Why You Should Join Robotics Club

Not just a bunch of nerds.

Ethan Cairns Contributor

Idon’t speak for all of NT, but in my four years here I’ve rarely heard the robotics club mentioned. When I have, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a clear answer on what they do, or what their meetings look like. I’ve considered joining myself, but I’ve never gone farther than that - how good could a high school robotics club be, really? I remained oblivious until this year, when I started hearing more about it from Mr. Kinoshita and a couple of its members. Although it’s too late for me, after conducting a thorough investigation, I hope to provide a clear look at what the robotics club is, what they do, and why you may want to join its ranks in the coming year.

As you may have guessed, at its core, the club is about building robots. At their weekly meetings, members use a variety of tools, from power saws to screwdrivers, to transform raw metal, bolts, wiring, sensors and more into purposefully designed machines that effciently solve problems. They even program computer brains for their robots. The club uses the Vex V5 system, a set of standardized raw parts and electronics that simplify the design process while leaving plenty of room for creativity. I saw frsthand the drawers upon drawers of chaotically organized Vex parts and half-assembled machinery that comprise the back wall of room 412. While they are a small group, when I attended a meeting myself, it was clear that the club’s members are all totally dedicated to their projects, and excel at working together to accomplish their goals. If you’re at all interested in engineering, or even just like science, and want to actually apply some of the concepts you’ve learned in class, don’t be afraid to give it a try.

Where does the club get its ideas, though, and what does it do with its robots once they’re fnished? The answer lies in the wide variety of robotics competitions the team has participated in since its founding in 2003. They came 2nd in 2021 and 4rth in 2022 in the VRAD world martian survival competition. This year, they competed in the Spin Up competition, where they designed a robot which can consistently pick up a frisbee and throw it accurately at a target. Most recently, they fnished 18th out of 50 teams at the iDesign Central Toronto Robotics Competition, being the only public school present! These contests provide a goal to achieve and give the team members the drive to achieve it. Their members told me they often stay at school until 7 PM in the days leading up to a competition, fexing their problem-solving muscles and putting the fnishing touches on their creations. Don’t think of the robotics club as a bunch of nerds sitting around messing with some bits of metal - the team is smart, motivated and has been incredibly successful in the past.

The current head of the club, Theodore Hall, told me that it’s “not a nerd club.” The other members quickly followed up, telling me that for them, it’s about “the skills you pick up and the friends you make.” Theo has done a lot to help the club recover from COVID, when they were unable to attend competitions or meet in person. He also emphasized the impact Mr. Kinoshita has had on the club, staying late with the members and acting as a helpful, dedicated staff advisor. Theo assured me that after he retires, though, the club has good options for next year. Speaking of which,

I also spoke with the future club head, Jack Cai, who is furiously preparing to take the club even further come September. “There’s a lot to do,” he said, “[but it’s] the best club at NT.” Under Jack’s leadership, expect even more dedication, innovation, and competition.

In the end, the small but focused team that is North Toronto’s Robotics Club blew me away with their creativity and commitment. As long as you’re willing to put in the work, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to make friends and be part of a tight-knit team. Not to mention it looks good on an engineering application! This year has been incredible for the club, and from what I’ve seen, they’re only just getting started.