Deming stands out in robotics competition

Article by Annya Loya, Deming Headlight  Deming stands out in robotics competition (demingheadlight.com) 

Both Deming High School and Cesar Chavez Charter High School returned as winners from the 2023 New Mexico BEST Robotics Competition (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology). The schools competed at New Mexico State University on November 10 and 11.

Each year the weekend-long competition has a different theme teams must follow to build their robot. For 2023, schools had to build a mock-surgery robot. NMSU provided materials and resources such as wood and motors and the students had free range of creativity as long as it fit the theme, according to David Wertz, the DHS robotics teacher.

DHS won first place in the “game winners” category. Their robot simulated a medical tool to plug and unplug human arteries. Wertz also said this is the team’s first place in several competitions where they’ve won second and third mostly.

Aiden Villescas, a senior and one of the three students who attended the competition, said it felt good to be recognized.

“It was supposed to be a robot service surgery. Obviously this isn’t going to fit in a human being, but the whole theme of the game was practicing surgery, so we have robots to help people advance in medicine. In this case, hypothetically, (to) unclog arteries,” Villescas said.

The teams started working on their robot in September, when NMSU sent over the materials to all participating schools. Besides Villescas, sophomore Sarah Hernandez and freshman Abel Baca were part of the winning team.

Despite the team’s first place finish, they weren’t able to qualify and move on to the next competition. Until recently, first and second place teams in both the “best overall” and “game winners” categories were eligible to attend the national competition in Dallas; but this year, only those from the former category qualify.

Both Wertz and the students reported growth on the team compared to other years, which they said led to their first place award.

“My key takeaway, I think, was managing time and just figuring out solutions to a problem that occurs during the match, like better problem solving skills,” Villescas said.

The charter high school took third place in the same “game winners” category. Eleventh graders Michael Zamora, Hector Santos, Amber Lira, Aaron Nevarez and tenth grader Eden Flournoy brought the team’s first trophy in its second year participating.

Deming Cesar Chavez Charter High School instructor David Jaramillo with Eden Flournoy, Michael Zamora and Hector Santos with their robotics trophy. (Annya Loya/Deming Headlight)

David Jaramillo, DCCCHS’ robotics teacher, said despite most of the kids being inexperienced, and having only one returning student from last year, the hard work and long hours paid off.

“They put a lot of time into it, we went down there, not really knowing what to expect but it was just awesome to watch them. Kids that have never really been there, watch them not be afraid and they were very successful,” Jaramillo said.

DCCCHS had qualified for Dallas last year but because of the competition’s rule change, they did not this year despite their better outcome.

The DHS team will now prepare for the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition Championship (​​For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). According to Wertz, for this competition students will have more freedom when it comes to materials, but not as much in design and purpose.

Annya Loya can be reached at annya@demingheadlight.com.