GalacTech hosts robotics invitational

Rishi Rao, at left, Asher Lamb, Isaac Kannianen and Sam Geckler, Team 4926 GalacTech, watch as they dock their robot during the Indiana Robotics Invitational, hosted by Team GalacTech at Columbus East High School, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, July 16, 2022 Carla Clark | For The Republic

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Team 4926, also known as “GalacTech”, hosted the 2022 Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) at Columbus East High School this past weekend. A recorded livestream of the event is available at twitch.tv/firstinrobotics.

The winning alliance was made up of Teams 2056 (OP Robotics Ontario, Canada), 180 (S.P.A.M. Stuart, Florida), 4099 (The Falcons Poolesville, Maryland) and 3357 (COMETS Grand Rapids, Michigan). For OP Robotics, 2022 marks the team’s ninth IRI win.

Local team GalacTech was 5-5 during qualification matches, ranking 18 out of 48 teams. It did not compete in the event playoffs.

IRI is also a charity event. According to emcee Rachel Baker, the weekend’s silent auction raised over $4,600 for Riley Children’s Mental Health and Behavioral Health program. Additionally, 80 backpacks filled with school supplies were collected during the event. These will be given to elementary school students in need.

For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.