Worthington WarBots team lauded by board after robot demo, qualifies for world competition

The Worthington City Board of Education recognized the WarBots 4145 robotics team on June 10 and watched a live demonstration of the competition robot, which the team and coaches said helped qualify them for the world competition.

"This is a combination of several months dedicated to the exploration of STEM and learning how to assemble a very, very competitive prototype," said assistant coach Jared Weiskerber, who described the team's use of industry-standard computer vision and the robot's mechanisms. "At a maximum speed, this robot can move at about 17 feet per second," he said, and said the demonstration unit onstage was equipped with about 15 motors, eight dedicated to the drive train.

Board members congratulated the students and coaches and presented certificates. The board noted the program began in 2012 with fewer than a dozen members and has since grown to a team of about 26 students; board members also highlighted that many team members expressed interest in STEM careers.

Assistant coach Jared Weiskerber and coach John Baird introduced team members present at the meeting; the board invited them to park the robot for a group photo and presented certificates to students and coaches.

What happens next: The team will continue competition and practice through the summer; the board recognized the group and did not take additional formal action.

Sources: Remarks and onstage demonstration by Jared Weiskerber and coaches at the June 10, 2024 Board of Education meeting.