Robotics is a program that unites many to build robots and work as a team. Max Columbus is one of many students throughout the country who participate in this program. When asked about how it works he said, “ This is where you work with your team to design and compete with a robot that accomplishes a mission given to you.”
Columbus has been interested in robotics for a long time. He joined in the second grade and said that he first got interested because of Legos. Columbus explained how they got him into robotics. “I really enjoyed them so I joined a team to build stuff and learn different skills.”
The shut down during 2020 changed the course of Columbus’s journey. “ We switched online when I was in middle school and formed an alliance with the high school team due to COVID-19 and during this time I was learning a lot.” Although it was hard for him, Columbus was busy learning digital media skills and becoming more creative.
“When we were in person in 7th grade, I wanted to increase my knowledge of working in a workshop and putting my skills and digital creation to work.”
Columbus then spent a lot of time creating T-shirts, banners, and updating and maintaining the social media of the program. Although he said that he soon began working strictly on Youtube and their website.
Even though he was mostly working on the digital aspect of the robotics program he still helped out with building robots. Teruki Iwao, another member of the robotics team, said that they both work on building the robots. “He supports the building team whenever they need help and I work with him to improve the robot.”
Another teammate Lennon Kawabe spoke of Columbus being willing to help whenever possible and always being willing to grab something for another just to help. Kawabe is one of Columbus’s mentors and said that he, “Passes on knowledge and skills for the future of the team.”
“ For all of Elementary and Middle School you compete in one season of first, All programs throughout middle school and parts of high school are through the first robotics branch,” Columbus said. There are some competitions that are exclusive to Oakland County. “At the high school our fall to winter season is called OCCRA and it stands for the Oakland County robotics Association essentially each year you get propped up and a certain amount of time to build based on the mission.”
There are specific objectives in these competitions, Columbus explains, “In our first season which usually runs January to the spring we get a mission and we have to compete with that. We’re picking up certain objects and placing or moving them,” such as, “Cubes, fabric rings, tennis balls, and even beach balls.”
“Competitions are anywhere from 20 to 150 teams at one event with 2 and a half minute matches with two alliances and teleop and autonomous driving.” He goes on to say that OCCRA is 2 alliances with two teams meanwhile, First is 2 alliances with three teams.
Columbus said that they work very similarly and have a similar schedule. In any competition, it will most likely start with a welcoming ceremony and then the matches begin, there is a short break for lunch before the matches continue. A big difference is that in First there is an alliance selection and then there is lunch and playoffs.
At the end of any competition there is an award ceremony with awards going out to the groups who scored the most points as well as other things. When asked what award the robotics team usually got he answered that they don’t usually score very high but do get awards for the greatest community outreach.
Competitions can be very stressful. Columbus stated,” I am videoing pushing the cart at the end of the match with the robot fixing any issues while the competition is going.” Columbus goes on to say that there are sometimes arguments between people on how things should be done so competitions usually have a pretty stressful atmosphere.
When not building or working on the digital aspect of robotics, Columbus uses his time to help out in other areas. “I also tend to get out of the workshop and help the middle school teams from our district with various of their projects.” He also stated that when he is working with the middle schools he is usually helping with building ideas, helping discover issues after code is deployed, sharing experience and helping with posters or anything that can help in general.
Columbus’ teammate, Iwao, described Columbus as, “ really generous and talented. He works very hard every day to benefit the community and his work has helped us a lot in robotics and Beyond.” He further goes on to say, “His passion for robotics is very important and he is one of the most respected friends I have.”
When asked the same question Kawabe answered very similarly to Iwao; “I would describe Max as hard-working. He is willing to stay longer than most people and is always willing to help out whenever possible.”
Columbus loves being in robotics and wishes to do it for as long as he can. Through robotics he has improved upon many skills. Columbus has learned to grow as a person while working with a team and hopes to continue growing alongside his teammates.
