Rocky Point Middle School Robotics Team Attends Invitational

Rocky Point Middle School’s robotics team participated in the third annual Mather Hospital Robotics Competition at Smith Haven Mall. Selected to compete by invitation, the team was the only middle school invitee at the competition. At the end of the event, the team was ranked third, an impressive feat given the high caliber of their competitors.

During the event, the team was tasked with competing on the daVinci surgical robot, a $1.5 million piece of equipment used for minimally invasive surgery. Team members worked to manipulate the five robotic arms to achieve certain tasks in a simulated virtual environment. They were graded on accuracy, timing and efficiency of movements. After a Mather representative, who trains surgeons on this equipment, stated that doctors usually score in the 70s on their first attempts on this equipment, two Rocky Point students were commended for their impressive scores above 80. Eighth-grader Kyle Markland scored an 82 and sixth-grader Sean Vroom scored a 93.

The event proved to be an educational learning experience for the team as they continue to prepare for this year’s competition season.

Photos provided by Rocky Point School District.