A humble-looking trailer sits on the edge of Waterloo East High School’s campus just off of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Situated in a gravel parking lot across from the school building, this portable trailer doesn’t stand out in the slightest, and yet, it is the unique sanctuary for high school students who are filled with a curiosity for technology. While this technology isn’t the type used at home, the various coding, hardware, and software components give students the resources to ideate and create competition-level robotics. Thankfully, coaches Dick Hurban and Nick Heinz are there to help this team of twenty-plus students bring their creations to life, supplying pizza and practical advice along the way.
The Waterloo FIRST Robotics Team is a joint venture for East and West high school students, meeting several times a week in the off-season, and offering the opportunity to come in and work every night during competition season. According to Hurban, the goal of the club is to give students the opportunity to use tools that they may not have access to otherwise, encouraging them to try and fail and try again within a safe and supportive learning environment.
Currently, the team is in the thick of competition season, having placed first out of 24 teams at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Superqualifer event 2 weeks ago in Bettendorf, Iowa. The FTC Iowa Championship – Gold Division is next in their sights, followed by the 2023 World Championship held in Houston, Texas. Houston will also be home to the more intensive First Robotics Competition (FRC) world championships, where the team hopes to compete after their upcoming qualifier matches in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Olathe, Kansas.
In both the FTC and FRC events, robotics teams are given the layout of the year’s new arena and are challenged to create a machine that can complete various tasks through pre-programmed motions and movements across the field during the initial autonomous round. Additionally, these robots need to be equally effective in the second round of operator-controlled competition. In order to create their custom-tailored robots for this year’s events, Waterloo’s combined robotics students have logged an astonishing 3300 hours coding, machining, and practicing with their eloquent and captivating machines.
“We teach two key fundamentals alongside robotics,” said Hurban. “Gracious professionalism and coopertition . If one of our competitors or allies needs a hand or a part, I want our team members to help them. We’re here to be the best, not take advantage of people dealing with unfortunate situations.”
The high school students each held a sense of pride while describing their creations for this competition season and their coaches beamed with joy at the passion and accomplishments of their students.
Evie Putz, a junior at West High, says she enjoys the problem-solving of coding and finding new ways to create patterns, solutions, and protections for the robot during the competition.
“I joined robotics because it piqued my interest in 7th grade,” said EviePutz. “The next thing I want to look into is an advanced control system to better control the robot.”
Her brother, Noah Putz, is her fellow robotics team member, and a West High senior. According to him, the robotics trailer creates a fun family environment filled with heartfelt people who encourage each other to be the best versions of themselves.
“Last year was my first FRC competition, and everyone had so much fun with it,” said Noah Putz. “There’s a level of friendship at these things that you don’t see anywhere else.”
While the teams’ growing accolades are certainly a reason to celebrate, the impact felt throughout the trailer’s workspace is one of collective togetherness. Whether they are 3-D printing hardware, programming pneumatic movements, or binging on pizza during a brainstorming session, the Waterloo FIRST Robotics Team continues to support one another each step of the way.
