Robots to Invade Columbia HS Sunday

Columbia High School plays host to a Sunday Robotics tournament that is free and open to the public. Some 36 teams from all over New Jersey and New York are expected to bring robots that will compete for a state championship berth. With some 400 young robotics experts in attendance, this will be one of the largest robotics events in New Jersey. Locals are invited to attend for some or all of the event. 

Columbia High School's Robotics Club and the NJ FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) Division of the US FIRST robotics organization (www.usfirst.org) will be on hand. The CHS Robotics Club and Team are defending champions statewide and semi-finalists in the world championship.  The three CHS teams, a varsity team, a JV team and a freshman team, look both to defend and advance. 

Under the leadership of teacher and coach Alan Tumolillo, the CHS teams will take on opponents in the school's Main Gym, with three playing fields. The bleachers will be pulled out so people can get a good view of the fields. Each match has 4 robots playing in a 12' x 12' field, 2 robots against 2 robots. Teams are randomly matched in the preliminary rounds. Playoff rounds have alliances of 3 teams.

Tumolillo says, “The teams set up shop in the school cafeterias and visitors are free to walk around and speak with the teams. Little kids are especially welccome."

Food will be available for sale throughout the day.

Schedule: 
teams arrive around 8AM 
judging and inspections run until about 10AM or so 
matches - prelim round - begin around 10AM and go to noon/12:30 
lunch break 
matches start up around 1PM or so and go until closing 
All times are approximate.

Marcia Worth