I am interested in joining your team. Do I need any skills or experience?

 

No experience or special skills are required, just a positive attitude! Whether your interest is in STEM, community outreach, strategy, digital media, public relations, team operations, or just curious about robotics in general, we hope you will consider joining our team!

 

What activities do you do?

 

We promote STEM through outreach activities, build robots, and compete in FIRST Robotics competitions and off-season events. During build season, we strategize, build game elements, prototype mechanisms, CAD and program the robot, work on the electronics systems, and prepare for competition season. We usually compete in one local regional and travel to a second event, with the goal of making it to the FIRST Championship in Houston every season. You can watch our competitions from past seasons on Blue Alliance and learn more about FIRST here.

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FIRST is about “more than just robots.” Our members participate in many community outreach activities. Several of us mentor FIRST Lego League teams at Richardson Middle School, host visits at the shop, give robot demonstrations at STEM events, volunteer at FIRST events, and connect with our local community to promote STEM. We have an awesome opportunity to collaborate as a team and learn from professional engineers, TorBots alumni and each other. Being on the TorBots has been one of the best parts of our high school experience.

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Will I receive any one-on-one mentoring or special training?

 

Robotics does require some self-learning on the student’s part. We can suggest self-guided online tutorials for beginners to learn computer-aided design, machining software and programming. Every year, each student must pass a safety test before you can begin working in the shop. All of our mentors are available to help you become better and more skilled at what you do, so don’t be afraid to ask for additional coaching and feedback. Our more experienced team members are also always willing to provide assistance and answer questions ... all you need to do is get involved and ask!

 

Do I have to commit to one specialty within the team? 

 

No, we encourage you to explore as many disciplines as you want and learn how to do many other things as well. Although we ask you what field you're most interested in (Manufacturing, CAD/Design, Electrical, Team Ops, Digital Media, FLL Outreach, and Strategy), we do not expect you to stick completely to that section. Our members can always be involved in anything TorBots does. 

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I’ve heard robotics is a huge time commitment. Will I be able to fit it in with my other activities?

 

“Build season” is our busiest time of the year, which typically runs from the first weekend in January through March. The shop is usually open from 3:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. on weekends. During off-season, we are open on Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

 

Students are NOT required to come all times the shop is open, but some students may spend 40 hours/week at the shop during build season. That being said, the club doesn’t expect you to devote all your time into the club. Having a healthy balance between robotics and the rest of your life (school, social life, family time, etc.) is very important, and we are aware that the balance may vary from student to student. Students are free to come and go as their schedule allows.

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How can I join?

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Our club is always open to new members! You can complete a Robotics Interest Form  on our website to provide your contact information and receive team announcements. You can also follow the TorBots on  Instagram for team updates. Stay tuned, we will announce when member applications are available. 

 

New members are invited to join the TorBots by mid-December, prior to the kick-off of the new season in January. If you have any questions, contact Mr. Rosenberg at South High in Room N-3, or rosenberg.michael@tusd.org.

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When are our meetings?

 

We typically hold our “General Meetings” at the shop in our break room every Saturday at 1 p.m. These meetings are not about anything specific, but vaguely what each group is working on and goes over who needs help with what. The purpose of these meetings is so the whole club can get on the same page (and that newcomers can be caught up to date).

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How does your team communicate outside of the shop?

 

The team utilizes the TorBot’s “Slack” workspace as a way for the team to communicate when individuals are not at the shop. The workspace, which includes parents, mentors, students, and alumni, is a way for mentors to communicate to the students, as well as a way for alumni to give feedback and collaborate with the team (even when they are miles away). This workspace is expected to be kept a professional environment. After signing up to join the team, a mentor will add you to the workspace.

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Where is the shop located?

 

The shop is located on the South High campus in Torrance, California, next to the faculty parking lot. If you are going west down PCH, make a right on the street right before the bridge and turn into the parking lot. As soon as you go through the gate where the brick walls are, we are the first door on the right with the giant metal garage door. You are always welcome to stop by and visit us in the shop.