Kingston robotics team qualifies for 2023 FIRST Robotics World Championship
W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics, a team of 21 high school students, has been invited to compete in the 2023 FIRST Robotics World Championship in Texas later this month.
Each year, the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC) releases a challenge, and the W.A.F.F.L.E.S team designs and builds a robot to compete in the championships. This year, it took the students six weeks to complete their 125-pound robot made from a mechanically refined cocktail of both custom and factory made parts, according to a release from the organization.
“With the guidance of mentors, students put in hours of work designing, machining, assembling and programming their robot. It’s safe to say this season their hard work paid off,” the release reads.
After winning the FIRST Impact Award at the Ontario District Newmarket Complex Event, and winning the Ontario District Humber College Event undefeated, W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics competed at the FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship earlier this month. There, they earned an invitation to the World Championships in Houston, Texas, by ranking 5th overall in Ontario. Between April 19 and 22, 2023, W.A.F.F.L.E.S. will represent Canada as they compete against 600 teams from more than 30 different countries.
Despite being a robotics team, W.A.F.F.L.E.S. is more than just robots. The organization said that it aims to spark creativity and ignite a flame of passion in kids and students around the Kingston community and help shape the future. Ibrahim Ahmad, a grade 10 student on W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics who has gained many valuable skills as the team captain and sponsorship lead, said his experience has helped him earn an internship with Google via the FIRST Canada Youth Council, as well as other benefits.
“W.A.F.F.L.E.S. brings out the best in me. I’m lucky to have support and guidance to develop my passion for leadership into something more,” shared Ibrahim Ahmad, student and Team Captain on W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics
According to the release, W.A.F.F.L.E.S. gives back to the community through demonstrations, workshops, and other initiatives, reaching over 10,000 people yearly. The organization conducts site visits to major sponsors and local schools, and participates in community events such as Science Rendezvous and Princess Street Promenade. They also organize various programs, including LEGO robotics summer camps, in addition to Fall, Winter, and Spring programs for the FIRST LEGO League.
W.A.F.F.L.E.S. has also made an impact through their partnership with Canadian Blood Services. According to the release, since 2014, W.A.F.F.L.E.S. has named their robot after someone in need of a stem cell transplant. This year, they’ve chosen twin toddlers Misha and Zoey and encourage anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 to join the stem cell registry in hopes of finding a match.
W.A.F.F.L.E.S. FRC Team 4476 noted that they could not have achieved this success without the generous contributions of their Gold level sponsors: Kingston Community Health Centres, Novelis and Pure Ingenuity and Silver level sponsors, Queen’s University, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Studica, FabCut, Spectrum Education, and Ontario Power Generation, as well as many other companies and local businesses.
The organization is always looking for sponsors and supporters. Anyone who is interested in helping this team put Kingston, Ontario on the world map for its excellence in youth robotics, can consider becoming a sponsor or supporter!
More information about the organization can be found on the W.A.F.F.L.E.S. Community Robotics website, www.wafflesrobotics.com, or by emailing [email protected]. Information on FIRST and all of its robotics programs can be found at www.firstinspires.com.