For the last five years, Biodex has sponsored Team 4458 Inferno Robotics of Center Moriches High School on Long Island as part of an ongoing effort to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in the local community.
Biodex hosted the team at their Shirley, New York headquarters again this year. Employees and students gathered in the cafeteria to witness a demonstration of last year’s robot, which took part in several events during the 2018 competition season.
Robot “Betsy” was tasked with working both autonomously and under control of a driver to pick up, place and stack power-up blocks as part of the FIRST (for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) video game-themed competition.
Last year, the team competed at Hofstra and RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). They won at RPI and advanced to the World Championship in Detroit, making Center Moriches history. This was the first regional win for the team, a huge accomplishment for a relatively new team from a small school.
They were also granted the entrepreneurship award at RPI, in part because of their management of team finances. While the school covers competition entrance fees, other expenses are supported by student fundraising. So far this year, students have hosted a Polar Plunge, paint night and a pasta night. Plans are in the works for their annual bowling night and a golf outing fundraiser in the spring.
This year, students aim to rank in the top eight teams at Hofstra, Utica or both, and hope to qualify for the Worlds in Detroit. Biodex was happy to hand off this year’s donation before students set off on a tour of the Biodex facilities.
Matthew Plastrik and Hannah Tebbens, this year’s Team 4458 co-presidents, shared the following message with Biodex:
We would like to extend our deep gratitude for your generous sponsorship of our team and tour of your facilities. With your help in the past our team has been able to soar to new heights, and because of you we will continue to grow with the goal of becoming an ever evolving and more diverse team.
Thank you Biodex, from the bottom of our hearts.
Biodex Medical Systems