Columbia High School Robotics Club coach Allan Tumolillo hangs out with the CHS Cougar.
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Sunday, Dec. 4, the Columbia High School Robotics Club will host the sixth annual Robo-CATastrophe robotics tournament at the school in Maplewood. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m., with welcoming remarks by Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca. Matches will last until 5 p.m., with a break for lunch. The Robo-CATastrophe is open to the public. Admission is free and children are encouraged to attend.
With 36 teams from across the state, the Robo-CATastrophe is the largest robotics qualifier in New Jersey. The teams are members of the FIRST Tech Challenge, an international robotics program. In competitions, held around the state by New Jersey FTC, teams compete in pairs, known as alliances, using their robots to score points by completing a variety of tasks during each two-and-a-half-minute match.
With three playing fields, the Robo-CATastrophe will have plenty of robot action throughout the day in Columbia High School’s main gym. Spectators are encouraged to check out the team tables in the cafeteria to see the robots up close and to speak with team members. Refreshments will be available for purchase at the concession stand in the cafeteria, with proceeds benefiting the CHS Robotics Club.
This year, the CHS Robotics Club — FTC Teams 4102, 5332, 7959 and 9563 — has partnered with the CHS Boxes of Fun Club. The CHS Boxes of Fun Club collects toys, books and art supplies to distribute to hospitalized children, from newborns through those turning 21, to help them pass the time while awaiting bone marrow transplants at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. Each team competing in the Robo-CATastrophe is asked to donate a new, unopened, unwrapped gift. Gifts are also welcome from spectators. Suggested gifts include building/engineering kits, block/Lego sets, long- and short-term craft/building projects, origami paper/kits, art kits, games, games for tech devices, small toys and books. Unfortunately, stuffed animals/plush toys, electric items that must be constantly plugged in, high-maintenance items and very large items cannot be accepted. The CHS Boxes of Fun Club will have a table in the cafeteria to receive donations.