Technology ‘Games’ In Action —

Corporate Sponsorship Supports Winning Robot

By Kendra Bobowick

“Pal” plays a game like basketball, is fully mobile, and can shoot foam balls accurately at a target from a firing slot that swivels in a 360-degree radius.

The robot’s mobility and dexterity were two of its winning features for the Watertown High School Robotics Team sponsored by Newtown-based TUV Rheinland of North America Inc, (TUV). Randy Sorrenti, an engineer with the Product Safety Division for the international service company that documents the safety and quality of new and existing products, systems and services, said he is proud of his son, Michael Sorrenti, who took part in the robot’s design.

As a corporate sponsor, TUV had contributed a significant sum to the robotics team’s funding used to build and travel to competitions with the robot.

Michael found a deep inspiration from the experience, which brought him as far as Georgia. The team recently participated in a national competition in Atlanta and placed fifth in its division.

Michael said, “This is inspiring because you have a technological company realizing you have to get kids into science and keep the USA [among] world leaders with top of the line engineers.”

TUV Marketing Manager Virginia Palmer-Skok explained her company’s interest in sponsoring the robotics students.

“We certify manufacturers that make technological products so it is important that we sponsor the high school technology projects,” she said.

Mr Sorrenti and his wife Beth also explained the educational impact the sponsorship can have. An engineer himself, he has noticed a decline in the field.

“There is a lack of interest in engineering,” he believes. He said his son’s desire to learn more about the robotics technology is a direct result of the high school team, however.

During a company picnic, Michael and several teammates conducted demonstrations with their robot. He said, “This went from a drawing to a 130-pound robot in six weeks. It’s mobile, strong, fast, and pushed other robots out of the way.”

The machine was designed to pull in the foam balls from the ground, feed them into a track bringing the balls up to the turret, where they are fired at a target.

Read more about TUV Rheinland, located at 12 Commerce Road, at tuv.com