Kinetic Knights build field elements for robot practice, with help from UBC Local 2222

The Kinetic Knights Robotics Team (FRC Team 781) is busy building its robot for this year’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) challenge, “Crescendo.”

With the design and construction of the robot under way, the team needed space, equipment and assistance to build the field elements used to practise driving the robot on a playing field. Among these, were a speaker, human player station, and a stage.

UBC Local 2222 welcomed the Kinetic Knights to use the space at its building, located at the south end of Queen Street, Kincardine, and made equipment and manpower available to create the wooden items.

Thanks to the union’s support, the required field elements were completed in a couple of days and are now being used for driver practice at space donated to the team by Applus, located in the industrial complex on Mahood-Johnston Drive in Kincardine.

The team appreciates its major sponsors, including Bruce Power, Enbridge, McKechnie Pharmacy, the Kincardine Legion, NPX, and many others, including Rona Kincardine, and Linda Bowers of Century 21 In-Studio Realty in Kincardine.

Team 781 has registered for two competitions in March – one in Oshawa and one in North Bay. If the Kinetic Knights qualify, they would then advance to the provincial championships in Mississauga in April.

Kinetic Knights Robotics is a community youth robotics organization, open to young people, ages 13-19, in Kincardine. Currently, there are about 25 members and 12 mentors who focus on various aspects of team-building, as well as constructing a robot to enter in FIRST competitions.

For more information or to sponsor the team, contact lead mentor, David Dadson, at dcdadson@live.com.