About
Anderson Robotics operates on two goals: 1) to allow students to develop technical skills in engineering, and 2) to
engage community members in robotics. As an organization focused on encouraging student independence and leadership, much of Anderson Robotics is student run. Students are able to work on innovative projects of their own that interest them. For instance, we have a whole marketing team composed of students interested in the business side of robotics that is responsible for obtaining business sponsors, establishing fundraising, and maintaining public relations. Due to the nature of robotics, a wide variety of students with different skill sets are needed. Not only do we have people knowledgeable in building robots, but also those with programming, marketing, animation, writing, and website designing skills. As such, members are encouraged to pursue their specific interests and to develop their skills to benefit the team as a whole. Apart from developing a wide array of skills, robotics also provides a safe, fun and close-knit group of peers, which helps students find their place in school. Members learn teamwork and communication skills, as well as how to manage time effectively. Students are also expected to engage the community in robotics. For example, we frequently visit local elementary schools and present various robots that we have
created. Anderson Robotics also hosts several events, most notably the Robot Roundup (see back page), that attracts multiple teams to scrimmage and test new ideas. It is in this way that Anderson Robotics has swiftly become a leader in the local robotics scene, responsible for the creation and mentoring of the Westlake and Westwood robotics programs as well as several others throughout the AISD.