Robotics

Neurolinks #4358, Hoonah’s Robotics Team, had their most successful season of trophy hunting ever. At the SE Qualifier in Skagway last December 15-16, they brought home trophies for “Motivate Award” and “Finalist Alliance, 1st Team Selected” amongst a field of 11 teams. Both trophies were qualifying for an invite to the State Championship. Then at the Alaska FTC State Championship in Palmer February 16-17, they brought home another pair of trophies for “Judges’ Choice Award” and “Winning Alliance, 2nd Team Selected” amongst a field of 25 top teams. Neurolinks finished the season ranked 5th in the State with all competition and judged awards accounted for. Just the two top teams from Alaska are invited to the World Championship this spring, so that gives our Hoonah team something more to aspire to. As coach, it is a bit unbelievable on one hand, and completely deserving on the other.

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In robotics, you form an alliance with another team, then your alliance competes against a different alliance of two other teams. This makes for an intense game with 4 robots all trying to score at the same time! The Championship started with 60 seeding matches, with each team playing 5 of those matches together with a randomized alliance partner. For finals, the top four seeded teams each drafted their alliance partners to compete in best-out-of-three elimination matches to determine the champion.

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At Regionals, Neurolinks were drafted by the 4th seeded team, and that alliance won semi-finals, but lost in the final rounds. At State Championship, Neurolinks were drafted by the 1st seeded team, and together won the semi-final and final rounds to be the State Champions – wahoo!

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Highlights from the State Championship
http://tinyurl.com/Neurolinks-State2024

• Silly interview: 3:00:30
• Neurolinks top scoring seeding match: 4:48:18
• Neurolinks in semi-finals: 6:23:00
• Neurolinks in finals: 7:23:44
• Judges’ Choice trophy: 8:08:30
• Winning Alliance trophy: 8:31:40

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Every team member contributed in multiple ways to make Neurolink the competitive team it has become. Dietrich is the main driver, co-builder and veteran of the team who is expert at all the team roles. Dash is the co- driver and co-builder of the robot.