High school’s science project Tad bit of work

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.

With only a few days to go before departing Rancho High School for a regional science competition, it appeared Tad was feeling the pressure.

Tad paced back and forth. Tad turned in circles. When asked by teammates to complete a simple task, Tad balked. At one point Tad's arm swung upward and became wedged against ceiling tile, prompting computer teacher Don Yanzer to intervene.

"Everybody take a second here," Yanzer told the members of Rancho's robotics club. "Reverse the polarity, bring the arm down and start again."

"Tad" stands for "Tetra Accumulation Device," the students' nickname for their 6-foot tall entry in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, Robotics Competition.

Founded in 1989 by a coalition of private-sector corporations, educational institutions and government agencies including NASA, FIRST Robotics' annual event draws entries from 20,000 students in 38 countries.

More than 2,000 students, including teams from Alaska and Hawaii, will face off in a regional competition at UNLV March 31 through April 2. The winners will earn berths at the national competition later this year in Atlanta.

The Las Vegas high school entries were sponsored by a variety of companies, agencies and organizations, including NASA and Southwest Gas. NASA provided the parts and raw materials while the school and the community helped raise the additional $6,000 needed for the project, Yanzer said.

To encourage a level playing field, FIRST Robotics gives each school a specific task that its robot must be able to complete and just six weeks to build the design. All schools receive the same kit of parts.

Per the competition's rules, Rancho's robot must be able to pick up a triangular pyramid made of plastic tubing and deposit it over a 5-foot goal post.

At the competition Rancho's robot will be teamed with an entry from another school and the students will have to collaborate to complete a series of tasks. The competition is designed to not only promote science, technology and engineering, but also teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Regardless of how well Tad performs, team member and Rancho freshman Amanda Moran said participating has been a worthwhile, if time-consuming, experience. The team has spent nearly every day after school and most Saturdays since January working on the project.

"It's been harder than I thought but interesting," Moran said.

There have been some setbacks, Moran conceded. "Tad" was damaged when a student manning the remote control went too fast and he accidentally sent the robot crashing into a wall in a school hallway.

That student was informally banned from driving "Tad" after that, Moran said.

"He doesn't even have a learner's permit," Moran said.

Michael Sausa, a 10th grader in Rancho's Aviation Academy magnet program, said he's learned more than just a new appreciation for robotics.

"I've learned a lot about mechanical properties, the properties of metals, hydrolics," Sausa said. "It's about a lot more than just playing with electronics."

"Tad" was boxed up Tuesday and shipped to the competition organizers who will make sure the robot's design meets the regulations.

While he's been teaching about computers at Rancho for 16 years, Yanzer said he's never attempted anything as technologically ambitious as serving as advisor to the school's first robotics club. He's had help from Ceyril Paulus of Palo Verde High School, whose robotics team boasts nearly 100 members and has been up and running since 2000.

Help has also come from Louis Dube, who graduated from Rancho in 2001 and is now in his junior year of an engineering degree at UNLV.

When he found out schools were looking for engineering students to serve as advisers, Dube said he quickly signed up. He didn't expect to be assigned to his alma mater but was glad he was.

"Some of the schools are further ahead because they have more experience," said Dube, who plans to be an aerospace engineer. "We're getting down to the wire but we'll get it done."

After the competition "Tad" will come back to Rancho where the robot will have a place of honor as the school's debut entry and serve as a learning tool for other students, Yanzer said.

Rancho Principal Bob Chesto said the school is planning to add a robotics class to the curriculum and he wants students to build a robot that could serve as a goodwill ambassador when the replacement campus opens in 2006, welcoming visitors in English and Spanish.

"They could call it 'Bob,' " Chesto said. "I wouldn't mind at all."