Oak Harbor Robotics Team builds tools, life skills

Thanks to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, an act that funds programs like the Robotics Club through federal funding, the Oak Harbor High School Robotics Team was able to purchase a full spectrum laser ML-40 machine, valued at $2,000, equipped with a program to carve designs or cut pieces.

December 26, 2014 8:04 pm
Oak Harbor High School Robotic Team students work on a robotics project in Che Edoga’s class. The team will present to the public their designs 6-8 p.m. Jan. 9 at the high school.
Oak Harbor High School Robotic Team students work on a robotics project in Che Edoga’s class. The team will present to the public their designs 6-8 p.m. Jan. 9 at the high school.

By Cristina Ramirez
Robotics Team Reporter

Thanks to the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, an act that funds programs like the Robotics Club through federal funding, the Oak Harbor High School Robotics Team was able to purchase a full spectrum laser ML-40 machine, valued at $2,000, equipped with a program to carve designs or cut pieces.

In the high school, the students have already carved labels into calculators, balances and coffee cups. If the district had turned to outside sources, it would have cost both more money and time for the school. This way, both the students and district are profiting.

The cooperation between students and teachers on a client level is teaching the Robotics Team life skills such as responsibility and how to handle deadlines and communication.

“I want the kids to understand what it means to do your best for a client and how to deal with it when things go wrong,” robotics teacher Che Edoga said.

Previously, the club has created its own Lego measuring tool, a small but indispensable tool to have when dealing with Lego robots.

When they took the tool to competitions, such as First Lego League last spring, other teams needed the tool as well but couldn’t afford to buy it.

Because of the laser machine, the club has the ability to create the tools at a rate of one per day and for less than a quarter of the cost. Now the club is at work to make not only tools for its team, but to pass out at competitions for free.

“For us,” Edoga said, “we are doing what we can to make more engineers who in turn will go out and make the world a better place. That includes making Lego tools for kids so that they have a better time working with Legos.”

The Whidbey Wildcat Robotic team will present to the public their robotic designs for this year’s FRC, or FIRST Robotics Competition, challenge at 6 p.m. Jan. 9 at the high school. The community will vote on what robot the team will build. The group will receive the challenge Jan. 3 and design and build a 120-pound robot in six weeks for the upcoming robotic competitions in March. Everyone is invited to the presentation and is encouraged to contribute feedback on the robotic designs.