About TorBotsAbout TorBots
We are TorBots, Team 1197, the FIRST Robotics Competition team from Torrance, California. Founded by South High wood shop teacher Michael Ellena in 2003, TorBots has spread to all four Torrance area high schools: South High, North High, West High, and Torrance High. TorBots' mission is to promote gracious professionalism, improve teamwork skills, and spread the benefits and knowledge of science and technology to high school students in the Torrance area.
TorBots participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition, a varsity sport of the mind. The goal of the competition is to build a robot that can complete a task that differs from year to year. Teams have to build a robot in six weeks and participate in regional competitions. Through FRC, students get a hands-on experience of real-world engineering scenarios and cooperating with engineering mentors from local companies. Not only do members get a feel for engineering, they are also educated in using power tools, computer-aided drafting, pneumatics, electronics, and team building.
TorBots received the Regional Finalist Award in both 2004 at the Southern California Regional and 2009 at the Las Vegas Regional. Chief Mentor Bruce Ioki was the recipient of the Regional Woodie Flowers Award in 2009 at the Los Angeles Regional.
In the 2009 season, TorBots consisted of 60 high school student members. All of the team's senior members have gone on to college, with many pursuing a degree in engineering. Most of TorBots' active members return year after year for what they consider to be an experience like no other.
TorBots has been featured in the Daily Breeze, the Chinese Daily News, and KTTV FOX 11 in Los Angeles. The team has also been featured in Raytheon's 2007 Annual Stewardship Report as part of their community involvement program.
