Google Office Visit and SAS Meeting:

 

We received an invitation to visit this brilliant company due to the contribution of one of the parents in our group, and we seized the opportunity. We were permitted to witness the Vex Robotics competition, and a fantastic robot built by Anglo-Chinese School (ACS). We also formed invaluable and beneficial contacts through our interaction with people present at this event, and acquired answers to questions that had been foremost in our minds through our communications with those experienced in the field of robotics.

 

The aim of the competition was to stack blocks in a designated corner, or lift them up and place them in a certain enclosed region, using a robot built from scratch and a short set of instructions in an even shorter time period. The participants consisted of underprivileged children from across the country, the aim of the competition being to promote STEM in those without easy access to it. Majority of the robots had a mechanical claw that lifted the blocks and carried them to the required area. The wonderful robot designed by ACS stacked 5 or 6 blocks along a slanting surface and stacked them all at once by making the surface vertical and moving back. 

​

They (ACS) also gave a presentation in which they took us through their journey in various robotics competitions, providing us with the knowledge which is vital before beginning to build the robot. One of the main points was to be prepared for failure, which without a doubt strikes every team from time to time. The trick, according to them, is to bounce back stronger every time a mistake pushes you down. 

​

Of course, we couldn’t be happier with the visit - the contacts, the benefits, the general robotics expertise just emanated an aura of success. In addition to this, we had a feast of kings at the restaurants of Google Office, as well as generous drinks and snacks provided by VEX themselves. It was another brilliant experience! 

 

Following the Google/VEX event in the morning, we headed to Singapore American School in the afternoon, the robotics team only too happy to accept our request to answer as many questions we had about FIRST. We were permitted to visit their robotics lab, and see the tireless effort of all SAS FRC team students in their preferred habitat. Following this, our team members met with five representatives, who each presented their views on FRC, its intricacies, some tips on how to go about team planning, and several words of advice on construction and design. Certain members carried out an in-depth analysis of CAD, the primary design focus of FRC, and we concluded the premier meeting far more well-rounded in the technical fields. 

​

We also had a follow-up meeting with one outreach specialist from SAS, whose words of advice and presentation were far more developed than the simple powerpoint given for reference. With a plan of action roughly formed in our heads, each team member to work with certain others in a different outreach event, we exited the school with great appreciation and swirling thoughts. However, we were not confused- we were ready to face any obstacle that barred our way.