M-SET to host competition

In the gym on Nov. 24, a different kind of sporting event will be taking place: one involving machines instead of athletes.

This year, the Mechanical Science and Engineering Team (M-SET) will be hosting a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition. FTC is similar to the team’s other competition, FIRST Robotics Competition, but involves robots that are much smaller, fitting inside an 18-inch cube. The team must also complete a different objective from the larger, 120-pound robots.

This year’s challenge is one of the most complex challenges seen by the teams so far. It is played on a 12-foot square field with two alliances of two robots each. Two see-saw goals and two scoring boxes are located at the center of the field along with a bridge and pull up bar.

 Each team must attempt to score as many of the 100 two-inch cubes in the various see-saw goals located at the center of the field, or two boxes directly below them. At the end of the two-minute, thirty-second match, teams can earn bonus points by balancing the see-saw goals or by pulling their robot up onto the bar.

“M-SET will do really well this year,” sophomore FTC team leader Adithya Bellathur said. “There is a lot of dedication everywhere.”

While M-SET’s FTC teams cannot participate in this tournament as they are hosts, its 80 members will be volunteering at the event, helping with photography, field maintenance and scoring.

“I think everyone is looking forward to this event,” Bellathur said. “The volunteering should go smoothly  with the number of volunteers willing to participate.” 

M-SET is also involving other programs to help with the elaborate event. The drama program, for instance, will be providing breakfast for the judges.

“Robotics helped [drama] out in the past, and we want to return the favor,” drama teacher Sarah Thermond said . 

As a result of hosting the competition, M-SET received a bid to send one of its teams to the Northern California Regional, but choosing a single team out of the three has proven to be difficult. To resolve this dilemma, the club held its own scrimmage and sent the winning team: 7641. 

“We worked together as a team and are excited to win this bid,” freshman Suraj Mididaddi said 

This will be M-SET’s first time hosting an event like this, and so far, the club has high expectations.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” sophomore Kabir Manghnani said. “The teams that come will have a great time.”