Over the weekend, the Manchester High School Robotics Team, the Digital Dislocators, kicked off this year with a live stream from FIRST that explained what a safe COVID-19 season would look like.
The Robotics Team participates in FRC, or FIRST Robotics Competition - a Robotics leage for high school students grades 9-12. The Digital Dislocators were created in 2016 when Matt Hall, a former MCS teacher, created a club designed to interest students who enjoy STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Each year, the Robotics team participates in games that present new and unique challenges the students must work together to overcome. The team has to build their robot to specifically play the game, with the goal being to score the more points than the opposing alliance while working together with their alliance to come out on top.
This year will be different because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, during the 2019-2020 season, Team #6081 - The Digital Dislocators of Manchester JR/SR High - went to an event held at Kettering University in Flint, MI, in which the team made it to the finals. This year, the team will have several different options in which they can show off their innovation skills from home, including designing their own version of a robotics game.
“Manchester First Robotics focuses on giving students the educational and life experience as students are applying their skills and knowledge of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical fields while modeling the FIRST values, and gracious professionalism throughout the time of serving their community by planning and hosting community-based events and functions.” - Manchester FIRST Robotics Mission Statement
Manchester’s FIRST Team is coached by Mr. Mark West, and mentored by parents and Manchester alumni.