ALBANY — Following a pandemic-induced two-year hiatus, Albany High School’s Robotics Club is winning titles again.
The Falcons robotics team earned second place in a recent major competition, making the students and their latest creation “Rein,” eligible to compete at the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston this spring. But the cost is an obstacle.
One of the club’s founding principles has been to allow any member to participate without financial cost. The team relies on donations from parents and companies to cover expenses related to competitions.
The club has less than a month to raise $46,500 for airfare, hotel and meal costs associated with the three-day event, which takes place April 20-23.
A group of parents have launched a Go Fund Me page to help raise the funds.
“Participation in the Robotics Club is highly correlated to high achievement at school and college acceptance,” organizer Gillian Flynn wrote. “This chance to compete is a tremendous honor and a validation of all their time and commitment to their school, and we want to make it happen for them.”
Rein the robot — designed, built and programmed with the help of advisers from National Grid — seamlessly scoops up balls and shoots them into a basketball hoop.
The Albany High robotics team was the runner-up in the 2022 New York Tech Valley FIRST Regional Robotics Competition held at the MVP Arena in downtown Albany earlier this month.
Albany was among 41 teams competing in the regional competition this year, with teams coming from the Capital Region, New York and other states.
The Falcons won the regional contest in 2018 and participated in the national championships in Detroit that same year.
Any donations remaining beyond what is actually necessary will be used to help fund future Albany robotics team competitions.
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