Day 3

Wednesday for our team began at Taft High School, which played an important role in our preparations for the competition. This school was responsible for receiving and temporarily storing our robot. In addition, the hosts welcomed us very warmly and provided us with space and working conditions, making our stay and preparations easier in the unexpected situation we encountered. Although our robot had been shipped two weeks before our arrival in Chicago, due to customs issues it was not delivered on time, which posed a significant challenge for our team.

Aware of the importance of every hour of preparation, we decided not to waste time. Our hosts offered us a “kitbot,” a basic version of a robot that was neither completed nor programmed. At that moment, we made the decision to begin building a new robot. Working on the kitbot required quick adaptation and strong team organization, as we needed to develop a functional system in a short time that could serve as a replacement if our robot did not arrive.

During our work, another unexpected situation occurred—a fire alarm was triggered, forcing us to evacuate and temporarily preventing us from continuing work on the new robot. Meanwhile, our mentors actively worked on resolving the delivery issue and personally went to the airport to speed up the robot pickup process. Their effort resulted in crucial news — our robot had finally arrived!

The arrival of the robot was an extremely important moment for the entire team. All the previous work, planning, and preparation could now continue with the robot we had been working on for months. At the same time, the experience of working on a backup robot highlighted our adaptability and readiness for unexpected situations, which is one of the key elements of competitions like this.

After an intense and uncertain day, we took the Chicago Blue Line metro toward the city center. There, we had the opportunity to try a famous local specialty—Chicago-style pizza—which delighted us and served as a perfect break after a demanding day.

After dinner, we walked around the city and experienced its evening atmosphere. Illuminated skyscrapers, busy streets, and the city’s unique energy left a strong impression on the entire team, giving us a moment of relaxation that completed our evening.

We returned by metro to the hotel, where we rested and prepared for the new challenges ahead.

Your Crobotics team!