Team 134 - Team Discovery –
Pembroke Academy/BAE Systems
209 Academy Rd, Pembroke, NH 03275
(603) 485-7881, FAX (603) 485-1824
Rookie Year: 1997
2008 Bot name: Pluto
Advisor: David Kelly
FIRST is a unique experience. Picture a NASCAR team and all the things involved. There is fund raising, a business plan, marketing, designing, public relations, fabrication, technical support, team apparel, strategy, driving, a pit crew, and scouting teams. But unlike NASCAR where you know what the challenge is, FIRST is different. On the first weekend in January the team finds out what the current year’s game will be. Then we have 6 weeks to design, build, test, program, learn how to operate this year’s robot, and ship. During this time the majority of the marketing happens and we need to build a mock playing field to test out the robot. The games can involve balls, chin-up bars, goals, rolling platforms, pillows, tetrahedrals, storage boxes, teeter totters, inner tubes. As you can imagine or may have already experienced with us, it is pretty intense to accomplish all of this in six weeks. We meet at least 3 afternoon/evenings a week and both Saturdays and Sundays during the build season.
What makes us so successful is that we are not only a team of students but a team of students and mentors. These mentors are community members, parents, engineers, and college professors. We invite any interested adult, including post grads to show up and help at any time. Mentors do not need have an engineering background just a desire to help with the effort. The same is true with student team members. No special skills or knowledge are needed to join.
Accomplishment
2008 Season
· Participant at WPI’s Savage Soccer, part of Championship coalition
· Held Savage Soccer North at Pembroke Academy
· First Place at the BAE Granite State Regional
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2007 Season
· Participantat River Rage
Semi-finalist at Savage Soccer Quarter finalist at BAE Regional 7th seed at BAE Regional
Quarter finalist at CT Regional Judges Award for Outstanding Community Out Reach CT Regional Started 8 new VEX teams Hosted Savage Soccer North Developed Ice Rescue System
2006 Season
· Semi- final finish at Savage Soccer
WPI Wow Factor award at Savage Soccer Eight seed at River Rage Competition Demonstration and parade at the Allenstown/Pembroke Old Home day Quarter final finish at Granite State regional Team Safety awards at Granite State regional Demonstration for the Loudon Club Scout Technology Festival Mentored Concord High School Team Mentored Hopkinton/John Stark Team Quarter Final Finish at Savage Soccer Finalist at River Rage
2005 Season
Mentored The St, Paul’s School team throughout the season Worked with the Pine Haven Center for Troubled Youth Attended the Granite State Regional Competition Semi-Final Finish in River Rage Competition Semi-Final Finish at Savage Soccer with new VEX System at WPI
2004 Season
2004 was a great year. After receiving the BAE grant, we attended the BAE Systems Granite State Regional. We made it through to the Semi-final rounds and received the Innovation in Control Award. The team then traveled to the Pennsylvania Robotics Challenge and competed into the Semi-final round. In June, Team Discovery competed in WPI’s BattleCry and made it to the Quarterfinal rounds. In September, the team competed at River Rage and advanced to the Semi-finals. Although Murphy never was able to break into the finals, he was perhaps the strongest robot Team 134 has ever built. In December Participated in WPI Savage Soccer
2003 Season
This season the team did a great job getting the message of FIRST out to more sponsors and members, as well as raise our team spirit! Our participation at the BAE Systems Granite State Regional proved educational, and we had a great time waving our flags, and wearing our bandannas and t-shirts. It was a great experience cheering on not only our team but all the other teams there! Team Discovery did a complete flip at the Chesapeake Regional. With even more spirit, experience and determination, our team went in and dominated the regional. Getting picked in the finals by the first seed, Teams 306 and 384, we won the Chesapeake Regional!
Team Discovery entered and won the Rally in the Valley Competition hosted by Lebanon High School in May. Members built the pink wheel monster and competed at River Rage in September.
2002 Season
· During this season, our team held several fundraisers allowing us to go to the UTC New England Regional in New Haven, CT where we finished in the middle of the pack.
We participated in Rally in the Valley hosted by Lebanon High School in May. Team Discovery entered and participated in River Rage hosted by Manchester West High School in September.
2001 Season
· At the Philadelphia Alliance Regional Competition, Team Discovery was awarded the Imagery Award for our team appearance and demeanor.
2000 Season
· Team Discovery won the Philadelphia Alliance Regional Competition.
· Our team won the Best Defensive Award.
1999 Season
· Our team attended New England Regional Competition in Hartford, CT.
· Team 134 placed 5th in Rumble On The Rocks Competition
