RIVER FALLS – Imagine designing and constructing semi-autonomous competitive robots without a blueprint. Electronics, working with wood, programming, you have to do it all, with a few guidelines to follow. Think you could do it?

The River Falls High School robotics team competed for the second time in the FIRST Robotics Competition April 4-6 in La Crosse. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people ages 4-18 for the future through inclusive, team-based robotics programs. Participants are guided by a set of core values to conduct research, raise funds, design, build and showcase their machines.

The group, consisting of 17 students (12 of them underclassmen) is led by River Falls School District technology and engineering teacher Ryan Brill.

“In a field of 54 teams, we placed 41^st,” Brill said. “While we had hoped for a higher placement, I am proud of our team's efforts and dedication. Considering the challenges we faced, including the transition of leadership and the predominance of underclassmen this year, our performance demonstrates significant progress.”

Brill said last year was the group’s first year and many of the founding members and team leaders graduated.

“A majority of our team this year was comprised of freshmen and sophomores,” Brill said. “This season has been about building cohesion and laying the foundation for future success. To finish higher than last year despite the obstacles speaks volumes about the potential of this team. With more experience, I am excited to see what this team can accomplish in the future.”

According to the FIRST website, teams of students (under strict rules, limited time and resources) must raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills and build and program industrial-sized robots to play a difficult field game against other competitors. Volunteer professional mentors help the students and guide each team.

Brill, who is in his fifth year at River Falls and 17^th overall, teaches manufacturing, CNC machining, computer science, engineering, welding, and robotics.

“I love teaching technology and engineering as it enables students to create solutions for problems they see in the world around them,” Brill said.

The FIRST robotics team is part of an after-school activity. In the classroom, Brill teach robotics, engineering, programming, and various manufacturing processes. In the manufacturing classes, students learn how to design using Computer Aided Design, then use their designs to run lasers, 3D printers, CNC routers and mills, as well as welding and woodworking.

“In later courses students earn industrial certificates in the respective field of manufacturing,” Brill said. “Some examples of projects in manufacturing would be milling and turning machinists' hammers, wallets, and yo-yo’s as well as parts that local community members request be made for personal or small business use.”

Students also weld rocket stoves, collapsible shovels, flat-pack fire grills and CNC Plasma cut metal art, he added.

“In the engineering and robotics pathway, students begin by learning the design process, CAD, electronics and programming and use their skills to solve problems with 3D printing,” Brill explained. “They design small robots for classroom competition and create machines using mechanisms, electronics and Programmable Logic Controllers to achieve a given task. Finally, in Computer Programming, students use skills learned to program video games, apps, websites and microcontrollers.”

Brill’s favorite part of the FIRST Robotics program is the culmination of everything taught in the classroom. Their team consists of four sub-teams in the areas of programming, mechanical, electrical and media.

“Students who have skills and talents in a specific area are able to focus on their contribution to the team. If a student is talented in Adobe Illustrator, they don’t need to program or machine out a part for the robot, they can focus on designing publicity for the team,” Brill said. “In this program there is room for every student to succeed and they are all able to bring their individual talents for the common good of the team.”

Brill said students take pride in seeing their contribution bring success to the team.

“It could be the programming of an autonomous routine to score points, or the design and manufacture of a sub-assembly to score points in the competition, or a clean wiring job that impresses judges and other teams, or even the creation of the brochure that starts the relationship with local community members and business,” he said.

The skills learned can be taken into students’ future careers and post-secondary education. Brill has seen students inspired to enter engineering and manufacturing fields thanks to the program.

“I have also seen students gain confidence in their skills honed in this program and have started entrepreneurial ventures out of their garage at home,” he said. “In many colleges, students will gain scholarships for participating in FIRST Robotics. Students also practice presenting to professionals in local business showcasing the program and collaborating with them on tips on how to solve various problems.”

Not only do students learn the design process in this group, but they learn how to work as a team, time management skills and how to interact with business owners.  

Some of Brill’s proudest moments have actually come when something breaks or goes wrong at competition.

“For students to be able to assess a problem, know the system and how it should work, and be able to come up with a suitable fix in a time crunch demonstrates the highest level of ownership and skill that can’t be duplicated in the classroom,” he said.

The robotics team is in the process of starting a booster club to create and facilitate a district-wide robotics program. The high school and Westside Elementary currently have teams. Next year, one will be established at Meyer Middle School.

“Our goal is to create robotics programs at each of the elementary schools and to support STEM experiences for all students in the district as well as have outreach to give back to our community in various capacities,” Brill said.

To learn more about the program and watch video of competition examples, visit https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/what-is-first-robotics-competition