Floyd's robotics club builds device that launches shirts into the crowd at school sporting events

The undefeated Floyd football team isn’t the only attraction on game days in Mastic Beach.

During each game, a T-shirt cannon built by the school’s robotics club takes center stage. The 3-foot bot is operated by remote control and rolls around on four wheels ready to fire white Floyd football T-shirts from its launcher into the home bleachers and awaiting fans.

To get the crowd’s attention, the operator sounds the cannon’s horns, which in turn signals the public address announcer to alert fans that the machine is ready to fire.

The robot built by senior Gerard Gawlowski Jr., junior Carmine Nacchio, and 12 other contributing members of the club, continues to gain popularity. In addition to football, it's used at home basketball games, peprallies, and cheerleading events.

“The crowd loves the T-shirt bot so much because it gives them a chance to get a free T-shirt," Gawlowski said. "It gives (the crowd) a mini adrenaline rush to try to succeed at catching a T-shirt, and it lets people who aren't into football be more active."

As the Floyd football team pulled away from Longwood in a Suffolk Division I semifinal playoff game last Saturday, the focus switched from halfback Ja’Quan Thomas and his three touchdowns to more opportunities to catch a free T-shirt.

In effect, Floyd’s robotic club stole the show.

“We first used the T-shirt cannon in my sophomore year,” Gawlowski said. “It’s been a success ever since. It combines the aspects of both robotics and sports to make a new world. Robotics is so diverse that it can partake in any event there is."

Gawlowski says there's still more work that needs to be done with the cannon since it's old, occasionally breaks down, and is slow to charge. But he thinks it has the potential to change the landscape of future high school sporting events.

"Sometimes people don't usually watch sports," he said. "They are there because a friend or family member is there. It shows our spirit to uplift the crowd a little bit and make sure they have a good time."

Robotics club advisor and technology teacher Joseph Carpinone originally designed the project for the First Robotics Competition in 2020, a regional event where high schoolers create robots and compete in various tasks. Unfortunately, they were unable to compete because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I had kids at home coding the robot from a distance." Carpinone said. "That machine was designed and built at the Floyd High School."

Carpinone said the costs to build and compete every year is estimated at $6,300, which includes registration, parts, sponsorship, and travel costs. A combination of financial support from the school district, donations, and fundraisers covers the cost.

The main mechanism of the T-shirt cannon is called the Geneva mechanism, a gear that allows for rotational movement, created in software systems AutoCAD and Inventor. The barrels are made of clear polycarbonate for strength, and the air orientation system consists of high and low pressure for adjustments to launching distance. It is controlled by a remote also designed by Floyd's robotics team.

"It's a pretty expensive club," Carpinone said. "A lot of teams have to do fundraisers or get community support to donate things to the school. Luckily, our school has been supporting us."

"The first time I joined the club, (Gerard) was one of the first people I got close with," Nacchio said. "He did a great job showing me what to do, so next year I'm going to follow in his footsteps."

Gawlowski hopes to use the T-shirt cannon in the Suffolk championship against Ward Melville at Stony Brook University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

"Last year, we weren't able to use it due to Stony Brook's safety regulations," Gawlowski said. "We try every single year. Hopefully, this year we can."