Last Friday, eleven teams from nearby counties, including one from Riverton Parke High School, were able to showcase their talents at the Rose-Hulman Autonomous Vehicle Challenge. Riverton Parke’s Robotics Team spent weeks designing, building, programming (coding), and testing their autonomous vehicle. They faced a great challenge because there was no one on this year’s team with previous coding experience.
\r\nThe goal of the competition is to create an autonomous vehicle that will gain maximum speed without losing control. The autonomous vehicle is equipped with a camera that helps keep it between the edges of the track if programmed correctly. The vehicle must keep at least one tire on the track at all times.
\r\n\r\nDuring the competition, the team had both coding and mechanical problems during the Oval Track competition and were forced to forfeit. Coming to the rescue was the Rose-Hulman support staff and Dr. Marc Herniter. The students made adjustments and were able to complete the Clover Track. With renewed confidence, the students were then able to complete the final competition of the day, and placed second on the Random Track. This is the first year the Riverton Parke High School Robotics Team has received an award at the competition.
\r\nRobotics Team sponsor, Laura Bennett said, “Rachel Porter [also a Robotics Team sponsor] and I were so pleased that the students kept trying to improve their car and didn't give up after their first setback. While it can be frustrating at times, it is very rewarding when the car finishes a run without errors.”
\r\nPictured is the Riverton Parke High School Robotics Team with their second-place award, from left: freshmen Isabella App and Nova Collings, and sophomore Hayden Hastings. Also participating on the Robotics Team this year, but unable to attend the competition, was sophomore Michael Amerman.
\r\nAlso pictured is the Riverton Parke High School Robotics Team with their sponsors, from left: Mrs. Laura Bennett, Isabella App, Nova Collings, Hayden Hastings, and Mrs. Rachel Porter.
