Robotics teams converge on Renton

Kentridge team takes fourth place

Robots took over Lindbergh High School’s gym May 29. But they weren’t unattended. The sheet metal or plywood machines were controlled by local high schoolers competing in the 2008 Northwest Regional Robotics Competition.

This is the 15th year Lindbergh has hosted the battle, which was started in 1994 by the two founders of Lindbergh’s robotics program.

More than 200 students from 10 high schools dueled in the double-elimination contest May 29. The contenders competed in teams of two to four. Eighty-eight teams were in attendance, including 15 from Lindbergh, and teams from Kentridge and Kentlake in Kent, and Auburn Mountainview in Auburn.

By using remote controls, each team tried to get its robot to score as many goals possible with whiffle balls. Lindbergh’s Team “GUN” came out on top.

Lindbergh robotics and science teacher Matthew Randall and two other Lindbergh teachers organized Thursday’s event.

“The long and short of it, we are very, very pleased with how it worked out,” Randall said. “The coaches from other schools gave us great feedback.”

Thursday’s contenders received robot kits and the rules in March. Developed by Boeing engineers, the kits contain basic materials, including motors, gears, sprockets, chains, sheet metal, plywood and steel rods. Building the robots is the final project for Lindbergh’s robotics students. Robotics is a fourth-year science class.

The winners are...

First place: Team “GUN” from Lindbergh: Jeff Bentz, Joe Branson, Stephen Root and Jeanette Whitefield.

Second place: Team 68 from Sehome: Derek Handy and Tim Niebruegge.

Third place: Team 71 from Sehome: Chris Hoffman and Galen Kirkpatrick.

Fourth place: Team “That’s My Computer” from Kentridge: Brad McDonald, Wade Piehl and Kevin Stock.

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