BFHS Robotics makes it to MIT again

The Bonners Ferry High School Robotics team will compete at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from Jan. 20 through 24.

This is the second time in a row the team has qualified to participate in the MIT/NASA competition.

The team started contests in September. They competed with more than 180 teams of schools from Europe and the United States.

“We progressed to the top 50 teams right away, then we were at the top 18,” said coordinator and team coach Ed Katz. “We played a series of games MIT and NASA released and we coded for the game.”

The students write code to create strategy and movement of their robots that are remote controlled via satellite.

Writing code is a computer programming term that is used in the computer world. It is the process of creating a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a certain desired behavior. The process of writing code often requires expertise in many different subjects, including knowledge of advanced mathematics and formal logic.

With the help of retired math teacher, Karrick Romeli, the ninth through 12th graders had to use  advanced math, calculus, physics and geometry.

“We aligned ourselves with the 15th place team and the sixth place team,” Katz said. “One of them is a high school in New York the other in Virginia.”

The three teams met virtually and communicated code to each other through skype, according to Katz.

The object of the game is a simulation of mining ore on another planet or asteroid via robotics.  The teams must mine the ore, and get it back to the mining station without being knocked of route by an enemy.  They do this by writing code and transmitting it to the simulator. The simulator is online and the students can watch the satellite simulator and interface with other teams.

“One of the really cool things is that part of the code was developed collaboratively with the two other teams,” Katz said. “The students could decide whether they wanted to cooperate with enemy or use lazer beams and tractor beams to pull them off the mining planet.”

If the teams choose to mine together they can double up on their points.

Katz said one of the beautiful things he saw was all the hours these students put in to learning advanced math and physics. Katz admired how the older, experienced  students role modeled themselves in a mixed group.

“Karrick Remoli was so patient teaching all the he students, and the younger ones now have coding under their belt, with their code riding on the space station.”

When going to MIT in January, the students codes will be going online on a real satellite.

The kids have to develop satellite communication skills and solve problems.

Katz said the students could use help with funding for the trip.  Anyone interested in donating please call BFHS at 267-3149 and ask for Ed Katz.