Realize, Inc is proud to support local science and technology students in the Indianapolis area.
Recently we sponsored the Fishers High School Robotics Team. The robotics team is called TigerDynasty (FRC Team #5010) and is associated with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.) We talked with Ryusuke Saito, the Vice President an co-founder of the team about the program.
Tell me about the Fishers Robotic Team, What does your team do?
Our team is a FIRST Robotics Competition team that competes at regional competitions in the region. Every year, at the start of January, FIRST presents a new game that teams must engineer a robot for. Teams are given six weeks to engineer a robot that works within the regulations set forth by FIRST.
Why is this team important for students and the school?
This team is extremely important for students as it can grow students interests in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. This program can teach students practical knowledge mixed with applied science and mathematics. Along with that, this program can also teach students crucial leadership, management, organization, coordination, and teamwork skills that classrooms cannot teach effectively. With the hands-on element of organizing and managing a team by students, everyone can learn and grow with the program itself.
Fishers High School Robotics Team- TigerDynasty
How did the Realize Sponsorship help your team?
To participate in the 2014 Boilermaker Regional Competition at Purdue University, Realize, Inc.’s, sponsorship helped our initial payment of $6,000.00 to participate at the competition. Without the help of Realize, we would not have been able to participate in our first official regional competition which created our credibility as an official team in that should be taken seriously.
TigerDynasty in action.
What do you love about Robotics?
The team was able to learn new technical skills that they had not known about. They learned everything from the basic skills as crimping wires to learning a brand new programming language to program a functioning robot. Though this is a robotics team, the team also enjoyed the social nature of the competitions and the activities involved because of the supportive and positive nature of the FIRST community.
How can you see Robotics and 3D Printing working together in the future?
We believe that robotics and 3D printing will definitely work together in the future. Even on this year’s robot used at the Boilermaker Regional Competition, one of our team mentors had a personal 3D printer and we utilized 3D printing to create a gyroscope mount for our robot. With that example, we believe that 3D printing and rapid prototyping will be crucial in the success of robots in the future.
What do you think students need more information on regarding the additive manufacturing industry?
I think students need more information regarding the applications of the additive manufacturing industry’s products and services. Many know 3D printing services exist and have some knowledge regarding it; however, many do not realize the applications or the real process of how rapid prototyping works.
The team robot, Hobbes II.
If you could 3D Print anything, what would that be?
If I could 3D print anything, I would 3D print a 3D printer for the team so that, in the future, they could have access to a 3D printer.
3D Printing/Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing
