Ian Hoffmeyer, senior, builds robots for fun.

“I’m the team captain of the Baryons team, which is one of the two FTC robotics teams at MHS that are involved in an international competition of skill, intellect, and team work,” Hoffmeyer said. “It’s my job to direct the flow of design and help bring our ideas together.”

After getting first place at the first event of the robotics season, the Baryons team qualified to move on to state level.

“Several Rockwood teams have qualified with us,” Hoffmeyer said. “So now we’re competing at state level at Missouri S&T, which, when we finish in the top five, will qualify us to compete at the regional competition with teams from all over the Midwest.”

Hoffmeyer said the robotics events are exciting.

“At the beginning of the year, we’re given a challenge,” Hoffmeyer said. “We’re told to build a robot that can accomplish certain tasks in whatever way we see fit. We’re given all year to make and test these robots, which we then bring to these events to see if we can accomplish the task more efficiently and more quickly than other teams involved.”

The current game at events involves picking up blocks and trying to put them into a seesaw apparatus to create a balance between the two sides.

“We also have to have our robot raise a flag to signify our victory,” Hoffmeyer said. “And we have to create a device that can lift the entire robot so it hangs off the ground.”

Besides working on robots and attending competitions, in his spare time, Hoffmeyer likes collecting and painting miniature models.

“I also enjoy computer programming, and I have a bubbly personality.”