I joined the Rotonity Club (Robotics and Automation Club of SIT) in mid-2020 during the peak of the pandemic when the college was operating in online mode. The club faced challenges as it was relatively new and relied heavily on hardware and in-person competitions. Despite these obstacles, the club leaders were dedicated to our growth. They enrolled us in online courses, encouraged us to solve daily Python problems, and even registered us for the esteemed E-yantra robotics national competition organized by IIT Bombay.
In the E-yantra competition, I led a team of three fellow batchmates. Our team was relatively inexperienced and faced multiple setbacks, including injuries and COVID-related issues. Despite these difficulties, we persevered and successfully cleared the first technical round. This round involved solving programming challenges using Python and LUA. Our team managed to solve 7 out of 10 problems, achieving a rank of 242 out of 438 teams.
The club faced challenges in maintaining momentum due to funding shortages, preventing participation in events like Robocon. As the new academic year started in mid-2021, a new committee was formed for the club, and I was appointed as the Technical Head. Learning from the club's previous struggles, I aimed to redefine its values, roles, and expectations. With a well-structured academic plan, I wanted to provide members with practical technical experience. Financial backing was crucial, and we focused on securing funds for hardware parts that would benefit both competitions and student projects.
Despite challenges, including committee turnover, my fellow President Vinay Patil and I led the club to enter the prestigious Robocon competition of 2021/2022. We achieved an impressive result in the design round with an All India Rank (AIR) of 20. This success was followed by the arduous task of securing funds for the required parts. We managed sponsorships, dealt with the college's finance department, created budgets, and negotiated with vendors to procure parts. Working tirelessly, we built the robot while juggling exams.
Unfortunately, due to changes in college branches, some students had to withdraw from the competition. Reflecting on this journey, I recognize the significant personal growth it offered. Balancing the responsibilities of managing a team and the club, along with reporting to faculty, improved my technical and soft skills. I am grateful for the unwavering support of our Deputy Director, which played a vital role in our success. Seeing the club flourish and knowing that students still seek my guidance in the realm of Artificial Intelligence fills me with satisfaction.
