Team History
In 2009 Bixby Robotics was able to acheive more success than their first year. Although the team did
not make it to the World Championship again, the team functioned at a higher level than the previous year.
Coming into the season the team had secured a large amount of funds thanks to generous sponsors, such as,
Williams, Callidus, and Samson. Despite the team growing with an increase in members and funds, however,
the mentor, Derek Beller, received a job promotion and would no longer be able to manage the robotics team.
Everyone knew Beller deserved his promotion, but it was a setback for the team. Fortunately, before Beller had left,
two new mentors were recruited and led the team through the 2009 season. The new mentors were Jason Byrd and Daniel Eddings.
The season began with no glitches and on January 3 Bixby Robotics began the 6-week build period. Around the 4 week period the team encountered a large problem: the robot was overweight by 20 pounds. Instead of spending time testing and tweaking, the team had to spend the rest of their time minimizing weight on the robot. By ship date the robot was close to being underweight, but would have to be finished at the regional. The team's suspicions were correct when the arrived at the regional and the robot was still overweight. An idea to drill the heavy rubber wheels out struck the team. That modification eliminated all weight issues. The team was ready to compete.
For the 2009 season the drivers were Alex Whiteway, Sam Walker; the human shooter was Nick Earnest. At the regional Bixby Robotics was able to finish in the top 8 and be an alliance captain. For a permanant alliance the team chose 2333 and 2461. The team easily made it into the finals to play the number 1 seeded alliance. The first match resulted in a close score: 60-57. The second match, however, was not as close (96-52). The team placed second in the Oklahoma City regional. While coming close to winning the regional the team was able to win the web site award. Also, a new saying was pioneered by Nick Earnest, "Do that thing you do." In an effort to make it to the world championship the team made last minute arrangements to attend the new regional in Dallas.
A small group of Bixby Robotics members stayed at Sam Walker's grandparents home in Dallas for the duration of the Dallas regional. At the regional the venue was not as large as the Oklahoma City regional and the event was not ran as smooth, but the team had a promising run in the qualifications (6-2-0). The team competed their way into the top 8 again, even though the competition in Dallas was tougher than Oklahoma City. For their alliance the team chose 2468 and 2391. In the quarter finals the alliance lost in a controversial match, effectively ending the 2009 season.
The season began with no glitches and on January 3 Bixby Robotics began the 6-week build period. Around the 4 week period the team encountered a large problem: the robot was overweight by 20 pounds. Instead of spending time testing and tweaking, the team had to spend the rest of their time minimizing weight on the robot. By ship date the robot was close to being underweight, but would have to be finished at the regional. The team's suspicions were correct when the arrived at the regional and the robot was still overweight. An idea to drill the heavy rubber wheels out struck the team. That modification eliminated all weight issues. The team was ready to compete.
For the 2009 season the drivers were Alex Whiteway, Sam Walker; the human shooter was Nick Earnest. At the regional Bixby Robotics was able to finish in the top 8 and be an alliance captain. For a permanant alliance the team chose 2333 and 2461. The team easily made it into the finals to play the number 1 seeded alliance. The first match resulted in a close score: 60-57. The second match, however, was not as close (96-52). The team placed second in the Oklahoma City regional. While coming close to winning the regional the team was able to win the web site award. Also, a new saying was pioneered by Nick Earnest, "Do that thing you do." In an effort to make it to the world championship the team made last minute arrangements to attend the new regional in Dallas.
A small group of Bixby Robotics members stayed at Sam Walker's grandparents home in Dallas for the duration of the Dallas regional. At the regional the venue was not as large as the Oklahoma City regional and the event was not ran as smooth, but the team had a promising run in the qualifications (6-2-0). The team competed their way into the top 8 again, even though the competition in Dallas was tougher than Oklahoma City. For their alliance the team chose 2468 and 2391. In the quarter finals the alliance lost in a controversial match, effectively ending the 2009 season.
2008 was Bixby Robotics' rookie year. The team struggled to meet the entry fee, but formed a strong team of 14 members.
Within a week of the entry fee deadline, the team was directed money from FIRST's anonymous sponsors. With their entry
fee paid the team was ready to begin the season.
At the kick-off in Stillwater the team was the first to assemble their kitbot. The team continued to make their mark in FIRST robotics at the Oklahoma City Regional. At this regional the tradition was set of the drive team wearing orange suits and the rest of the team wearing black suits on the final day of competition. After being knocked out in the quarter-finals the team thought their season was over. They were surprised, however, when their name was announce for the Engineering Inspiration Award.
Winning the award secured the team a spot in the World Championships held in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. The award was so unexpected that the team had to call FedEx and have their robot, which had already been shipped back to Bixby, re-routed to the world championships. Bixby Robotics is the first rookie team to win the award. The World Championships were an eye-opening experience for the team. At Worlds there are 4 divisions of ~90 teams, Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, and Currie. Bixby Robotics competed in the Archimedes division, ranking the highest out of all the Oklahoma teams.
At the kick-off in Stillwater the team was the first to assemble their kitbot. The team continued to make their mark in FIRST robotics at the Oklahoma City Regional. At this regional the tradition was set of the drive team wearing orange suits and the rest of the team wearing black suits on the final day of competition. After being knocked out in the quarter-finals the team thought their season was over. They were surprised, however, when their name was announce for the Engineering Inspiration Award.
Winning the award secured the team a spot in the World Championships held in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia. The award was so unexpected that the team had to call FedEx and have their robot, which had already been shipped back to Bixby, re-routed to the world championships. Bixby Robotics is the first rookie team to win the award. The World Championships were an eye-opening experience for the team. At Worlds there are 4 divisions of ~90 teams, Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, and Currie. Bixby Robotics competed in the Archimedes division, ranking the highest out of all the Oklahoma teams.
