CBA Robotics Students Excel at Regional Competition

April 13, 2018
Posted at 06:49h in News by

Last weekend, three Christian Brothers Academy students attended their first-ever regional robotics competition, and unsurprisingly, left as one of the highest scoring teams in their division.

At the SeaPerch: Northern New Jersey Regional Competition, seniors Thomas Gana and Michael DeMasi and junior William Walsh took second place in the high school division at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne.

They finished second in a group of 18 schools, including four from the Passaic County Technical Institute. The CBA team is coached by Mr. Matthew Reagan.

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program in which students build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts. Throughout the project, students use engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork, and technical applications to create an ROV capable of navigating an underwater obstacle course and an underwater recovery course.

Both courses are timed and students earn points number of objects recovered and the precision of their placement. Students are also judged on the design of their robot and their ability to present and explain their engineering process. Judges inspect the robot and expect all members of the team to be able to demonstrate their knowledge of the design and its implementation.

In the presentation portion of the tournament, the boys received top scores from the judges for professionalism, teamwork, conduct, and knowledgeability. In this round, the CBA trio won the first place trophy based on their engineering journal and their ability to articulately explain their design to the judges in an organized and engaging manner. The final standings are a compilation of three different rounds.

Prior to this event, CBA has only participated in one unofficial practice event, so they were very much the “new kids on the block.” However, by the end of the competition, CBA had earned its rightful place as a talented robotics team.

 

Check out a video of our students’ underwater robot:

 

About Christian Brothers Academy:
 
Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) is a private, Catholic, academic preparatory school for boys located in Lincroft, New Jersey. Founded in 1959 and taught in the Lasallian tradition, CBA is dedicated to helping students become intellectually mature and morally responsible leaders for society. Through the combined efforts of the Office of Advancement and friends of the Academy, CBA awards over $1.5 million in scholarships and financial aid to current students. Experience the Academy at www.CBALincroftNJ.org.
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