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02-26-2024 | Issue 4 | Volume 1

Kettering University Event #1

February 29th to March 2nd

Flint, MI, USA

We invite you to support our robot as we compete against 39 other teams!

Event Schedule

I’m Parker and I have been apart of Strike Zone for 7 years. I am the drive coach and the lead mechanical design mentor, meaning I manage the drive team and team CAD. I express extreme competitiveness which shows how dedicated I am to helping students build a world-class robot.

Mechanical

Our team has been hard at work enhancing our robots performance. We successfully integrated the climber, revamped the chassis with new wheels, and rebuilt the shooter, along with some maintenance of other components. Working on the robot is not the only thing we did; we completed the CAD of our competition button board which is used to ensure seamless interaction between our driver and the robot. This button board acts as a failsafe for our semi-autonomous functions. If our auto-targeting goes down, we have a switch that will set the shooter to a set position for a degraded mode.

Programing

Our programmers have been working hard on intricate autonomous robot functions: perfecting auto sequencing and the fine tuning auto targeting capabilities. The focus now lies on creating a set of autonomous programs for competitions. One of our top priorities is securing several of the notes that lie in the neutral zone. This would place us at a strategic advantage as this eliminates the opportunity for our opponents to grab them first.

Business & Media

Our business & media team has been working around the clock preparing for competition season by completing many tasks. We successfully submitted our impact essay, completed our impact poster, and started preparing the presentation. We are also getting ready for our team trips at our out of state competitions; booking plane tickets, finding hotels, securing parent rides and preparing parent information.

For Strike Zone, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) is not just a concept but a foundational element of our approach in robotics. In Science, we engage in prototyping robot subsystems, meticulously iterating from intake to indexer and indexer to shooter, while also focusing on critical aspects like weight, friction, and low center of gravity to ensure stability and functionality. Utilizing Free Body Diagrams, we analyze forces at play and optimize our robot's performance. Technology plays a pivotal role as we leverage CAD software for design, program in Java for intricate control, and navigate complex robot electronics. Engineering is at the heart of our operations, with members machining and designing parts, then assembling them into a cohesive robot. Meanwhile, the Arts find expression through graphic designs for logos, posters, and presentation boards, along with crafting buttons and T-shirt designs for competitions. Mathematics guides our every move, from calculating gear ratios to determining subsystem geometry and fine-tuning shooter velocity and speed for precision performance. For our team, the fusion of STEAM discipline is not just a theory but a lived reality, driving innovation and excellence in robotics.

I'm Al Schlosser, and I'm a 10th grade student at Mayville High School. I have been apart of the Strike Zone Robotics team since September of 2023. I joined the team because I wanted to learn the skills needed to create machines and wanted to do it with people I could relate to. I am still learning many of the skills, but I would say that I currently generate ideas better than anything else. One fun fact about me is that everyone I know says I act like an old man and that I have an old soul. Currently, after school I plan on going to college to get a Doctorate in either electrical or mechanical engineering.

For several of the team’s students, our Kettering Event will be their very first competition they will attend! Once asked how they felt going into the competition, this is what they had to say…

“I’m excited to see my first competition and all the other robots made. Seeing them in action is going to be my favorite part!”

-Damien

“I am really excited to see what competition is like and I cannot wait to see our robot perform!”

-Harper

“I'm very excited and eager to go to my first robotics competition!”

-Aurora

“Since I’ve never been to a competition before, I’m excited to see what the atmosphere is like!”

-Michael

Leaving great opportunities open for all community students, regardless of financial standings, is at the core of Strike Zone’s foundation. With that being said, students and mentors are not expected to directly financially contribute to the team. One hundred percent of the funds come from the team’s partners and generous donations from the community.

Wish List

Whether it be monetary or otherwise, we are appreciative of any and all donations, as we operate year-round.