As humans, we have an undeniable fascination with robots.
We like to see them built, what they can do and what the future might yield with them in our lives. The thing is, most of us have no clue about how to actually build robots.
But there are some local high school students that definitely know how to design and build them – and they’ve been all over the country showcasing their talents.
This April, as the school year was coming to an end – Team 987 High Rollers from Cimarron-Memorial High School was inducted into the chairman’s hall of fame for their record of success at the 2016 FIRST Robotics World Championships.
The team took third overall at this year’s event, second place last year and a world championship title in 2008.
The chairman's circle is considered the highest honors at the event, and only 20 teams hold this prestigious title.
So how does it work?
Each year, robotics teams around the world receive starter kits at the kickoff, - a mashup of electronic items and motors, and some guidelines about the yearly game animation.
From there, the students have six weeks to fabricate, design, assemble and make a robot - usually weighing about 120 lbs.
"There's no slow-down time at all," said coach Eric Stensrud. "These students work until midnight many nights during the week because it's crazy and very intense."
The High Rollers were the 987th team in the country to start a robotics team -- hence the name -- and now compete with more than 6,000 teams in 23 different countries worldwide.
"As the adults, we don't want the kids coming in knowing anything, because we don't want them to come in with bad habits," Stensrud said.
Students work with a team of professional engineers, and at the kickoff divvy up jobs and responsibilities -- sometimes those responsibilities don't have to do with working directly with the robot.
Senior Alexa Lignelli was the team's communications manager, handling social media, interviews and correspondence among competition organizers.
Senior Kylie Pratt said she wasn't sure about joining the team as a freshman, and just attended a meeting on a whim.
"I came in knowing absolutely nothing," Pratt said. "Then I moved my way up and worked really hard and became the lead electrician, and then continued working my way up to become the team's president my senior year."
This year, the competition was held in St. Louis, Mo., and this summer, the students will travel to Shanghai, China to work with local high schools on starting robotics programs.
To help send the team to China, check out their gofundme site.
Eric Stensrud, coach, Team 988; Kylie Pratt, senior, Cimarron-Memorial High School; Alexa Lignelli, senior, Cimarron-Memorial High School