Denver Robotics Team Advances to State Championship

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The Denver, Iowa, High School robotics team, CYBOTS? (yes, with the question mark!), recently secured a spot at the Iowa FIRST Tech Challenge Championships. This is a significant achievement for the team, as it highlights the growing trend of the democratization of STEM education and the blossoming of competitive robotics in rural America.

Why it matters

The CYBOTS?' success is a microcosm of a larger trend in STEM education, where FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is experiencing a surge in popularity, particularly in areas often overlooked by traditional STEM initiatives. This expansion is crucial, as it helps to address the skills gap in the manufacturing and technology sectors, where automation and robotics expertise are in high demand.

The details

The CYBOTS?' focus on autonomous programming, utilizing PedroPathing and Bézier curves, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of robotics movement and control systems. This is precisely the kind of skillset employers are desperately seeking, as a recent report by Deloitte estimates a skills gap of 2.1 million manufacturing jobs by 2030, with automation and robotics expertise being key areas of need. The team's ability to quickly iterate on their autonomous code is a testament to the agile development methodologies fostered by these competitions, which are invaluable in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

• The Denver, Iowa, High School robotics team, CYBOTS?, recently secured a spot at the Iowa FIRST Tech Challenge Championships.