The Orono Robotics Team, known as the Spartobots, are heading into their next regional competition with momentum, confidence, and a robot that is performing at a high level. After weeks of building, testing, and competing, the team has continued to improve both technically and as a group.
The tournament is part of the FIRST Robotics Competition (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international high school league where teams design, build, and compete with 120-pound robots in a fast-paced, game-based challenge. This season has a challenge where you intake balls, and shoot them into a hopper.
One of the biggest upgrades this season has been scoring. The robot is now capable of shooting more than twenty balls per second , making it one of the faster offensive robots at competition. This speed allows the team to quickly rack up points and stay competitive in fast-paced matches.
“Our robot has significantly improved since our last bot, with four times faster shooting speed, and refined code,” senior Nolan Merdan said.
Despite the strong scoring ability, the team is still working around some limitations. Currently, the robot does not have a climbing mechanism, which can be a disadvantage during endgame scoring. Instead, the Spartobots have focused on maximizing efficiency during the main portion of matches and playing smart strategy.
“We decided to put all of our efforts into the main part of the robot rather than branching out and trying to make multiple things work,” team captain Adam Haislet said.
At their previous competition, the team showed strong collaboration and resilience. Beyond just performance, they also demonstrated the core values of FIRST Robotics, including teamwork and Gracious Professionalism.
As they prepare for the upcoming regional, the team has been putting in long hours refining their robot, practicing driving, and improving communication. With a high-scoring robot and a motivated team, expectations are high.
The upcoming regional will bring tougher competition, but the Spartobots are ready to take it on. With continued improvements and a clear strategy, they’re aiming to make a strong showing and represent Orono well.
“We hope to get a top three finish, that way we can be qualified for the Worlds competition,” Merdan said.
The Spartobots will compete at the Granite City Regional in St. Cloud, Minnesota, beginning this week. Qualification matches are set to start Friday, with playoffs taking place Saturday. The event will feature dozens of teams from across the region, all competing for a spot at the FIRST World Championship.
