Behind an inconspicuous door in the At-Large Lab, marked with a simple sign reading “Orange Thunder,” is a storage room converted to a laboratory. Inside, every available surface is crowded with tools, wire, mechanical parts and circuit boards. This is the den of the robotics club.

Every year the robotics team has six weeks to design, build and program a robot to compete at the state competition on March 28. This year the robots will be put on teams led by three students, and attempt  to place exercise balls into goals of different heights. Higher goals are worth more points and there are bonuses for assists.

The Park robot, called “Mermaid,” was built with a specific strategy in mind. It has arms on the front to corral the ball into the low goals or other bots, and a tall back to block shots at the high goals.

Team mentor Joseph Thelen said the team worked with what time and materials they had.

“Our strategy was more based on resources,” Joseph Thelen said. “We were aiming higher, but just didn’t have the time.”

Generally, the most well funded teams build toward the most aggressive strategies. According to junior Francis Thelen, Park’s program is underfunded and thus stands no chance against other teams in the state.

“You can judge the unfairness in cubic feet,” Francis Thelen said. “Some teams have warehouses and we have a storage room.”

Sophomore Paul Friederichsen said the team needs more funding and participation to do well in the future.

“We need people,” Friederichsen said. “The point is to learn new skills. Anyone can help.”

Joseph said he thinks the club is an opportunity any student can join regardless of prior knowledge.

“You don’t need to know anything coming in,” Joseph Thelen said. “You just need to be willing to learn.”

Despite this, the team feels it is improving. This is the first year they can remember that they finished building on time according to Friederichsen.

The team is already looking toward next season and how they can improve.