Salado High School’s robotics team, The Eaglebots competed in the first Texas UIL sanctioned First Robotics Competition (FRC), placing in the top 20 on July 30. The competition attendance was by invite only and included Texas’s top 42 teams. This elite group included former and present regional, national and world championship teams.

The competition was scored in four categories: Autonomous, which is the ability of the robot to complete tasks by itself; Challenge, which is the robot’s ability to remain parked/hanging on an inclined tower; Goals, which is the robot’s ability to transport balls (called boulders) into the tower; and Defensive Breaching, in which the robot is able to cross over several obstacles that are “protecting the tower”. The Eaglebots, and their prized robot Paul, scored comparatively with the top five teams in three out of four of the categories and were ranked 1st overall in Defensive Breaching, with an astounding 495 points.

In April, the Eaglebots went to an international regional competition in Houston consisting of 68 national and international teams. There the Eaglebots earned 10th place overall, and secured an 8th seed in the playoffs, only to lose against the 1st seed world champion team that was funded by and trained at NASA.

This Austin tournament was the Eaglebots last competition of the season. Their record is 11-7-1 (11-5-1 not including playoffs). Build season for 2017 starts in January.

FRC programs depend on the contributions of teachers, volunteer mentors and sponsors.  The Eaglebots have several mentors led by engineer Ed Nelson, who’s been with the team since its inception.  Cathy Parker is the teacher assigned to lead the program. The Eaglebots rely heavily on their sponsors as well, including McCoys, Bloomers and the Texas Workforce Commision.  If you our your group would like to be a part of this dynamic and growing program as a mentor or sponsor, contact Cathy Parker at:  catherine.parker@saladoisd.org.