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Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics MIT/NASA Zero Robotics Team Named Semifinalist in International Challenge

Submitted by: Leigh Hewlett on Nov 09, 2011 at 8:42 pm Tagged with: Computer Programming, High School, International Space Station, MIT, nasa, Robotics, Satellites, SC GSSM, South Carolina, South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Foundation, SPHERES Challenge 2011, Zero Robotics Source: South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Foundation

The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) robotics team, Pirate Squad, was recently named a tier one semifinalist in the Zero Robotics SPHERES Challenge 2011, which is organized by MIT and NASA. Ranked number seven out of 88 teams from around the world, the Pirate Squad is the only South Carolina team in the competition.

The current rankings are based on scores from two different challenges that took place earlier this fall. Now, the GSSM team will build an alliance with two other semifinalist teams to move on to a third challenge at the end of November.

During the Zero Robotics competition, student teams write their own autonomous computer program to control small spherical satellites in the International Space Station (ISS). The first round of competition was a two-dimensional (2D) simulation, while the second round was three-dimensional (3D). The third round, also a 3D experience, will include 54 teams, grouped into 18 alliances comprised of three teams each. The top nine alliances (27 teams) will have their program tested on a real satellite aboard the ISS and travel to Boston to view a live broadcast of the championship competition.

GSSM students on the Pirate Squad include Karl Schober of Greer, Paul W. Park of Columbia, Michael Lu of Florence, T.J. Melanson of Hilton Head Island, Joshua Seth Boland of Orangeburg and Esme Kemp of Greenwood.

“This is GSSM’s first year in the Zero Robotics competition and I am proud that we have made it so far,” says Park. “Having MIT and NASA host this exercise is special and I am grateful for the chance to show these two outstanding organizations that my teammates and I are competitive programmers. This really is a golden opportunity. Our current standing came to me as a pleasant surprise and I hope to advance to the finals.”

The SPHERES Challenge is held every fall to expose high school students to the outstanding research facilities on the ISS. The goal is to cultivate critical engineering skills in students, such as problem solving, design thought process, operations training and team work. The competition ultimately aims to inspire future scientists and engineers to push the limits of engineering and space exploration.

To view the complete competition rankings and learn more about Zero Robotics, visit the website at http://www.zerorobotics.org/web/zero-robotics/semifinalists_1?tournament....