SkillsUSA Robotics Urban Search & Rescue
What is SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA is a program that empowers students to become skilled professionals, career ready leaders, and responsible community members.
The SkillsUSA Framework focuses on three main areas:
1. Personal Skills
2. Workplace Skills
3. Technical Skills
Participating in the SkillsUSA Robotics Urban Search & Rescue challenge was a wonderful learning experience, and it was a sort of starting point in my engineering learning path.
What is Robotics Urban Search & Rescue?
This challenge was specifically designed for students without too much familiarity with engineering to jump into robotics.
My partner and I put together a robot using FIRST Robotics parts. This robot was designed to be remote controlled with an onboard camera.
The goal is to navigate a course with mailboxes, and use the mechanical arm on the robot to retrieve cubes from inside the mailboxes and return them safely to an area outside the course.
My Experience
Prior to participating in this challenge, my engineering experience amounted to elective classes and FIRST robotics in middle school, before COVID-19 hit.
With that said, I had a basic knowledge and experience working in engineering. But this challenge was my first time leading a project, contributing to every single part.
I learned a lot, and it fueled me to search for more in the field…
