[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
Walpole Robotics FRC Team 1153, RoboRebels, returned from the St. Louis FRC World Robotics Championships Sunday, finishing 13th of 75 teams competing in their subdivision.
Losing in the quarterfinals, they made an impressive showing with second overall in defense points scored.
The event was held at the Edward Jones Dome and America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, MO April 27-30. There were 8 subdivisions and the winning alliances met on the Einstein Field in front of nearly 20, 000 spectators and teams.
Thirty nine countries, 700+ teams, 1300 volunteers, 35,000 free pairs of Google safety glasses were handed out to the 40,000 people who participated in the event last weekend.
Popstar and FIRST/STEM advocate, Will.I.Am ,NASA Chief Administrator, Charles Bolden and Dean Kamen, Inventor and founder of FRC were speakers at the closing ceremonies for the event.
Team members were also treated to special seating at a St. Louis Cardinals game and a parade of robots across the ball field.
Generous contributions from RiverTaw Farms, Merrikin Engineering, Rapid7, families and anonymous donors made the trip possible for 42 team members and mentors to attend the event.
The final event of the season will be at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on May 20 and 21 featuring the same FIRST Stronghold game and robot.
Students and their families are encouraged to attend this free event.
Details are posted on the Walpole Robotics Facebook page, www.walpolerobotics.org and through the Walpole Recreation Department.
The team’s biannual bottle and can drive is Saturday June 11 in the morning before the Epiphany Church Village Fair. The robots will be visiting the Fair in the afternoon.
