As you’re probably getting ready for bed at 9:30, Vishal Erabelli may be just arriving from a robotics meeting.
Founded in 2001, the Langley Robotics Team has travelled a long way; quarterfinalists in 2006 and reaching the semifinals at the Virginia Regional for the first time in team history.
The Langley Robotics team is hoping for yet another victory at their competition down south in Richmond.
Contrary to popular myth, the robotics team competitions don’t consist of juvenile battle-bot skirmishes. “They don’t want us just destroying other robots; each robot costs thousands of dollars,” said senior and co-captain of Langley Robotics Vishal Erabelli. Rather, these competitions test the skills and abilities of the robots through essentially an obstacle course.
There are around three drivers per robot while the rest of the team helps to fix anything that break between rounds and for moral support. “I feel very satisfied with the driving system. The competition should be fun,” said sophomore Ben Young. The theme varies year to year, but this year it consists of throwing Frisbees and climbing.
The Robotics team gathers nearly every day and works on Otto the Fourth, the robot. Although they have a workshop at their disposal, they don’t have the machines. Often, other high schools lay out the build and design of the robot and send it to someone to be built. Langley, however, takes pride in perfecting every detail of its robot, even if they means duct taping wires together or using hammers to do things that machines should.
Despite the lack of tools, however, the team has got it all covered. “It’s gone surprisingly well considering the craziness. We managed to get everything done quickly so that now we just have to test things and make sure they’re working properly,” said senior Kevin Hajimomenian.
At the Richmond Regional Competition this weekend, Langley was ranked in the top 20 out of 65. Who says you need a 7.2-Volt Cordless Two-Position Screwdriver kit to knock out the competition?
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Photos by Amirah Ahmad