[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12237]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO LYME-OLD LYME, CONNECTICUT ROBOTICS TEAM--TECHNO-TICKS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2006

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the members of the 
Lyme-Old Lyme, Connecticut robotics team known as the Techno-Ticks. 
They are Team 236 and they represent the Dominion Millstone power 
station.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States leads the world in technology and 
innovation, but the only way we will maintain our leading edge is if 
our young people dedicate themselves to the study of science and 
technology. The motivated and talented students at Old Lyme illustrate 
that America's dominance in the future is in good hands.
  The Techno-Ticks recently participated in the USFIRST robotics 
competition and they demonstrated great enthusiasm and proficiency. The 
acronym FIRST stands for: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science 
and Technology. The FIRST competitions began in 1989 and since then 
student interest has flourished. The number of teams participating has 
grown over the years from 28 to more than 1,100. The competition 
involves designing and constructing a robot and it is an exciting and 
practical way for young people to discover the remarkable and rewarding 
world of engineering and research.
  These competitions are important. Engineering schools and 
professional societies have warned that we are not educating enough 
engineers and scientists. Well, that's not the case in Lyme. I visited 
their school and I watched the Techno-Ticks in action. They understand 
teamwork, they understand technology and they understand that 
everything they are learning today will better prepare them for the 
world of tomorrow. It will be a world they will help shape.
  USFIRST celebrates partnerships between school systems, educators, 
parents and professionals in the various fields that define technically 
challenging problems. The students implement solutions under simulated 
real world pressures of time, money and resources. The teams develop 
decision making, project management and business skills as they solve 
realistic technical issues such as how to design, construct and 
remotely operate robotic devices to perform tasks.
  They employ gyroscopic control and barrier recognition and avoidance 
in order to enable the robot to navigate obstacle courses, climb stairs 
and ramps and lift or throw objects. They also gain experience by 
raising money to fund their teams; by learning how to communicate with 
sponsors, team members and their communities; how to negotiate resource 
issues, and how to transport a robot and a team thousands of miles to 
compete in 33 regional competitions and a championship event held 
annually in Atlanta, Georgia. USFIRST participants learn real world 
skills.
  These students have a passion for learning and are eager to help 
solve our nations' and the worlds' most pressing problems. I 
congratulate the Techno-Ticks on their accomplishments and encourage 
them to continue to pursue knowledge. The lessons they are mastering 
today will serve them, and our nation, in the world of tomorrow.

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