An Introduction to Robotics Through FIRST

When I first stepped into robotics, it was through the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), a platform that challenges teams to design, program, and build robots to tackle unique objectives. Each year, the competition presents a new challenge.

During my time with FRC, our mission was to create a robot capable of picking up colored balls scattered across the field and depositing them into towers of varying heights. The higher the tower, the more points we could earn. It involved a lot of creativity, engineering, and problem-solving.

Our team was based at Newberg High School in Oregon, and we faced some strict requirements. Our robot had to fit within an 18" x 18" x 18" size limit, pushing us to be resourceful with our designs. Extruded aluminum became our material of choice, offering a balance of speed and stability in our robot’s construction.

One of the best aspects of FRC was gaining hands-on experience with larger shop tools like mills, CNC machines, and band saws. We used these tools to bring our robot designs to life, transforming raw materials into functional robots.

Our challenge was to build a robot that could efficiently collect balls from the field and deliver them to the towering structures. Some of these towers soared well above the initial 18" limit, reaching several feet in height.

To gather the balls, we devised a mechanism consisting of a motor and a series of plastic zip ties connected to an axle. This innovative approach allowed us to sweep balls into our robot’s loading chamber effectively.

For launching the balls into the towers, we employed another motor and a carefully chosen piece of plastic. We adjusted the plastic’s tension, ensuring the right amount of flex to propel the balls towards their destination without causing damage. The tower itself was constructed from telescoping tubes, enabling it to expand once the game began, granting us access to the tallest tower heights.

One of the most memorable aspects of the competition was programming and controlling our robot. We used an Xbox remote and custom code that we developed, showcasing the importance of software engineering in the field of robotics.

In retrospect, my time with FIRST Robotics Competition was a great experience. It introduced me to the world of mechanical engineering, provided hands-on learning with various tools and materials, and highlighted the significance of innovative problem-solving.

As I look back on those days, I’m grateful for the skills and experiences gained through FRC, which continue to influence my perspective on engineering and robotics.

For anyone interested in the field of robotics, FRC is an excellent gateway.