Team Pronto readies robots for competition

2016 practice robot
Photo by Nathan Gibbons

By Wes Proudlove

It’s the time of the year when teenagers' minds turn to building robots and competitions. Shoreline's own Team Pronto has been busy since January 9 building two robots - one for event play and one for application practice. Team Pronto has had six weeks to complete building a robot for the purpose of competing in FRC Robotics events. The robot build happens after school each day and Saturdays over six weeks. Team members have put in thousands of hours total build time getting ready for the craziness of competition.    

Team Pronto was formed in December 2008 when four sophomores from Shorewood High School asked me to help them start a robotics team. I have had the honor to be the head mentor / advisor for the team since that fateful day. This year's team has 59 members, ranging from freshman to senior grades, from both Shorewood and Shorecrest High Schools.

Team Pronto has mentors who work with the students to give them a sneak peak into what will await them in industry. The team's mentors come from Boeing, Microsoft, U.W., Shoreline Community College, WSDOT, and Shoreline School District, just to name a few. Team Pronto also has mentors who are past Team Pronto members who have now gone on to higher education and careers of their own but still feel the pull each build season to come back and help out the team.  

Team Pronto has a history of past members going on to very successful academic and working careers. Past year's team members have attended and are attending colleges and universities all over the U.S. -- as far away as Germany and as close as SCC. Past member's careers are not always based around robotics but the skills they have acquired here as members of the team have helped in their career success no matter the career of their choice.

This year Team Pronto will be competing in events at Glacier Peak High School on March 12-13, and at Mount Vernon High School March 19-20. If Team Pronto is ranked in the top 64 out of over 300 teams they will then compete at the district event that will be held in Portland, Oregon April 6-9.

All FRC Robotics events are open and free to the public -- any one can attend. The events are a mix of high-energy sport and high-level creative thinking. The students who compete in these events are our world’s future so please come on by one of events and see the great things our youth are doing.

If you want more information on FRC Robotics please visit USFIRST.org