The energy inside the gym at Humber Polytechnic's North Campus was electric as more than two dozen teams of high school students came together to have their robots show what they can do as part of the FIRST Robotics District Competition.
A total of 28 teams and more than 1,200 participants were at the campus March 18 and March 19 to compete with hopes of advancing to the provincial championships. The competition pushes the boundaries of creativity, teamwork and technical skills. Students navigate strict rules, limited resources and tight deadlines to design, build and program industrial-sized robots. After six weeks of building, the students test their robots in a challenging game against other teams.
The students use engineering, coding and design techniques as well as machining, computer-aided design, math and welding to bring their robots to life. The competition demonstrates the real-world application of engineering and emphasizes the importance of community outreach, fundraising and the creation of a distinct team brand.
Aden Nabarreti, a Grade 12 student with the Northview Heights Secondary School team, has long had an interest in robotics but never had a way to explore it. When his engineering teacher told him about the school's robotics club, Nabarreti jumped at the chance to join.
"I've learned so much, not just about robotics, but other skills as well," said Nabarreti. "I had no experience with robotics, so I was coming into it blind, but I've really learned a lot of valuable skills."
This year's challenge, REEFSCAPE presented by Haas, focuses on strengthening one of the ocean's most diverse habitats by simulating tasks such as harvesting algae, seeding coral and ascending to the ocean's surface.
The game requires two alliances of three teams each to compete in a fast-paced match where they earn points by completing tasks. Robots were also programmed to operate autonomously at certain points in the game, challenging students to push the limits of automation and artificial intelligence.
Lynn VanLieshout, manager of Community Projects with Community Outreach and Workforce Development at Humber, has been involved with several FIRST Robotics competitions on campus and is impressed by the professionalism and good sportsmanship of the students as well as the quality of the robots they create. One of the great things about hosting is that it allows the competitors to explore the campus and learn more about what a Humber education can offer, added VanLieshout.
Nickolas de Boer is a graduate of the Electromechanical Engineering Technology program who now works as a Mechatronics Technologist at the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation. He was volunteering as a robot inspector at the competition.
"FIRST provided me with skills and experience that helped me both in my post-secondary education and my career and I'm here to help ensure the next generation has the same opportunities," said de Boer.
As a shy youth, taking part in FIRST helped bring de Boer out of his shell as he interacted with both his teammates and others during the competitions. He volunteered at last year's competition as well and was thrilled to see so many youth excited to be involved with robotics.
Mohid Faisal Mushtaq, a Grade 11 student at Lester B Pearson Collegiate Institute, was there with the Ed Bears team. Mushtaq enjoys robotics tremendously, especially when it comes to programming, and said being part of the team has been beneficial for him.
"The Ed Bears have shown me the power of teamwork," said Mushtaq. "It's everyone's vision coming together and it's great how everyone shares their different ideas."
"I feel that FIRST is a very welcoming experience and you don't need advanced knowledge of robotics to join," Mushtaq continued. "Being a part of FIRST lets you learn so much."
Teams that ranked the highest at the district competition advanced to the FIRST Robotics Competition Provincial Championship with a chance to qualify for the World Championships in Houston, Texas.
