The Decorah High School robotics teams participated in their league tournament this past Saturday at Peet Junior High School in Cedar Falls. The tournament featured 28 different area robotics teams, all competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition. At the beginning of the school year, these FTC teams of high school students were given an obstacle course-style scenario. Teams then designed, built, and programmed an 18 x 18 x 18-inch robot that they could control in order to score as many points as possible within that scenario. This year’s competition is called “Into the Deep” and requires teams to retrieve sample blocks from a metal container and either lift them up to place into suspended baskets or clip them onto hanging poles. Teams could also score points for suspending their robots from the support beams on the metal container along with other scoring options in both an autonomous period and a driver-controlled period.

The freshmen/sophomore team from Decorah, named The Valiant Vikings, competed in five matches at the competition, earning a high score of 120 points. Their robot was designed with a two-claw system. The first claw was designed to pick up samples from the floor and transfer them up to the second claw. The second claw was connected to a drawer-slide tower which could slide up to place the samples into high baskets. The team’s scores steadily climbed throughout the season, and they will look to continue their growth next year.

The junior/senior team, named the Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men and Women, ended the qualification matches in 11th place after facing many difficulties with their robot including a motor dying, their tower coming apart, and a wire getting caught. Their robot was designed to lower a claw on motor to the floor in order to pick up samples. Then, the arm was attached to their tower that could raise them to the high baskets. In the playoff rounds, they partnered with the SabreHoof Tigers from Cedar Falls to form the fifth-place alliance. There, they defeated the 4th ranked alliance and the 6th ranked alliance before losing to the eventual championship alliance.

The Wacky Wavers also were awarded the Control Award at the competition, given to the team with the best computer programming and code documentation. The team uses different programming languages, like Java and Block programming, along with odometry sensor wheels in order to detect where the robot is on the field and to call different functions to move the motors when and where they need them to.

Winning the Control Award qualified the junior/senior team to compete at the state championship on February 28th and March 1st at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville.

“I am very proud of our teams as they both had to overcome many challenges throughout the year and did so in a way that shows they have a high level of perseverance and grit,” says Brett Wilker, the Decorah Robotics Coach. “Many of the students in our robotics programs are interested in pursuing careers in engineering, robotics, or computer science, and through this program, they are given the opportunity to learn the skills that will make them successful in these fields.”

The Valiant Vikings (in blue and red) prepare for a qualification match at a recent competition. Left to Right: Jay Jensen, Wyatt Birdsell, Joey McFarlane

Robot Operators Emily Myers and Bryce Elsbernd talk strategy on the queuing table before their next match.

Both robotics teams pose in their pit areas after the league tournament on Saturday. Phuong Doan, Jerald Thompson, Kellen Roffman, Mason Myers, Andie Gegax, Emily Myers, Bryce Elsbernd, Juniper Maret, Joey McFarlane, Coach Brett Wilker, Evan Madsen, Leo McNown-Beck, Owen Rix, and Wyatt Birdsell

The Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men and Women prepare to face off against the Valiant Vikings in a recent competition.