ERDC-mentored team, robot roll into State Capitol

The FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Team 456, Siege Robotics, and their robot creation recently invaded the Mississippi State Capitol building in response to an invitation to participate in the "NASA Stennis Space Center Capitol Day." The yearly event is held to inform and educate Mississippi’s legislators on NASA’s programs and happenings that impact the state.

Team 456, made up of students from the Vicksburg community and mentored by volunteers from ERDC, took advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate their award winning robot for some of the state’s top leaders. Many state officials made time to visit with team members and "test drive" the robot, including Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and his wife, first lady Deborah Bryant. Students were able to instruct the pair as they individually took the robot for a spin through the halls of the Capitol. Newsletter produced by US Army Engineer Research and Development Center

The experience provided a forum for the group to demonstrate what can be done in six short weeks under the guidance of quality advisers and strong community support.

"The team meets seven days a week at the ERDC STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Center during the build and competition season," said EL Researcher Chuck Dickerson, and one of the team’s mentors. "They have six weeks to design, build, program and test the robot, then two months of competition."

The FIRST Robotics Competition is made up of series of games and tasks, changed yearly to represent a new engineering challenge, to be completed by the robot. The worldwide program seeks to help students gain maturity, build self-confidence, learn teamwork and gain an understanding of professionalism, all while growing career opportunities in areas such as math, science, language arts, business, finance, computer science and fabrication.

"The team relies on community partners and corporate sponsors for financial and other in-kind support," said Dickerson. "In addition to ERDC, our sponsors include NASA, National Defense Education Program, Entergy, Lockheed Martin, ABB, Anderson-Tully, J.C. Penney Co. and Pepsi. The local school district also allots funds. In addition, ERDC’s lead mentors easily volunteer 500 or more hours each per year to this program."

ERDC’s work with the robotics team, now in its 13th year, falls under the Human Capital Office push to expose local students to STEM. The national need to increase the number of students in STEM is a well-recognized concern and ERDC has set a goal to help inspire, engage and mentor students to pursue interests in the area. The organization has been granted STEM outreach funds to assist in ongoing efforts.

In FY 12, ERDC had a profound impact on local schools, reaching 3,721 students and providing four workshops for 73 teachers in STEM topics; 86 scientists and engineers who gave STEM presentations and lectures to 36 classes; mentored 40 students on two robotics teams and judged 14 science fairs. Additionally, 5,000 Math Gaming licenses, along with teacher instruction, were provided to the Vicksburg-Warren School District.

For more information on Team 456 and the robotics mission check out their student designed and built website at www.Team456.org. For more information on ERDC and educational outreach activities, visit www.erdc.usace.army.mil.