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News
IRON RIVER — The Iron Hill Automatons, West Iron County’s robotics team, recently received a sponsorship from Ford Motor Company for $3,000. Mark Richardson, a Ford retiree and engineer with Wick Wire, will serve as a mentor to the team.
The money will go toward competition registration fees, said coach Van Hill. The Icebreakers, West Iron’s middle school team, received a Toyota grant to cover its registration fees.
The Automatons will compete in Escanaba and Mt. Pleasant in March, for the chance of qualifying for the state tournament.
Grant dollars received earlier this year went to a new drive base for the Icebreakers, as well as new parts. Hill said the Icebreakers were currently building a new robot for a Houghton competition in early November.
Started in 2019, the Automatons and Icebreakers are FIRST Robotics Competition teams made up of students from Iron County with West Iron County District Schools serving as its fiduciary agent. Jeff Davis coaches the middle school team and serves as programming coach, and Van Hill serves as the high school team’s coach.
FIRST stands for ‘For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology’ and is a global organization. According to the organization’s website, 81% of FIRST alumni declare a major in science, technology, engineering or math.
“We would like to thank the West Iron County Schools administration and the community for their support,” Hill said.
The team is exploring new technologies including a swerve-drive, an omnidirectional train in which all wheels are steered and driven independently. Hill said he is also seeking a team mentor with a mechanical or engineering background.