Huron Valley Robotics Squad Garners More Hardware

The Huron Valley HOT Team placed second overall at the West Michigan District event March 18-19. In addition, the team brought home the GM Industrial Design Award.

The award, according to Janet Roberts, director of community relations for the district, celebrates form and function. It awards teams that efficiently design a machine that effectively achieves a game challenge.

"This was another display of awesome teamwork," coach Lori Gleason said. "At West Michigan, our drive team, pit crew and scouters worked like well-oiled machines."

The HOT Team was formed in 1996 to inspire students' interest in science and technology, Roberts said. Mentors and students work together to build products that are judged in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics regional and national competitions.

These products include a robot that must be capable of playing a game designed by FIRST, documentation of the success of the team with multimedia technology, and an animated short created using the same software used by the motion picture industry, Roberts said.

The team will next compete at the Michigan State Robotics Championship, April 7-9, and the World Robotics Championship in St. Louis, MO, April 27-30.

The HOT Team won the World Championship in 2009 and 2010.