It is the robotics season and Cinco Ranch Junior High has had an exceptional showing. Cinco Ranch Junior High sent two school sponsored teams to the regional competition. Both Cinco Ranch JH teams are part of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) LEGO League (FLL).
In their debut year, the Coyote Coders made a fine showing at the Katy FLL Qualifier tournament held on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at their home campus. Team members Andrew Bencivengo, Aarin Nadkarni, Joy Rogers, and Suheet Sardeshpande worked for weeks learning how to design and build their EV3 robot and then program the robot to accomplish four missions (Space Travel, Solar Panel Array, Crater Crossing and Escape Velocity). The team met with an industry professional via Skype as part of their project research, which entailed astronauts using Virtual Reality in outer space to experience the feeling of Earth. The team was mentored by Enaya Baig, a tenth grade student at Cinco Ranch High School and a member of the high school’s robotics team – Team 624 CRyptonite. Enaya’s strong leadership and FLL expertise inspired creativity and ingenuity in the young team. As a result, the Coyote Coders were proud to earn the Inspiration Award.
The Computerized Coyotes, only two years old, also represented Cinco Ranch Junior High at the Katy Qualifier. Team members Sam Daigre, Asher Lin, Eli Nicksic and Kartik Rai worked diligently this season to design, build and program their EV3 robot to accomplish several missions, including Strength Exercise, Solar Panel Array, Escape Velocity, and Crater Crossing. During the Saturday competition, the team was overjoyed to accomplish many missions and earn the Strategy and Innovation Award as well as a coveted Advancement Ticket to compete in the East Texas Area Championship. For the past two years, the team has been led by Alex Dial an eleventh grade Cinco Ranch High School student and team 624 CRyptonite member. Alex was awarded the FLL Champion Award at the tournament for his outstanding student involvement and contributions to the FLL program.
Team 624 CRyptonite has earned national recognition in FIRST Robotics Competitions. The highly successful CRHS team has been a tremendous resource for FLL teams by hosting practice events, competitions, and offering advice for young teams. The high school team has hosted the FLL Katy Qualifier Tournament for eight years. The CRJH robotics teams are thankful for their CRyptonite mentors, as well as the generous support they have received from Bechtel Corporation. They would also like to thank Cinco Ranch Junior High principal, Elizabeth Nicklas, for the school’s support.
Over 25 FLL teams competed at the 2018 Katy Qualifier. Each FLL team designed, built, and programmed its EV3 robot to autonomously navigate the playing field, accomplish missions, and earn points during the 2.5 minute match. Additionally, each team presented to a panel of judges their solution to a real world problem related to the outer space theme. Many hours were poured into research and preparation for the presentation. At the Qualifier, students also presented their robot’s features as well as participated in an Instant Challenge.
FLL teams are managed and coached by volunteer parents who host meetings in their homes. For more information about FIRST and how to form your own FLL team, please visit www.firstinspires.org. Become a volunteer coach (no experience needed) and make a difference in kids’ lives today!
-
- Cinco Ranch JH Coyote Coders Robotics Team members Aarin Nadkarni, Andrew Bencivengo, Suheet Sardeshpande, Joy Rogers, and mentor Enaya Baig, from Team 624 CRyptonite, are excited to earn the Inspirational Award at the Katy Qualifier.
-
- Cinco Ranch JH Computerized Coyotes Robotics Team, and their mentor, Alex Dial (L) from Team 624 CRyptonite. FLL Team members: Kartik Rai, Asher Lin and Eli Nicksic are proud to earn the award for Strategy and Innovation, as well as an Advancement Ticket. (Team member not pictured: Sam Daigre)
-
- Andrew Bencivengo and Suheet Sardeshpande quickly change out part of their robot before restarting it on their next preprogrammed mission.
-
- Computerized Coyotes teammates Suheet Sardeshpande, Andrew Bencivengo and Aarin Nadkarni explain to the referees their robot’s mission.
-
- Joy Rogers of the Cinco Ranch Coyote Coders works with her team’s mentor, Enaya Baig, of Team 624 CRyptonite.
-
- Asher Lin shares excitement with Cinco Ranch Junior High Computerized Coyotes teammate Eli Nicksic as their robot successfully completes the ‘Escape Velocity’ mission.
-
- Sam Daigre, Eli Nicksic, Asher Lin and Kartik Rai of the Cinco Ranch JH Computerized Coyotes robotics team pose with image of Astronaut Jack Fischer during an eventful day at NASA Space Center University where they gathered knowledge for their FLL project.
-
- Cinco Ranch High School Junior, Alex Dial, from Team 624 CRyptonite, was presented the FLL Champion Award at the Katy Qualifier Tournament for his outstanding student involvement and contribution to the FLL program.
-
- With Team 624 CRyptonite referees recording their points, two FLL teams compete to complete as many missions as possible during their 2.5 minute match.
-
- Families of over 25 participating teams, as well as community members, attended the robot matches and closing ceremonies to celebrate the journey of these FLL students at the 8th Annual Katy Qualifier, hosted by Team 624 CRyptonite of Cinch Ranch High School.
About FIRST : Founded by inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was created to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology.
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams, made up of students ages 9-14, build LEGO-based autonomous robots and develop research projects based on a real-world Challenge that changes annually. FLL is an annual international robotics competition for kids ages 9-14, with over 32,000 teams across 90 countries.
FIRST Robotics Competition is an annual competition that helps high school students discover the rewards and excitement of science, engineering, and technology. The 2018 season included 3,647 teams from 27 countries. FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sports with science and technology to create a unique Varsity Sport for the Mind™. Participants are eligible to receive over $50 million in scholarships from some of the finest science and engineering schools in the country.
About CRyptonite: Since its founding in 2000, Cinco Ranch High School FIRST Robotics Competition team (Team 624 CRyptonite) has competed and won in local, national and international competitions. Team 624 CRyptonite gives its members hands on experiences in engineering, problem solving, and teamwork while also inspiring our community to have a greater appreciation for science and technology, including an annual Science Day Camp, the Katy FIRST Lego League Qualifier, demonstrations, mentoring and more. This has been made possible through the generous financial and mentor support of our corporate sponsors, including founding sponsors BP America and Oceaneering Intervention Engineering. Other corporate sponsors include Bechtel Corporation, Texas Workforce Commission, Phillips 66, Schneider Electric, Exterran, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil Chemical, Katy Area Economic Development Council, Wood Group, Texas Hydrographic Society (Houston Chapter), Transocean, Subsea 7, BHP, Williams, Murphy Oil Corporation, FexEx, National Instruments, Chick Fil A, Autodesk, DS Solidworks and PBK. For more information, please visit http://www.team624.org.
Team 624 is also indebted to numerous teachers, parents, mentors and their incredibly hardworking students.
To learn more about FIRST LEGO League: https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/fll
To learn more about FIRST Robotics Competition: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc
For more information on Team 624 CRyptonite: http://team624.org/
To inquire about CRJH FLL: crjh.robotics@gmail.com (we are seeking parent volunteers of incoming qualified 6th graders beginning March 2019)