Robotics Team Shines as Division Finalists at FIRST Championships

Robotics Team Shines as Division Finalists at FIRST Championships

Peddie Robotics celebrates their win as Division Finalists at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston on April 20, 2024.

Peddie Robotics Team 5895 emerged as Division Finalists at the 2024 FIRST Robotics Championships in Houston.

The team’s journey to Houston was a testament to their dedication and hard work, which began with a triumphant victory at the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championships for the third consecutive year. Under the mentorship of Head Coach Scott Meredith and faculty mentors Kevin Brown, Gregory Koch and Imad Labban, the team entered the championships determined to push their limits and demonstrate their prowess against 600 teams from around the world.

For this year’s challenge, dubbed “CRESCENDO,” the team designed, fabricated and coded a 120-lb. robot capable of scoring points by amplifying speakers and playing notes onstage. The robot is named “Itsumade” after the mystical Japanese bird-like creature, symbolizing perseverance.

For technician and engineer Kefei Wu ’24, Peddie Robotics has been more than just a club- it’s been a transformative journey. “I came to Peddie for robotics,” Wu said. “It’s probably the most transformative experience I’ve had. It’s cemented my love for engineering. It’s cemented my love of teamwork.” As she prepares to embark on her next chapter at UC Berkeley as an engineering major, Wu remains grateful for the friendships forged and the skills honed through her involvement with Peddie Robotics. “Team dinners at Chipotle are a thing!”

Technician Kefei Wu '24 attends to Peddie's robot, Itsumade, in preparation for the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championships.

Technician Kefei Wu ’24 attends to Peddie’s robot, Itsumade, in preparation for the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championships.

In the wake of their district championship triumph, the team spared no effort in fine-tuning their robot for the pinnacle event. With meticulous adjustments and repairs, including addressing a damaged bumper, the robot was primed for its journey to Houston. The robot made the journey by truck as the students eagerly anticipated their departure for Houston days later.

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international robotics competition with over 3,700 teams across 28 countries. Through FIRST’s emphasis on real-world applications, Peddie students gain invaluable engineering, programming and finance/marketing skills, underlining the importance of collaboration with peers and experienced mentors.