Every January, thousands of high school robotics teams worldwide take a deep breath as the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) game for the season is released. The announcement sets off a fervorous six-week countdown during which teams must brainstorm, design, prototype, build, program, and refine a fully functional robot. It’s a chaotic and intense period that pushes students over the edge.
At first, it’s all elation and enthusiasm, with thoughts of an invincible, perplexing robot that can ace every challenge. Freshman Marcellino Vu elaborates, “Something cool about building a robot is the fact that you’re able to work with your friends and peers.”
But then reality sets in. The aspiring concepts run into real-world constraints, which include weight limits, current limits, and, worst of all, time limits. Integration lead Rubi Martin even says, “The limits for how to design and create our robot, while often frustrating, are really what make it such a fun challenge. It really helps you to gain a better understanding of the robot, as each rule has importance to why our robot functions and plays the way it does.”
As weeks go by, stress levels jump, and sleep schedules start to dissipate. The robot room becomes a second home, with the resonation of drills, saws, and computer keys filling the air. Yet, through the exhaustion and vexation, something incredible happens. Bit by bit, a robot begins to take shape.
By the final week, the team moves from anxiety to determination.
Martin explains, “The week before a competition is always stressful. So many questions come up of how we’ll perform and what will break. That being said, it’s also the moment where you really get to watch your robot work.”
The six-week FRC build season is a rollercoaster, broken down into several key phases:
Kickoff & Strategy (Week 1): One of the most rousing moments of the season, local teams gather to watch the official game reveal, immediately diving into the 100+ page game manual to learn about the rules, restrictions, and scoring opportunities.
Strategy lead Aarush Palve comments, “It sets the tone for how the rest of the season is going to go and helps the team decide its main direction for the season.”
Prototyping & Initial Design (Weeks 1-2): Once a rough strategy is decided, prototyping starts. This is where ideas get tested—sometimes failing. Small groups construct quick, rough models using plywood, polycarb, and 3D-printed parts.
Design lead Aasha Patel explains, “We fully flesh out each mechanism and often undergo several iterations as physical performance often differs from how we visualize it working in CAD.”
Design is not just a mental workout but also a source of enjoyment. Patel tells us, “I like how all the small little details pop into my head as I go, and it all comes together like a therapeutic puzzle. One component leads to another and together they create a bigger, efficient picture.”
Building the Final and Practice Robot (Weeks 3-4): This is where the real grind begins. Parts are made, metal is machined, wires are soldered and connected along with hundreds of zip ties being cut and redone. The mechanical, electrical, and software teams work in parallel, coordinating tight deadlines.
Martin notes, “Throughout the whole build season, each subteam always has something to do. For example, [the] mechanical [subteam] often takes on the most time-consuming load and will always be staying late/coming early to make sure that the robot is ready. There is never a moment where we’re sitting still.”
Testing & Debugging (Weeks 5-6): The most excruciating phase, in which everything that can go wrong usually does. Sensors defect, motors burn out, code is off by just enough, and the robot might spontaneously catch on fire!
Software lead Anvi Singh adds, “When something goes wrong, we often get an influx of opinions about what happened and how to fix it. To debug efficiently, we prioritize conclusions backed by verifiable data, such as log outputs or video footage, making sure that our conclusions are backed by evidence and not speculation.”
Drive Practice & Final Adjustments (Final Days): The focus shifts to drive team training and strategy refinement. Drivers (drives the robot), gunners (controls the robot actions), and coaches (conveys the game plan for the match) practice under simulated match conditions while the software sub-team fine-tunes autonomous routines.
After these six weeks of nonstop construction and testing, it’s finally time for competition!
FRC competitions are a thrilling mix of momentous strategy, robot tasks, and teamwork.
Teams start by competing at district or regional events. These are fast-paced tournaments where robots are put to the test in qualification matches. Teams compete in alliances of three, working together to complete game tasks while outscoring their opponents.
Project manager Lily Vu comments, “I love the adrenaline and excitement from competitions as well as the emphasis of excellent sportsmanship, respect and willingness to help your opponents.”
Qualification match scores decide rankings, and the top teams move on to alliance selections.
The best alliances engage in elimination rounds, and the winners take home event trophies and district points.
The following competitions are called Championships. Teams in district-based regions amass district points from multiple events. The highest-ranked teams are eligible for their District Championship.
The FIRST World Championship, held in Houston, Texas, is the pinnacle of FRC. The best teams from all over the world gather to compete in six divisions, each functioning as its own mini-championship. The winners of each division then face off in the Einstein Field finals, where the best of the best compete to be the title winner.
Martin even opines, “I can’t help but reminisce on our 2023 season when we made it to Worlds. It was such an incredible experience that I hope we get to have again this year.”
Somehow, against all odds, a fully functioning robot emerges from the mania.
Patel delightfully phrases her experience, “Seeing everything that you’ve touched on a functioning machine makes you kick yourself internally and go, ‘Wow that’s actually awesome.’ It makes you feel like all the hours were worth it and helps you see the extent of what you’ve achieved.”
In the end, robotics isn’t just about building a robot. It’s about pushing limits, solving problems, and proving that, even with six weeks and an ocean of challenges, a team of dedicated students can fabricate something astonishing.