At the University of Texas - Arlington, a major two-day drone competition by Bell Advanced Vertical Robotics took place. Teams from across Texas participated, focusing on using drones for search, rescue, and simulated firefighting tasks.
The Texas School for the Deaf's team, Blue Rainmaker, competed for the first time. They faced new challenges, learning from animated guides and practicing with cardboard models. Despite being new to this and working with a special focus on Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, they started strong, scoring points in their first attempt. Their hard work earned them an Exemplary Award and placed them 45th out of 73 teams.
The team's skills were noteworthy. Delycia, Rachel, and Christopher controlled a mini robot used for firefighting, Travis operated a robot designed like a firetruck, and Vicky started with flying a smaller drone. Xavier joined later to tackle harder tasks. Oliver and Niven skillfully flew a larger drone, with Andrey managing the technical controls.
On the second day, they scored well, placing 48th. Their success continued with a presentation about their drone project, scoring high and winning a Best Design Award for their innovative work.
Mentors Clyde, Ron, and Paul were very proud of their students. Their first competition was more than just a contest; it was a showcase of innovation, teamwork, and determination.