About Our Robot
This year, we started our robot design well before the season began, creating concepts for a robot that would solve every issue we’d experienced in years past. The first thing on our agenda was modular design. Last year, to fix minor problems, we would’ve had to take the entire robot apart. This seriously affected our efficiency, and fixing the issue became our #1 priority.
So when we started CADing the drivetrain, we created an assembly of around five parts. First, there’s the main beam, which spans the width of the robot and houses our lift system. Then, there are side panels, which support the wheels. Finally, there are frames in the front and back of the robot that slide out with ease once unscrewed. These five models are sturdy thanks to the structure and the materials they’re built with, but once a few key screws are removed, they come apart like Legos. This makes maintenance, both in the lab and during tournaments, extremely manageable.
Rookie Invitational Event
In the beginning of the season, we noticed that many rookie teams only compete for one season. We organized our Rookie Invitational to give first and second year programs the opportunity to compete in a tournament tailored to their needs. Our goal was to boost engagement in FIRST and inspire these inexperienced teams to continue their FIRST journey. For the past three years, the Lightsaders have presented the Rookie Invitational, featuring alliance selection, elimination matches, judged awards, and a volunteer staff made up of veteran FTC team members.
Our School
