Who We Are
Radioactive Robotics are after school First Lego League (FLL) and First Tech Challenge (FTC) teams in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The FTC team started in fall of 2019 after a few of the FLL team members graduated to high school. Both teams meet at Green Bank Observatory.
FTC Team
The FTC team is a rookie team that has improved greatly since the beginning of the season. We are a well-rounded team, each of members can successfully participate in all areas of robotics that includes coding, engineering, mechanical design, and planning. We make all of our decisions as a group and value the opinions of all of our team members. We started off the year just trying to get some learning experience but we have done well this season.
Mason
I am fifteen years old. I have spent my life in rural West Virginia. I spent three years in the FLL program and since graduated. While continuing my love for robotics I joined the FLL mentoring program. This is my first experience with FTC as a member. Last year's FLL team saw an FTC competition and we were fascinated. Given that three of us were going into the high school we decided to start our own FTC team. Since we are a rookie team we had a steep learning curve. FTC has taught me how to problem solve efficiently and effectively.
Max
I am a freshman at PCHS. I have lived in WV my entire life.I am an alumni of the Radioactive Robotics FLL team. I was on the original Radioactive team, and the team that went to worlds last year. I am very glad to have been able to successfully help start an FTC team at the highs chool. This is the first FTC team that I have ever been on.
Sarah
I am a freshman at Pocahontas county high. I was in FLL for two years. I am currently in FTC, and an FLL mentor. I am an alumni of the FLL team Radioactive Robotics. I am excited to be on the team this year because this is my first year doing FTC. Being part of the FIRST community has really changed who I am as an individual, as it has taught me core values and the importance of teamwork. I have also learned a lot about coding in Java, engineering and public speaking. We are a well-rounded team as a whole and because of this I am not only trained to do one thing I can help out in multiple areas.
Willie (Smeagol)
I am in 7th grade at Green Bank Elementary Middle School and 13 years old. This is my first year in FTC (First Tech Challange). I am in FTC and FLL. I was on the FLL team that went to the world robotics competition. This year when FTC started I joined. I have been on the FLL team for three years. I have spent all my live in West Virginia. I have gone to Green Bank Elementary Middle School since preschool. I really enjoy First. During my time of being in FTC I have learned a lot such as how to program Java, a lot of mechanical design and hardware, how to handle stress, and push though when there is a problem.
BryCEn
I am fourteen years old and I go to Pocahontas County High School. This is my first year participating in
FTC or any type of robotics. I have spent all of my life in West Virginia, and I am really glad to be a part of this team. Being a part of this FTC team has really changed me. It taught me a lot about core values. I also learned a whole bunch about coding in Java as well it improved my engineering skills. I really glad I joined FTC because It showed me a lot about core values and being a good teammate as well as teaching me engineering skills.
FLL Team
The FLL team is in its 3rd year. It is open to any 4th-8th grade student at Green Bank Elementary Middle School.
Coaches
Karen
Karen is an astronomer who has also been working at Green Bank Observatory since 2003. After a number of different roles, she is currently the Director for the Observatory. Karen started coaching robotics in 2017, with the Pocahontas County First Lego League team, and has been roped into coaching ever since. She now coaches both the FLL and FTC teams in the county. In between her job and robotics she occasionally gets to play with arc welders and a blacksmith forge.
Paul
Paul has been working as a software engineer at the Green Bank Observatory since 2003. He is responsible for a wide range of technologies, from firmware to data analysis. Since 2017, he has been coaching a number of robotics teams in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, including First Lego League, First Tech Challenge, and VEX (currently, all at once). He also plays the fiddle