbury, 9AM to 2PM, Donate to support the robotics team!

Looking to Join a Robotics Team?
Students in Grade 8 to 12, Now is the time!

STUDENT OPEN HOUSE: SEPTEMBER 27th 7-9PM

We are looking for enthusiastic students interested in Engineering, Computer Programming, Business Management, Mechanical, Electrical Design and more.

Power Surge 4-H Robotics Team is kicking off 2022-2023 Season.
Registration is open now!

The Innovation Rooms on the campus of ACES at Chase

565 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708

FIRST Robotics Competition is the ultimate Sport for the Mind.

Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors.

It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get.

Each season ends with an exciting FIRST Championship.

Last year we competed against 180+ Teams from all over New England.

Our Goal is to place 1st.

Thank you to all who stopped by our booth at The World Famous Bethlehem Fair!

 

Maybe you played catch with our robots, watched them push each other, discovered how they work, conversed with our incredible students, supported our fundraiser by buying a BeanieBaby, and found out all that we do for the future of the world.

Now that you know we hope you will follow up to join the fun. Become a student team member, a mentor, a sponsor, a donor, or a a volunteer for FIRST or 4-H. If you live far away from here, look up your local FIRST and 4-H organizations to find your team and help them change the world.

children catch balls tossed by our robot at the team's booth at the Bethlehem Fair
4 team members at the team's booth at the Bethlehem Fair

Come see us at The World Famous Bethlehem Fair!

 

September 9, 10, 11, 2022

 

 Visit bethlehemfair.com for more info

 

Stop by our booth and say hello, chat with our incredible students, meet a robot, find out what we do and how you can join the fun!

2022-2023 GAME

An ENERGY inspired challenge!

“The 2022-2023 season energy theme challenges FIRST teams to reimagine the future of sustainable energy and power their ideas forward.”

learn more at FirstInspires.org

Kickoff is January 7, 2023

Watch the Game Reveal & Kickoff Celebration Broadcast
Saturday, January 7, 2023 on FIRSTtv on Twitch

“FIRST® Robotics Competition teams (ages 14-18) will unlock the power of engineering to transform renewable energy and take on a challenge fully charged to power a better future in CHARGED UPSM presented by Haas.”