-e ® COMMUNITY Craig Kielburger Secondary School takes robotics: vl Canadian Charmguor STEVE LEBLANC sleblanc@metroland.com With technology con stantly changing, the learning curve for those in the world of robotics is ... well, never ending. For those who embrace that reality, the possibility for improvement - and in- creased success - is also without limits. Po Just ask Mike Druiven. Founder of Craig Kiel- burger Secondary School's Robotics Team and still at its helm since retiring last year, he's seen 'the tech-savvy students' expertise - and competi- . tive results - progress each year since the club's cre- ation in 2013. That upward trajectory continued earlier this spring with their first trip to the FIRST Robotics (For Inspiration & Recognition of Science & Technology) & provincial finals at Missis- sauga's Hershey Céntre. "Every year the goal is to do better, aim a little higher," said Druiven, indidehalton.com Team delivers strong showing in debut at provincial finals whose team now includes 30 members with a healthy mix of newcomers and veterans, plus _a* strong retention rate over the years. "That's (con- stant improvement) all part of the plan." Not only did CKSS's Ro- botics Team -¥nicknamed Hidden Figure - reach the provincials, but made it to the semifinals in an 80- team field. "It felt great," said Grade 12 team captain An- sar Khan, who last year was part of a two-person . that took top honours in the Skills Ontario Compe- tition Robotics & Control Systems category. He's ap- plied to the University of Waterloo in hopes of studying electrical engi- neering. "Even though we didn't make it in the past I went to the provincials and saw just what it took to qualify and the level of competition. "I've always been inter- ested in computers and en- gineering and this (FIRST Robotics) really teaches Sn, success to next level vou the skills for industry and university. It puts you ahead in all these stem fields." Following in the foot steps of his older brother, second-year member Shaurva Manocha took the driving reins this year after discovering a knack for it during an off-season event. "It's not so much my driving ability ... anyone can take the controls and operate a robot. It's more about not letting the pres- sure get to you during a match and following in- structions." He and the Hidden Fig- ure crew did an impressive job of that at the Hershey Centre, where two allianc- es of three teams each were tasked with having their robots place. milk crates - dubbed "power cubes" -on large balancing scales to tip the scale and gain ownership. Alliances can also trade power cubes for power ups, giving them a tempo- rary advantage. At the end of the match, robots can climb the tower attached to the centre balancing scale using a rung, giving Craig Kielburger Robotics Team members (from left) and Shaurya Manocha work on their robot. them additional points. School teams have just six weeks to build their ro- bot aftey each year's rules and regulations are an- nounced in January. After that they have only one op- portunity to test it out be- - fore the competition - which is held on a basket- ball-sized playing field. To that end, CKSS took advantage of an invitation to practice at a club in Steve LeBlanc/Metroland Brett Hobbs, Ansar Khan Oakville this year, one which provided conditions much closer to the actual FIRST Robotics environ- "ment. ® See CLUB, page 42 LeaseBusters.com is the largest vehicle lease marketplace in Canada -- we'll unlock you from your vehicle lease commitment... save time, early termination fees and penalties. Call now for a free consultation 1-888-357-2678 or visit us at www.LeaseBusters.com EASE == USTERS COM