The Delta Overload robotics team from Gentry High School is at it again.
A few weeks ago, group sponsor John Cochran was busy printing and assembling 3D masks for distribution to local health officials. Now Cochran and his son Jayden have taken on a new project that will also provide personal protective equipment for medical personnel.
Last week, the team assembled and distributed 100 plastic face shields from materials provided by NASA's Stennis Space Center.
The center is one of the sponsors for the robotics competitions.
"What they did was ask all of the teams that they sponsor if they would like to be a part of the program. So they basically donated 100 face shields that we had to assemble and then distribute," Cochran said.
Because of the efforts of Cochran and Jayden, medical personnel from two local health facilities, South Sunflower County Hospital and Delta Health Center, will receive the much-needed gear.
According to Cochran, the shields are made out of a lexan type polycarbonate thermoplastic and are simple to assemble. He said they could put together a shield in approximately seven minutes, and although somewhat time consuming, the project was not difficult.
Cochran called this a “helping hands” project for them and stated that their goal, as well as the goal of the Stennis Center, was simply to help out during this crisis.
It did not require any specific skills or enhance any of the skills necessary in assembling their robots, they were only doing their part.
