Robo Shop: L'Anse Creuse Students Build Basketball-Playing Robot

While the team name may sound more like the classic Mattel toy, membership in Rockem Sockem Robotics is anything but child’s play.

Comprised of 24 high school students from L’Anse Creuse Public Schools, Rockem Sockem Robotics is the district’s first team to take part in U.S. FIRST Robotics Competition since 2008. Founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway, FIRST Robotics is "the varsity sport for the mind."

Guided by team mentors, FIRST teams have approximately six weeks to build and program a robot that can perform a series of tasks in timed competition.

“The first Saturday in January there is a kickoff,” said TRW Automotive engineer and team sponsor Al DeBoni. “(FIRST) brings out a new game and they give us a box of parts and a list of things we can purchase. You look at what the game is, look at your box of parts, talk with your team and come up with a strategy of how you’re going to approach the game.”

The “game” being a series of scored tasks the robot must complete.

While the game changes every year, this year's Rebound Rumble has competing robots shoot foam basketballs into a series of hoops, balance on bridges and operate in automatic mode for a period of time.

“That’s where my students come in,” said Nick Paterni, Frederick V. Pankow Center computer programming teacher and team mentor. “The first 15 seconds of the game, the robot has to run on its own. My students have to program it to do something without interacting with it.”

Once the 15 seconds are up, a student “driver” is able to take control of the robot, using a controller to operate its movements.

As a member of the “drive team,” it is junior James Coller’s responsibility to serve as an extra set of eyes for his team’s driver during competition.

“I point out where balls are for him to pick up, help him guide the robot into shooting position, look for possible rule violations to prevent fouls, and assist in clock management,” Coller said.

A founding member of the team, Coller has found the experience challenging, but educational.

“I have learned a tremendous amount. From metal fabrication techniques to the process of engineering a machine, this season has taught me how to be an engineer. I learned how to operate new machinery, design and build a robot, work with others, and how to analyze problems and then find an effective solution.”  

For fellow team member and L’Anse Creuse High School junior Whitney Wong, the experience has been simply eye-opening.

“This is the first time I’m actually near power tools,” Wong said. “It’s really cool. I can’t believe I could’ve been doing this for years. All the learning about the machines and building the actual robot … it’s just awesome.”

For their involvement in FIRST, students like Coller and Wong are eligible for a number of college scholarships totaling around $14 million, according to FIRST.

As for the skills acquired while in FIRST, Pankow Center teacher and team mentor Dan VanWingerden said the possibilities are endless.

"What can you do when you understand mechanics and programming and robots? You can run a fast food store without anybody in it."

See Rockem Sockem Robotics in Action

Team 453, or Rockem Sockem Robotics, will next compete at Troy Athens High School, located at 4333 John R Road in Troy, on Friday and Saturday (March 30-31). 

For more information on this weekend's competition, visit the FIRST in Michigan website.

To see a video of the team's robot in action at Wayne State University March 16-17, .