Over the summer, we participated in many outreach programs such as the Niagara County Fair, Chalk Fest, Lockport Cruise Night, and Buy American Day. At the Niagara County fair, we shared lots of important information about our team and FRC, also showing off our robots to children. As well as this, we made buttons with the community. During chalk walk, we had people check out our robots, have the opportunity to make buttons, and, of course, make chalk art. We shared our robots and set up a booth with warlocks gear at Lockport cruise night, and we participated at Buy American Day. At Ruckus, we were picked by alliance four and placed 20th.
This pre season, we are looking forward to being a part of Light up Lockport and Girlpower. Girlpower is an event for girls ages 7 – 13 that takes place on Saturday, November 18th from 1:00-3:30. Here, you can find yourself experiencing hands-on and interactive stem activities. Address is the Challenger Learning Center, 160 Washburn st in Lockport. Don’t forget to support our float at Light up Lockport on November 25th!
The Warlocks still have a lot in store even if the 2023 Season is over. The Warlocks have participated in local cruise nights to promote FIRST in our neighborhood. We will also participate in the CF Walk on May 20 and a post-season regional hosted by team 5740 the Trojanators. We also intend to visit elementary schools and attend the Erie and Niagara county fairs.
Throughout the season, the Warlocks have dedicated themselves to creating a competition-ready robot. In addition, our outstanding student government representatives gave a presentation on our team and the FIRST organization, and our tech wing was visited by two local politicians, Senator Robert Ortt and Assemblyman Michael Norris.
However, our team’s primary focus is not solely on the robot. Our parent Boosters have done an incredible job organizing successful fundraising activities such as bake sales and a massive meat raffle with more than 400 participants, which have contributed greatly to our team spirit. Furthermore, we are committed to enhancing our community by hosting events such as visits to local middle schools to educate students about the Warlocks and FIRST.
The 2022 season does not have a weekly blog update due to higher priorities. The build season this year went smoothly, students and mentors wore masks and did their best to social distance. Eating became a very controlled experience. Everything went along on schedule, our robot (DOS) had a 180º turret and a limelight for a target lock. The programming team did an excellent job at creating an autonomous mode that was very competitive. DOS was ready to compete on time and the team had a blast at regionals.
Ever since we tearfully left the Finger Lakes Regional, the Warlocks have missed robotics and the community it creates. While we were grateful to compete at the Miami Valley Regional, and ultimately win the Creativity Award, we missed having the competition with our local friendly teams in Rochester.
However, just because the season did not end, as usual, doesn’t mean the Warlocks are alone. Our seniors have crafted their senior speeches, waiting to read them to one another when we can all meet again. Our head mentors have been diligently working on creating a virtual banquet to honor the team’s accomplishments this year, as well as recognize our Dean List’s and Woodie Flowers nominees.
The Warlocks, even though we cannot see each other, are still the community we’ve always been. We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during these challenging times and reaching out to those communities who support you.
During the 2021 season, the team in quarantine participated in Game Changer. Team 1507 performed well in a virtual game design process and an innovation project called The Kit of Fit. Students met virtually online weekly. Programming classes and CAD classes ran throughout the season. Team 1507 was very happy with the participation of all the team members.
On Saturday, the Warlocks had its first scouting meeting. Just as every year our scouts watched a PowerPoint presentation, run by our scouting mentor Adam. After the presentation, the scouts had to take a test to see what they learned from the presentation. In the next few weeks, there will be a second scouting test that is geared toward the game. The scouts will use the information they learn to scout robots at our competitions.
During the week, our CAD team worked on designing the climber and shooter for our robot. They have been working as quickly and efficiently as possible, in order to get parts to the build team. The programmers accomplished a lot throughout the week. They have written the controls for the ro
bot, along with starting to write and test our autonomous code. They have also started to wire the electronics control board, and started programming the color an light sensors. In the shop, the build kids have been assembling the major parts of our robot. During the week they put together the drive train, intake, shooter, climber, and the component of our robot that will allow us to hold multiple power cells at a time.
Over the week, the PR team has submitted Chairman’s and has started to create this years video for the award.
This past week the sub-teams having been working on multiple different things. In the shop, the build team has been building as many parts of the robot as they can. On Friday, the base for this years robot came in. Ian, the head of Build took two freshman to rivet the base.
The CAD team has been developing a shooter for our robot. They also have been finalizing the sub-components.
Throughout the week, the Web team has been continuing to update our website in order to keep our readers updated. The PR team worked on the Chairman’s award. They worked on the short answer questions, along with this years essay.
The Warlocks are hoping to hand off the robot to the programmers and soon as they possibly can!
During Week 2, the team has accomplished a lot. The build team has begun finalizing our prototype designs, while also starting to build the small pieces of this years robot. Mentors and students have been working together well to ensure that our robot will be the best robot we can make.
The CAD team led by Katie has built, and is in the process of finishing the CAD design of the robot. In the next few weeks, the team will be working towards a finished robot to hand off to programmers. But before that, the CAD team will continue working hard to get a final design to our build team. We hope that this years robot will be better than last years robot.
The mentors have been helping students throughout the beginning weeks with anything that the students need.
Throughout the first week, the Warlocks have been testing different ideas to decide what functions we want our robot to have. The build team has been working hard building and testing some of the different aspects that we could incorporate into our robot. They have also starting to build a few of the field elements for our makeshift field.
Although some CAD students are still learning the ins and outs of CAD, they have also started to design some different bases for this years robot. In the first week the programmers have been training the new students. They have also been testing out a new drive base.
We look forward to the next few weeks of build season and the competition that we will face at our regionals. We wish all teams the best of luck as they begin to build their robots for the season. We’ll see you all at the competitions!
In week 6, the team is working to finish the final aspects of our robot, Buzz Lightyear!
Although Build isn’t completely done on Buzz, they are close to finishing the final few things that aren’t done. This year our robot was a little overweight, so Build has been working on the best way to make weight. They have however handed Buzz off to the programmers, so they can start doing what they do best. The programmers have started to work on our autonomous code, to help us during the Sandstorm period.
We have set up half a field in the high school’s cafeteria so our drivers can get in some practice before the season starts. On Sunday, some team members are heading to the Rochester Rally, to observe the different teams, and get an idea of how the games are going to go.
The Warlocks would like to thank all of the teachers, mentors, parents, sponsors, and the students that struggled through Build Season, and helped to make this possible.