Staples High School hosts Connecticut’s first drone programming competition

Staples High School will host its first-ever drone competition on February 21, drawing teams from across Connecticut and beyond to compete in autonomous drone programming challenges. The event marks a significant expansion for the school’s RoboWreckers club, which is working to rebuild the competitive robotics program that placed second globally at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship in 2009.

What you should know: Students will program pre-assembled drones to navigate obstacle courses autonomously, tackling both standardized challenges and yearly mission objectives.

• Teams must guide drones through set obstacles like flying in figure-eight patterns or navigating through cubes, according to Tech Ed teacher and Robotics Advisor Alison Stephens.
• Each year features a unique “mission” that requires solving engineering problems, such as simulating cleanup operations or completing specific technical tasks.
• Staples will field three competing teams in the upcoming competition.

The big picture: Under President Anit Arvind ’27’s leadership, the club has experienced dramatic growth after starting with just two members.

• Arvind launched an aggressive recruitment campaign during his first two weeks of school, reaching out to friends and family members to expand participation.
• The expansion reflects broader ambitions to diversify competitive opportunities, including potential underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) competitions that would simulate ocean cleanup missions.

Funding challenges: Robotics competitions require significant financial investment, creating ongoing sustainability concerns for the growing program.

• While the school has provided grants previously, expanding participation has increased costs substantially.
• Hosting the drone competition has provided unexpected benefits, with drone companies approaching Staples to donate equipment for free.
• Arvind successfully raised approximately $700 through a GoFundMe campaign to support the club’s expansion efforts.

What they’re saying: Leadership emphasizes the program’s accessibility and growth potential.

• “Although I had not done much for robotics prior to high school, I developed a huge interest in it and worked my way up to becoming President,” Arvind said. “Now I want to bring back success to Staples robotics.”
• The club meets every Monday and Wednesday in the Tech Ed room, with Arvind encouraging anyone interested to participate regardless of prior experience.

Looking ahead: The club aims to continue expanding competitive opportunities and fundraising efforts to support sustained growth in upcoming years.