<![CDATA[FIRST APPALACHIAN ROBOTICS

First Appalachian Robotics, a FIRST Tech Challenge team (Team FAR) based in Bristol TN/VA advanced to the FIRST Southwest Virginia regional finals with their high-scoring robot, were named semi-finalists for the Design Award, and two senior team members named semi-finalists for the "Dean's List" will advance to state.

Team FAR, a team of junior high and high school students from the community, has been preparing since September 2018 for qualifiers. They are led by Team captain Isaac Perkins, a Bristol VA junior, with team members Luke Gray, a Bluff City TN junior, Zaiah Gray, a Bluff City TN 7th grader, Zephyr Wiswell, a Bristol TN 7th grader, and Chloe Campbell, a Bristol TN 7th grader. They are coached and mentored by Greg Perkins, Chris Campbell, and Samantha Gray.

To make it to the Cedar Bluff Southwest Virginia Community College competition, Team FAR was awarded a Best Buy grant to help them build the robot, participate in regional qualifiers, and conduct area outreach related to technology and skill building. The Team is also supported by Team sponsor Muncy Family Chiropractic and Sports Health where the team builds the robot, and Misumi, a supplier of robotic equipment.

The six-year-old Team performed exceptionally well, scoring high the entire competition to rank second out of 27 teams after five rounds. In finals, Team FAR and two other teams selected to join them won two of the final matches but not enough matches to continue on to state this year. Team members Isaac Perkins and Luke Gray, both juniors, did advance to state as semifinalists for the the "Dean's List," a recognition for outstanding leadership in robotics named for FIRST founder Dean Kamen.

In the competition, the objectives of the FTC robotics competition are to lower the robot from a lander, identify and select minerals, all in the theme of the 2018/2019 competition season, Rover Ruckus. In a match, two teams compete against two other teams, and in another round, teams that competed against each other could be aligned. Top scores win the day, but so does supporting and encouraging other teams. Teams can also be awarded in other categories reflecting outreach, design, support, and other efforts. In the overall season, teams are judged by how the robot scores in points, in judging of the design and process, and also in efforts to advocate for robotics in the community and work with other teams.

The Team’s design for the robot was to grab "minerals" (blocks and balls) with a tube and iris, and then raise them to the proper height and then sort them into the Rover Ruckus lander. In autonomous mode, the robot could read and identify a pre-selected mineral and move into space for more points. For greater points, the robot could lift itself onto the lander as its final tactic. The team worked together to build and code the robot, and perfect their driving and collection skills for the sporting part of the competition.

The Team is determined and continues perfecting their robot, hoping for a chance at the remaining qualifiers this year. In addition to competing, Team FAR provides an introduction to robotics for students at Bristol Public Library events and work with Theatre Bristol on technical props. Team FAR is grateful to its sponsors Best Buy, Muncy Family Chiropractic and Sports Health, Misumi, the FIRST program, FIRST Chesapeake, and friends and family for their support.

FAR’s competition season begins in the fall and those interested in applying to join the team can contact the mentor, Greg Perkins, at gperkins@firstappalachianrobotics.org, or contact the Team at is website, www.firstappalachianrobotics.org, or Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/FirstAppalachianRobotics/.