Code Red Robotics, IHS’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics team has begun its twenty-fifth season! On Saturday, January 4, the team met in York Lecture Hall at IHS to watch the live reveal of this year’s game. “Seeing the whole team together celebrating the start of the season was super invigorating!” said President Jennifer Zhao ’25. “I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us.”
Each year, every FIRST game is based on a common theme; this year it is DIVE, an exploration of the ocean. This year’s FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) game, Reefscape, mimics the harmful effects algae blooms have on coral reefs. Teams must remove large rubber balls representing algae from the reef structure in the middle and launch it into the collection zone, or “barge.” Teams may also pick up and place small PVC pipes, or “coral polyps” on the reef. FIRST values teamwork above everything else, and all matches are played in teams of three. “The new game seems really fun and interesting,” said Code Red Treasurer, Celene Sahoo ’25, adding, “I can’t wait to see what innovative ideas our team comes up with this build season!”
Saturday, January 4 was the official start of Code Red’s build season. For the next seven weeks, students will be working together to design, program, fabricate, and assemble the robot. Unfortunately, the team’s machining capabilities will be severely limited, owing to a renovation project taking place in the IHS technology department. The team is currently set up in temporary classrooms, and they hope to outsource some machining needs to local businesses to support their efforts. In order to manage the vast amount of work that goes into creating a 125-pound robot, students split themselves into different subteams, each focusing on its own crucial part of the building process.
The students of Code Red benefit from a group of adult mentors from around the community who help guide them with their designs and answer any questions they may have. The team will be participating in two competitions this year, the Finger Lakes Regional in Rochester (March 13-15) and the Tech Valley Regional in Albany (March 27-29). Every year, Code Red holds a STEM open house. They invite STEM-based businesses and organizations from around the Ithaca community to come participate. This event encourages hundreds of kids and their families to experience hands-on STEAM-related games and activities, free of charge. Groups such as the Sciencenter, the Cornell Society of Women Engineers, and other technology clubs at the middle and high school level set up booths, interactive demonstrations, and experiments for attendees to take part in. The open house is one of many ways Code Red engages and connects with the community, as well as fostering the younger generation’s love of STEM. This year it will take place Saturday, February 8, 1-4pm at IHS. “It’s definitely my favorite project our team does. It’s so rewarding watching all of our planning and set-up paying off, and the kids have so much fun!” expressed Joyce Spears ’25, the team’s Community Outreach Coordinator.
Code Red is led by: President Jennifer Zhao, Build Team Manager (Vice President) Victor Guimbretiere ’25, Treasurer Celene Sahoo, Administrator Jingying Xu ’27, Public Relations Officer Carly Hare ’25, Community Outreach Coordinator Joyce Spears, and Rookie Engagement Director Abraham Elia ’27.
FIRST Team Code Red Robotics thanks its sponsors for continued support: BAE Systems, Cornell Bowers College of Computing & Information Science, Cornell College of Engineering, Cornell Institute for Computational Sustainability, Menlo Microsystems, Vector Magnetics, Duthie Orthodontics, The IHS Class of 1951, Sciarabba Walker, Tetra Tech, BorgWarner Morse TEC, ICSD, ICSD Board of Education, IHS, IPEI, and Ithaca Stem Advocates. Their support makes it possible for the team to operate and foster a love of STEM.
Code Red is an associate member of the IthacaSTEM Advocates, an affiliate of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI), a not-for-profit organization that believes the edu-cation of every stude-nt in the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) is enhanced through community connecti-ons and support.
More information about Code Red can be found at their website https://www. team639.org/ their instagram @codered6 39, or by emailing ad- viser Ian Krywe at ikrywe@icsd.k12.ny.us. More information about FIRST robotics can be found at https://www.firstin spires.org.
Alex Elia ’25 leads design meeting. Jonathan Bael
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