The Garrett Engineering and Robotics Society (GEARS) is hosting a Super-SuGO (Sumo-LEGO) robot competition on Sunday April 6th.

Kids love to build BIG, so Super-SuGO will permit larger, heavier and more powerful LEGO robots, compared with previous SuGO events.

Teams of 2-5 participants will each build a programmed Sumo robot out of LEGOs and then compete on a 5-foot Sumo ring.

It’s fun, creative and it’s a great family activity. All the LEGO parts are provided, and rookie teams are very welcome (no experience necessary).

The robot performed really well at Annapolis, and we ended up in the 11th seed position out of 60 robots, with a 6:2 record.

This got us picked for the elimination matches, but we didn't get past the Quarter finals. D'oh.

The drive system performed fantastically and we're still on our first set of wheels with no sign of excessive wear on any threads.

We had a few technical problems (as expected in our first competition) but now we feel prepared for Cleveland :)

FIRST Robotics Competition team 1629 (The Garrett Coalition) will be competing in Annapolis Maryland on Thursday-Saturday.

Thursday is practice day, where we get our robot inspected (drill holes) and then practice with other teams.
Friday the Qualifying matches begin and the teams playoff to get ranked from best to worst.
Saturday morning is more qualifiers, and then just before lunch, the top 8 teams pick their alliance partners for the afternoon's elimination matches.

When / Where?

June 23-27, 2008. Mon. – Fri., 5:30pm – 9:00pm
The Underwater Experience will be held at the GEARS Building in Accident, MD.
Weather permitting, a picnic will be held on Saturday June 28 at a waterside location to enable participants to run their Robots in open water. Application Form

Cost?

We will conclude this Tech Camp on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. with the students presenting their projects and slideshows.

The 2008 Summer Technology Camp is an opportunity for students to expand their technology skills by applying them to real life applications. Students attending the camp will:

· Use LEGO components to build machines to perform specific tasks and use computers to control the machines they build.

We will conclude this Tech Camp on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. with the students presenting their projects and slideshows.

The 2008 Summer Technology Camp is an opportunity for students to expand their technology skills by applying them to real life applications. Students attending the camp will:

· Use LEGO components to build machines to perform specific tasks and use computers to control the machines they build.

Despite a delayed pickup and a questionable lift mechanism, Meshach 4.0 left the GEARS building today at 5:22 pm. bound for temporary storage, before rejoining the team at the US NAVAL Accademy in Annapolis MD later in March.

Meshach performed well on Sunday at the open house. After some dings and dents due to collisions with the track walls, the tough little bot had some stronger parts installed late Monday night at GEARS.

Team 1629 and GEARS hosted an open house this sunday. We got a chance to show off the robot to the general public, and play with the WV team.

Thanks to all our sponsors and supporters.

See you all in Annapolis !!!!

Two days to go... and Meshach 4.0 is ready to rumble.....

So the community can see what Team1629 has been doing for the last 6 weeks, we're having an open house to showcase the team and this year's robot.

The public is invited from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Sunday Feb. 17.

The event is located at the GEARS building on Industrial Park Drive in Accident MD. Turn in opposite the BP gas station and go all the way to the end of the road. GEARS is the last building on the left.