Countless hours of testing, multiple revisions, unforeseen complications, late nights, and early mornings are just a few of the challenges my team and I had to overcome to earn the opportunity to represent Canada in the RoboCup Junior competition in Bordeaux, France.
After learning that our team was selected following the National competition, we were filled with joy and excitement. While we felt grateful for the recognition of our hard work, we remained determined and did not become complacent. We immediately sprung into action, fully aware of the time constraints we faced. Unlike many other teams who had a whole year to prepare for the competition, we had just two months.
To be competitive, we recognized the importance of learning about PCBs. These compact, flat boards have conductive pathways for electrical connections between electronic components. In RoboCup Junior Lightweight, PCBs are crucial for their space efficiency, reduced wiring complexity, enhanced reliability, improved electromagnetic compatibility, reproducibility, and professional appearance. They enable teams to craft precise, compact, and reliable electronic setups, vital for success in competitions prioritizing lightweight and efficient designs.
According to Murphy's Law, everything that can go wrong will go wrong, and that law was in full effect in Bordeaux. Boards frying, components shorting, and motors burning were just some of the challenges my team and I had to face. We were competing against teams that had been refining their robots for the past 20 years, while ours was built in just 2 months. It felt like an uphill battle from the very beginning. Although we didn't place, I believe our team learned enough to excel next year, especially considering we'll have more time to prepare.