Competitors, audience welcome robots' comeback contest
Published 11.11.2021
The Student Wildcats of Robotic Design sponsored a well-received Fall Robot Competition in Penn College's Field House on Saturday, a daylong return to battle after a COVID-related break in the action. "After a one-year hiatus of a public SWORD event, I think the turnout was fantastic," said Ryan J. Bohenek, of Bloomsburg, club president (and a welding and fabrication engineering technology student). "New SWORD members for this year got a taste of what they can achieve when they put their minds to it. Some members had great success with their designs, achieving multiple wins and only suffering minor damage. Others found some 'flaws' in their designs and learned what worked and what did not. But never did a single member give up or throw in the towel. Through teamwork and problem-solving, everyone in the club put their minds together to make sure every member of the SWORD club had a blast, and everyone is excited for next year."
1-pound weight class winners
First place – Antonio Sesto, "Off-Brand Paper Towels"
Second place – Nate Franklin, "Slim Pickens"
Third place – Seth Shaffer, "Mini Mulcher"
3-pound weight class winners
First place – Brandon Nichols, "Mondo Bizarro"
Second place – Danielle Flannery, "Purple Nation Army"
Third place – Nate Franklin, "Thunder Child"
– Photos by Kollin G. Kisner, student photographer; winners' photos provided by SWORD
Stocked with an arsenal of tools – including pliers, tape and fortitude – Austin N. Deibert, of Slatington, works on his robot. A SWORD member, he is enrolled in the four-year automation engineering technology: robotics & automation major.
Is this what they mean by "putting on your game face?"
Spectators outside the competition arena get an eyeful.
Sparks fly as the head-to-head heats up.
Clearing the field for the next bout
Awards were presented to the top three in each category, adding hardware to the prestige.
A dogfight goes airborne
Battle scars, but no signs of quitting
Undefeated the entire day in his first competition, Sesto gets first-place honors from Bohenek with an antweight robot emblazoned, "Clean up, aisle 6."
Nichols proudly displays his first-place award in the beetleweight class, presented by the SWORD president.