“It’s Not Just a Club”: Exploring Middlesex Robotics Club

Despite the rigor of Middlesex life, these students find time to do robotics on an interscholastic level.

For a span of nearly half a year, in a lab room, the members of the Robotics Club undertook the complex task of constructing a robot for this year’s tournaments. The outcome of their effort was a tremendous success. With two state-wide qualifications for semi-finals, Ryken Robobowl and Boots Bonanza, respectively, Ben Feuer ’25 notes that he is “really grateful that [teammates] sacrificed so much time for this team and to create an enjoyable experience.” The progress, efforts, and members of the robotics team culminated in success for Middlesex Robotics this year. 

In order to compete in the robotics competition, the robot should be capable of more than but not limited to: autonomous driving, manual control, navigation and precision, and the ability to interact with game elements such as landing zones in the field dimensions of 12 feet by 12 feet. The robot also has to fit in an 18x18-inch box. Despite the perceived impossibility of fulfilling the required elements, the hard work of the Middlesex Robotics team was unmatched. 

As the season began officially on September 7th, the team was tasked with constructing the arm to grab and move a bunch of hexagonal plastic pixels, one by one, on the field and touching the sidewalls. Different amounts of points were earned depending on the completion of sub-tasks, such as the ability to launch drones over the truss (10-30 points depending on the zone) or to suspend itself by the riggings (20 points). Given this challenge, effort from the club was essential. 

Indeed, the amount of energy spent on the club this year has surpassed that of most of the Middlesex clubs. “Arjun [and I] and the team really want people to understand and view us as a team not as a club. We met about twice a week during the build season for an hour per meeting on the season,” Ben Feuer ’25 notes. During the club meeting, team leaders instruct members on the fundamentals of robotics, ranging from computer-aided design to strategic planning. Such teaching may seem typical of any robotics team, but the effort, sacrifice, and story of the team represent a hidden gem of the Middlesex clubs. 

Despite the challenges in scheduling meetings, having dedicated space, and purchasing designated kits, the robotics team offers “more interesting lessons than any class really can bring,” Ben Feuer ’25 says. Another dedicated teammate of the robotics team, Allison Luo ’27, expresses her appreciation for the team leaders as she says “I am grateful for the robotics team for creating such a meaningful and unforgettable experience”.

Continuing the effort to build a strong foundation as a “team” rather than a club while offering experiences of leadership and collaboration, the future of the robotics team in the Middlesex School is worthy of attention.

Matthew Yoon