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Wunsche students aim to build the BEST robot in Texas
  
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By KEVIN KOLOIAN
Carl Wunsche Sr. High School students will put their engineering skills to the test at the BEST Robotics competition on Nov. 14-15 at the University of North Texas Coliseum.
The goal of BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology and math through participation in a sports-like science- and engineering-based robotics competition.
This will be the school’s first year competing in BEST but they are not new to building robots. The same group has participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition in the past.
In the BEST Robotics challenge, teams must build a robot with only the two totes of material given, including miscellaneous wood, plastic and piping.
“They have to learn how to build the basic requirements of a robot using levers, pulleys and gears. There’s also the electronic side of it that they have to figure out,” said Eric Hirtriter, pre-engineering teacher at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School.
This year’s challenge involves putting together a five-part airplane with a robot piece by piece and then raising it into the air to attach to a magnet in under three minutes’ time.
“They learn about teamwork, problem solving and engineering principles,” said Hirtriter, whose four classes, from 10th through 12th grade, are part of the team. “They go back to learning the basics and then learn more advanced stuff like computer software.”
A challenge the team is currently facing is reducing the robot’s total weight to under 24 pounds, which should be accomplished by drilling holes in its wooden parts and cutting out portions of its plastic wheels, Hirtriter said.
“We learn quite a bit about teamwork here,” said Gabriel Hongsermeier, a 17-year-old senior. “I like problem solving and being able to work with my peers on those problems. We think we’ll do reasonably well.”
While designing the robot, the team needs to build a practice playing field for testing. The school is reaching out for community support in raising funds and donations for specific items such as building supplies, plumbing supplies and electrical supplies.
Companies and individuals who donate money or parts will get a sponsorship spot on the team’s section of the school’s website and can use the good deed as a tax write-off.
“We have a real good chance at placing in the top 10 and hopefully winning with the kids that we have,” Hirtriter said.
ITEMS NEEDED
The team needs things like various sized sheets of plywood, PVC piping and drywall screws. For a complete list of items needed, e-mail rhirtrit@springisd.org.
The goal of BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, technology and math through participation in a sports-like science- and engineering-based robotics competition.
This will be the school’s first year competing in BEST but they are not new to building robots. The same group has participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition in the past.
In the BEST Robotics challenge, teams must build a robot with only the two totes of material given, including miscellaneous wood, plastic and piping.
“They have to learn how to build the basic requirements of a robot using levers, pulleys and gears. There’s also the electronic side of it that they have to figure out,” said Eric Hirtriter, pre-engineering teacher at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School.
This year’s challenge involves putting together a five-part airplane with a robot piece by piece and then raising it into the air to attach to a magnet in under three minutes’ time.
“They learn about teamwork, problem solving and engineering principles,” said Hirtriter, whose four classes, from 10th through 12th grade, are part of the team. “They go back to learning the basics and then learn more advanced stuff like computer software.”
A challenge the team is currently facing is reducing the robot’s total weight to under 24 pounds, which should be accomplished by drilling holes in its wooden parts and cutting out portions of its plastic wheels, Hirtriter said.
“We learn quite a bit about teamwork here,” said Gabriel Hongsermeier, a 17-year-old senior. “I like problem solving and being able to work with my peers on those problems. We think we’ll do reasonably well.”
While designing the robot, the team needs to build a practice playing field for testing. The school is reaching out for community support in raising funds and donations for specific items such as building supplies, plumbing supplies and electrical supplies.
Companies and individuals who donate money or parts will get a sponsorship spot on the team’s section of the school’s website and can use the good deed as a tax write-off.
“We have a real good chance at placing in the top 10 and hopefully winning with the kids that we have,” Hirtriter said.
ITEMS NEEDED
The team needs things like various sized sheets of plywood, PVC piping and drywall screws. For a complete list of items needed, e-mail rhirtrit@springisd.org.
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