Code Red Robotics Returns From Tech Valley Regional Competition

Following the end of its build season and first competition at Finger Lakes Regional, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) team Code Red Robotics attended their second regional competition at Tech Valley Regional in Albany from March 30 to April 1, with this year’s robot Tyrannosaurus Red.

This season’s competition, “Charged Up”,  tasked robots with picking up cones and cubes, and arranging them on a grid. Robots start off in a 15 second autonomous period, in which the robot moves and scores as many points as possible without human control. Once the 15 seconds are up, drivers and controllers maneuver the robot for a little over two minutes to score points and balance on their team’s “Charge Station”.

Code Red attended their first competition at the Finger Lakes Regional from March 16 to March 18 at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Tyrannosaurus Red encountered technical issues and students found themselves doing urgent repairs and installations, but used the chance to build up real time critical thinking and problem solving skills. The team went home with high spirits and goals for improvement before their next competition.

“The two weeks between our regional competitions were a solid work time, and a chance to reflect on our performance at our first regional this year. We accomplished so much,” said Gene Wicaksono. He also remarked, “I was excited to not necessarily win at TVR, but to watch our robot’s improvement.” As the head of the Visions subteam, he and others spent the week between competitions working on perfecting the system – and it paid off.

Code Red attended their next competition at Tech Valley Regional in Albany, from March 30 to April 1. Here the team rose through the ranks, landing in 12th place after a day and a half of qualification matches. The team also played in the playoff matches as the 8th seed alliance captain alongside alliance partners 3003 (TANX) and 578 (Red Raider Robotics). The awards ceremony recognized Tyrannosaurus Red’s vision system, which used multiple cameras that were able to locate the robot’s position on the field at all times and could reposition the robot to score, with the Innovation in Control Award.

“The thing that supports me and keeps me going is passion and dedication, and lots of persistence and love for the team,” said Rocky Shao, a rookie on the team who spent the year learning about and developing the vision for this year’s robot. “Along the way, there are so many moments where it’s truly rewarding, especially when your hard work is acknowledged by others,” he expressed.

Although the Tech Valley Regional Competition marks the end of this year’s season, the team will spend the rest of the year active in sharing their love of STEM with the community through robot demos, events, and much more. Keep up with the team on our social media (@CRRteam639 on Twitter and @codered639 on Instagram) and our website. Code Red hopes to see you soon around Ithaca!

Code Red is led by seven officers: Emerson Schryver, President; Annalise Thompson and Wali Alfridi, Vice Presidents/Build Team Managers; Alex Elia, Community Outreach;, Celene Sahoo, Treasurer; Shaine Wei, Team Administrator; and Jennifer Zhao, PR Officer. As a student run team, the officers are charged up for the rest of the year.

FIRST Team Code Red Robotics would like to continue to thank its sponsors: BAE Systems, BorgWarner Morse TEC, Cornell Bowers College of Computing & Information Science, Cornell College of Engineering, Cornell Institute for Computational Sustainability, Datapoint Labs, Duthie Orthodontics, Finger Lakes Consulting, Incodema, Sciarabba Walker, The IHS Class of 1951, Tompkins Community Bank, Vector Magnetics, ShipIndex.org, ICSD, ICSD Board of Education, Ithaca High School, and IPEI. Their support makes it possible for the team to operate and to foster a love of STEM.

Code Red is an associate member of the IthacaSTEM Advocates, an affiliate of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), a non-for-profit organization that believes the education of every student in the Ithaca City School District is enhanced through community connections and support. For more information on Code Red Robotics, please email advisor Ian Krywe at ikrywe@icsd.k12.ny.us, or visit our website at https://www.team639.org/ . More information about FIRST robotics can be found at https://www.firstinspires.org/ .