Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/112475
Sarasota News Leader March 1, 2013 out with a small competition in New Hampshire, First Robotics has grown into an international series of competition with sponsors including Microsoft, Google and Texas Instruments. However, a critical element of the process is the local sponsors, who help out financially and technically in the development of the robots. Sun Hydraulics, the Pine View Association, Sarasota County Technical Institute, JC Penney, Loggerhead Instruments, Star2Star communications and Sarasota Manatee Manufacturers (SAMA) are among those who have made the efforts of the local team possible. Technical assistance from Sun Hydraulics seemed as exciting a part of the process for the students as it was to Justin Clay, an employee at the company. Page 78 ���I love robots. I���m one of the younger engineers at Sun,��� he said. ���But this was put together by the students. The things these kids learned will be carried through life, no matter what they do.��� He added, ���It���s impossible to build a robot like this in six weeks, but no one told these kids [that]. I���m really proud of them.��� The team is representative of the entire county, with members from Venice, North Port and Riverview High Schools, Cardinal Mooney High School, The Out-of-Door Academy and Pine View School. Laura O���Connell is the captain of the Jungle Robotics Team 3627. Peter Straw, the executive director of SAMA, could not praise her enough. Kyle Violete shows how the Frisbee-flinging robot works. Photo by Scott Proffitt