Who are we?
We are Team OTTO 1746. We aren't your typical high school robotics team; we are so much more than that. With the world around us beginning to revolve around technology, the time has come where the next generation has to step up to the plate. As a part of the international FIRST robotics program (http://www.firstinspires.org), we aren't just building a robot. We’re learning skills, obtaining experiences, helping others, and preparing ourselves for the future. Oh, and of course, having tons of fun in the process!
In 2023, for the first time in OTTO history, we made it to Einstein, a prestigious field that only the top 32 robots qualify for after going through numerous rounds. Over the years, our team has improved immensely with how we deal with problems that arise. After the first district competition in March, we evaluated our robot, which represented two months of hard work, and we had to come to the difficult realization that it was not World Championship quality. Instead of staying in the past and contemplating how we could’ve prevented these mistakes from happening, we instead channeled all of our energy and emotions into creating our Newton Division winning robot. We continuously look for areas our team can improve in and have yearly discussions to reflect on our team’s progress. At the beginning of 2021 we started off with less than 15 members and now we have grown our team to over three times as many students. Our team members, when asked, wouldn’t say they are part of a robotics team, but rather that they are part of Team OTTO, because our team is more than a club. When someone new joins our team they become part of a community.
However, creating a robot capable of taking on competitors does not come without its costs. Travel costs and entrance fees for the competitions alone will cost each family around $125. These events are experiences that students will remember for the rest of their lives. They allow students to make connections with multiple different teams. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to help reduce the burden on families so that the price is not as much of a hindrance. This money will go towards paying the travel costs for the families. Rather than paying such a large sum, we are hoping to bring the cost per family. But we cannot do this without your support!