For the next eight weeks, students from Suttons Bay, Northport, and Lake Leelanau St. Mary high schools will be designing, strategizing, and constructing this year’s competition robot at the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition challenge released Jan. 4.
This year’s ocean-themed game requires their robot to remove “algae” (large kickballs) and add “coral” (4-inch PVC pipe) to a large “reef” structure. Additionally, at the end of the game, it must be able to grasp onto a steel cage and lift itself up to return to the “ocean” surface.
Since Norsemen Robotics began in 2011, the goal has been to sustain a robotics program which provides high school students with a proficient background in technology, a strong networking base, and exceptional leadership skills that will follow them through their post high school education and careers.
“We strive to build successful, competitive robots, and in doing so, incorporate team building skills, problem solving, marketing, and project management into our strong team dynamic. Norsemen Robotics is open to all high school youth at Suttons Bay High School, Lake Leelanau St. Mary High School, and Northport High School,” Robotics coach Bill Klein said. “As our team continues to pursue high levels of performance, excellence, education, and growth, we must also continue to ask you, our community, for help. This year, our season budget is set at $20,000. Included in our yearly budget are the expenses we face throughout the season for registration, travel, tools, and parts for our robot. Your funding is offering a fantastic opportunity for a unique group of students to excel in all the areas that robotics encompasses - science, math, technology, communications, programming, and team-building.”
Even though the competition has only been released one week ago, the Norsemen robotics team is talking through the main aspects of the game, including scoring potential, penalty rules, and the field layout. This ensures all team members have equal understanding as we move into brainstorming. Next, the group focuses on priority, making a list of every task in the game, which out robot could potentially accomplish, and discussing the complexities of each.
“Using this evaluation, we can narrow down the robot functions which would be most advantageous to pursue,” Klein said.
Suttons Bay meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please contact Emma Grant at 231-633-9226.
