Why I Love Robotics: Journey in First Tech Challenge Robotics

There’s nothing like the rush of watching a robot execute an autonomous path we spent weeks refining, especially when every mechanism, every line of code, and every design choice came from our team’s own hands.

As part of my school’s First Tech Challenge (FIRST Tech Challenge is a global robotics competition with over 100,000 students designing, building, programming robots to compete) robotics team, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about building and coding; it’s about solving problems under pressure and finding ways to make the most out of what we have. For me, robotics is where engineering, math, and strategy meet resourcefulness and teamwork.

Building the Bot

I was in charge of building our robot. This year our robot was designed for versatility and speed, integrating an active intake with a dedicated servo to grab samples from anywhere on the field, and a separate claw and linear slide to score specimens with precision. We used a mecanum drive with belt transmission for maximum maneuverability, high-infill 3D printed parts for structural integrity, and even repurposed old acrylic COVID shields and brass nameplates for protection and counterweights. Sustainability and performance, side by side.

On the software side, this year we built a pure pursuit–based autonomous system with bezier curve pathing and real-time relocalization. Using odometry, we implemented field-oriented driving, compensated for centrifugal force, and fine-tuned our mecanum control to move exactly how we wanted. These were for our autonomous section which places clips and blocks without us touching a single button

Competition Journey

Over my years on the team, we’ve had a range of results:

• Two seasons ago: We earned Winning Alliance, meaning we won the competition) at a qualifier and were selected by lottery to advance to NorCal Regionals.

• Last season: We qualified for NorCal Regionals outright.

• This season: We placed second in qualifying matches, just shy of advancing.

Each year brought different challenges, from last-minute mechanical fixes to mid-competition code rewrites, and every setback pushed us to be more adaptive and inventive.

Engineering + Teamwork

Our strength has always been more than just the machine. Whether optimizing intake speed, troubleshooting a failed motor minutes before a match, or coaching our driver through high-pressure finals, we’ve relied on clear communication and trust in each other’s skills. Outreach has been just as important, fromm mentoring middle school teams to teaching robotics fundamentals to younger students through community programs.

What’s Next

Robotics has shaped the way I think, work, and lead. It’s taught me to build systems that are both functional and elegant, to solve problems creatively under constraints, and to bring out the best in a team. I know this won’t be the last robot I design and these are just the next stepping stone toward bigger challenges.