Working on it late every school night and even more on the weekends, the robotics team at Governor Simcoe Secondary School have said good-bye to their creation. At least for now.
It's March break, but beyond the locked doors of Governor Simcoe Secondary School is a robotics team that doesn't believe in weeks off.
Governor Simcoe Secondary School's robot team picked up first place in a regional competition staged in Chicago.
The Simbots have successfully defended their title. The Governor Simcoe Secondary School robotics team, dubbed Team 1114 Simbotics, found themselves in the winners' circle at the Waterloo regional for the third weekend in a row.
Looking something like a miniature plastic forklift, the LEGO robotic device moves across the tabletop map towards a row of trees.
General Motors is a proud sponsor of FIRST Robotics. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an organization that allows students to experience Mathematics, Science and Engineering through the use of robotics.
St. Catharines is home to more than one championship team. Tell the Falcons and their Golden Horseshoe League trophy to share the spotlight because Team 1114 GM Simbotics of Governor Simcoe Secondary School are World Vex Robotics gold medal champions.
In a blink of an eye, the pair of 11-year-old engineers-in-the-making watched two months of hard work collapse before their eyes.
On Dec. 2, I attended a Lego Robotics competition at the Glendale Campus of Niagara College. It was necessary for me to show up as I had to witness what my 12-year-old son had been talking non-stop-about for the last two months.
Simbotics are back-to-back world champions.
Rock music blaring, there's all the pizza, pop and party snacks you can eat, and, with all the brightly coloured Lego around, it's not surprising the kids are having fun.
Governor Simcoe Secondary School's FIRST Robotics Team is heading to Atlanta, Georgia for an international robotics tournament after being named Overall Champion at a recent competition in the United States.
A St. Catharines high school helped its team to robotics competition glory by teaching its five-foot mechanized creature to bend it like Beckham.
My daughter is a member of the Governor Simcoe team and we were totally amazed at the energy and excitement of the competition.
If big, burly athletes can cry after falling short of expectations, surely robot athletes would cry after a bitter loss. If they had been programmed to.
While most teens left classes for the Christmas break dreaming of sugar plums, students Stephen and Brandon dreamed of steel.
A local high school's robotics team will be the only Canadian school to compete in an international robotics competition this year. The Governor Simcoe robotics team went to Atlanta for an international competition last year, and they'll do the same in 2006.
They missed school, spent countless hours working and staying up late, but building the robot was worth it.
Behind the machine, there is a man. Greg Phillips, technical director for Governor Simcoe Secondary School is the teacher behind Simcoe's robotics team that won first place at the Great Lakes Regional Championship in Michigan and the Waterloo Regional Championship.
Hundreds of students throughout the United States, Canada, and beyond are showcasing their engineering and technical talent by competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition. GM sponsors or co-sponsors 45 teams in the U.S. and Canada.
"We're never satisfied with a robot that just functions" explained Greg Phillips, Governor Simcoe's tech teacher. "We want a robot that functions the best."
Inside of a 12-foot by 12-foot ring at Governor Simcoe Secondary School, a motored mass of metal throws a few neon soft balls into a triangular shaped container.
The tournament was a terrific success. 20 teams, and approximately 180 students attended the tournament which was located at Niagara College.
The Governor Simcoe robotics team, Simbotics, won three awards, including top spot, at Canada's Wonderland First robotics competition on Sept. 24.
In partnership with Governor Simcoe Secondary School, "Simbotics" was formed and has competed in two FIRST Robotics seasons receiving several awards and inspiring local youth to pursue careers in science and technology.
