Team Story

From humble beginnings, Anderson robotics started with seven students, one teacher, and three highly influential mentors. The team decided to participate in the BEST competition. Students learned a lot, starting with no tools, no knowledge of robotics, and in a make-shift shop in the back of the teacher sponsor's classroom. Each students contributed their own unique set of skills. Over that first robotics competition each student grew immensely over those six weeks-their skill with tools increased, they operated as an efficient, close-knit team, their creativity soared. With each week that passed the team grew more and more focused, working more intensely and spending more free time on the project. In the end was a real sense of pride felt for the great things accomplished in such a short period of time. After this first competition the team was hooked on robotics and made a seemingly rash decision-compete in FIRST. Team membership, robotics knowledge,and an overall feeling of excitement for this new path were all on the rise. The complexity and resources needed with new challenge required support from both corporate groups and a facility to construct the robot in. With support from National Instruments, the University of Texas and many other private donors Anderson Robotics, The Austin Cans, was able to begin construction of their first FIRST robot. With hours of work, the aide of many dedicated and competent mentors and many sleepless nights we were able to construct a great robot. The product of our labor was the Rookie All-Star award. We were honored and ecstatic to receive such an award. This success allowed us to travel to and participate in the FIRST Robotics national level competition. At nationals we had the privilege of meeting many experienced veteran teams from who we could learn. This year, 2008, we are participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition for the second time. We went into this year's competition with a veteran outlook on things: more knowledge of management, the build process and public relations.