Week 5 Update – Team 4909: Building Momentum! As we wrap up Week 5, Each sub-team has made remarkable progress, and the excitement is building as we edge closer to competition readiness. Here’s a breakdown of what we’ve accomplished this week: ![]() Software Team: The Software Team has been laser-focused on refining our robot’s capabilities. This week, they conducted extensive drive practice to ensure smooth and precise control during matches. They also tuned autos to optimize performance during the autonomous period, ensuring we can execute scoring strategies with consistency. A major milestone was achieved with the successful auto-align system, which now allows the robot to autonomously align with targets with incredible accuracy. Additionally, the team developed code for the algae manipulator, integrating it seamlessly into our autonomous and teleoperated routines. Work on vision and auto-align continues, with the team making strides in improving reliability and precision. ![]() Mechanical/CAD Team: The Mechanical Team has been hard at work this week, pushing the boundaries of innovation. They improved the design of the V3 elevator, making it more efficient and reliable. A standout achievement was the design and construction of the algae manipulator, which is now fully functional and ready for testing. The team also began assembling the V4 elevator, a critical component for our scoring and endgame strategies. Another highlight was the design, assembly, and mounting of the climber, which has been successfully tested to perform a deep climb, ensuring we can maximize our endgame points. Operations Team: The Operations Team has been busy laying the groundwork for the team’s future. They’ve started planning for the next fundraiser, ensuring we have the resources to continue our ambitious projects. Preparations for the next season are already underway, with the team revisiting and updating the 5-year plan to guide our long-term goals. In addition, the team has been hard at work preparing for the robot reveal, an exciting event that will showcase our hard work to sponsors and supporters. Creativity is also in full swing, as they’ve begun designing a team avatar and exploring potential team merchandise to boost team spirit and engagement. Looking Ahead:
Week 5 has been a week of breakthroughs and forward momentum. With the successful auto-align, new mechanical prototypes, and strategic planning for the future, Team 4909 is in an excellent position to tackle the challenges ahead. As we move into Week 6, we’re more determined than ever to refine our systems, strengthen our teamwork, and prepare for an outstanding competition season. Onward to Week 6 – let’s keep the momentum going!
0 Comments
Week 4 Update – Team 4909: Progress Continues! As we head into Week 5, Team 4909 is more focused than ever. Each subteam is making significant strides, and we’re one step closer to being competition-ready. ![]() Software Team: The Software Team has been hard at work this week, making exciting progress on auto-alignment. The robot is now able to autonomously line up perfectly with the center of the field’s reef, setting us up for smoother and faster scoring. They have also been refining the auto-align system to target individual nodes (Rods that stick out of the reef for coral scoring) on the reef, ensuring that we can consistently score with pinpoint accuracy. Through many trials and errors with practice the camera placement has been tuned for optimal vision, and new autos for scoring coral and manipulating algae to enhance our performance during the autonomous portion of the match. Mechanical Team: The Mechanical Team continued to push forward with design and testing. They have been working on a new algae intake prototype, experimenting with different designs to ensure maximum efficiency in collecting game pieces. Additionally, they have been testing a prototype deep climb (Lifting the robot on the deep cage enough to get the robot off the floor) mechanism, a critical component for endgame performance. With each iteration, the team is getting closer to the ideal setup for both gameplay and reliability. ![]() Operations Team: On the Operations side, the team has been busy preparing award submissions, preparing for the team's future, and connecting with and collaborating with teams from around the world. They have also been crafting Woodie Flowers Award Essay to highlight a mentor and their significant positive impact on the team’. Meanwhile, they’ve continued updating the team website with our current sponsors to recognize them as an appreciation to our team. The team has also revisited the old 5-year plan for the robotics program, beginning the process of writing a new one to guide the team into the future. Looking Ahead:
With the first four weeks behind us, we’re moving into Week 5 with a strong foundation. The progress we’ve made in design, testing, and team operations is already paying off. We’re on track to put everything together for an incredible competition run, and we can’t wait to see what we accomplish next! Onward to Week 5! We’re three weeks into build season, and our team is firing on all cylinders! We’ve made massive strides across all areas, and the momentum is only picking up as we continue to refine and innovate.Drive Team: The Drive Team has been hard at work, perfecting fast and reliable cycle times (the time required to pick up a game piece and score it). They've been focusing on efficient strategies for scoring on the reef and clearing algae, making sure every move is efiicient. Their practice sessions are paying off as they’re already hitting consistent times and building synergy ![]() Software: The Software Team has been fine-tuning the elevator set-points (points at which elevator stops for different levels of the Reef) for Level 4 scoring, ensuring smooth operation even in the most challenging scenarios. They have also developed a vision system that combines camera input with wheel rotations to estimate the robot’s position on the field. This estimation allows for auto-alignment with the reef, putting us in the perfect position for scoring during the autonomous portion of the match Mechanical: The Mechanical Team has been working on our robot’s second version, enhancing its design and performance. They have also been assembling another elevator system for the robot’s first version to ensure we have a backup for further testing and practice ![]() Operations: The Operations Team has made excellent progress in updating the Business Plan, ensuring we’re ready for any question posed to us by judges. They have enhanced website components to make sure our online presence stands out. The team is also in the process of designing and working toward getting some Team 4909 merchendise ready for the season! It’s been an incredible start to the season, and with each week, we’re getting closer to putting everything together for an epic competition run. Onward to Week 4! We have just finished the first two weeks of the build season, and our team is making significant progress. Mechanical:During Week 1, the mechanical team used CAD to design a prototype system for scoring coral on reefs. They also designed and built an elevator mechanism. The team continued to design and troubleshoot with other prototypes during Week 2 to improve on our initial design. With our current version, we can score on all levels of the reef! By week two, after more testing, the team also successfully mounted the elevator onto our robot's chassis. Looking forward to Week 3, the mechanical team is shifting its focus to developing a system for scoring algae. Operations:
Additionally, Operations has secured two new sponsors, Mathnasium and Polymer Shapes! Software:The software team has successfully programmed a drivetrain for the robot chassis, ensuring smooth and efficient movement. They enhanced the system by integrating additional motors for the robot’s prototype testing. Currently, their efforts are focused on autonomous operations, working to activate the robot's vision system by implementing April tags, a crucial piece for the robot to identify and interact with its environment. By leveraging these visual markers, the robot can achieve great accuracy in navigation and object recognition, allowing us to score in the autonomous period. In just the first two weeks, we have made incredible progress and are eagerly looking forward to the rest of the season.
![]() On Saturday, January 4th, we kicked off the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition season at Billerica Memorial High School. We watched this year’s game reveal: REEFSCAPE presented by Haas. In REEFSCAPE presented by Haas, robots score points by completing different tasks using game pieces known as “CORAL” (PVC Pipe), “ALGAE” (a rubber kickball), and a barge (a station that spans middle of the field horizontally, contaninig the hanging station with a scoring net on top). Here's how it works:
At the end of the match, robots can grab onto one of three hanging cages (at a low or high height) or park under the barge. The team with the most points wins! After watching FIRST’s stream of the game reveal, the team read through the game manual together to fully grasp the extent of the game and develop an action plan from what we learned. Below is the game animation. Click HERE to access the unencrypted game manual! After a highly successful 2023 season and with enthusiastic new team members, Team 4909 is excited to take on the challenges of the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition as we “REEFSCPAPE” our way into the new year! 2024 Preseason Overview: This fall, we’ve placed a strong emphasis on growing and training our newest members, providing them with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to contribute meaningfully to our team during the 2024 build season. Here’s a recap of what we’ve accomplished so far: Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Training: In the preseason, our team dedicated a significant amount of time to CAD training, focusing on both the fundamentals and more advanced design concepts. New members were introduced to the basics of 3D modeling, learning how to design parts with constraints and navigate 3D space on a 2D screen. Meanwhile, veteran members took on more advanced projects, partnering up to create subsystems for previous FRC games. The goal was not only to learn the software but to go through the entire design process from scratch. By the end of the course, many of our team members became proficient in CAD, making them ready to take on more complex design challenges during the build season Team Operations and Outreach Training: Our "Team Ops" group had a busy and productive preseason, heavily involved in fundraising and outreach efforts. This included hosting the New England Robotics Derby (N.E.R.D.) in October, where we brought together teams from across the region for a day of celebration, learning, and competition. We also ran a "12 Days of Christmas Raffle," with team members selling tickets at O’Connor Hardware in Billerica, MA, and to their families and friends. This fundraiser, along with others, helped raise the necessary funds to support our activities for the year. Outreach has also been a big focus, with our team actively participating in community events. We participated in the Yankee Doodle 2024, Billerica’s annual homecoming event, where we marched in the parade and hosted an open house. We also participated in the Billerica Memorial High School Pep Rally, showcasing our team spirit during "Spirit Week" and firing our t-shirt cannon into the crowd at the rally itself. Another exciting outreach event was our Hour of Code, where we hosted an interactive coding session for elementary and middle school students. Participants learned basic programming skills and got to see a robot demonstration. We also hosted STEM Night at the Billerica Public Library, where the team demonstrated our robot, discussed its various components, and had a science fair where students could explore a variety of fun experiments like elephant toothpaste and making self inflating balloons!
Software Training: Our software team spent the preseason introducing rookie members to coding through Java on Codecademy. After building a foundation of basic programming skills, they began working on controlling the robot and programming it to perform specific functions. One key project was helping to code the T-shirt cannon, allowing us to improve its precision and functionality. The experience provided our new members with valuable hands-on practice using firmware and any software with distinct functions (APIs). Looking Ahead to 2025 – Reefscape!As we prepare for the 2024 season, we are energized by the opportunity to tackle the new game, “Reefscape”. Our training efforts have equipped us with the skills we need to dive into this exciting challenge, and we are excited to see how our team will grow, collaborate, and innovate during the competition.
We’ve worked hard in the preseason to bring in new members, train them, and provide opportunities for them to immediately apply what they’ve learned. Whether through community outreach, building our T-shirt cannon, or hosting events like N.E.R.D., Team 4909 is ready to take on the new year with energy, enthusiasm, and a commitment to excellence. Bring on Reefscape 2025! On April 17-20, Team 4909 competed in the FIRST World Championship at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX. Like previous events, the match structure is composed of qualification matches, followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket within each of the 6 divisions. The winners of each division funnelled into the final division, aptly named the Einstein Division. At the end of qualifications matches, Team 4909 placed 11th of 75 in the Hopper Division. During alliance selection, they picked by the 3rd seed alliance, consisting of captain Team 180 - S.P.A.M., Team 3357 - COMETS, and Team 108 - SigmaC@T Robotics. Overall, Team 4909 reached semi-finals. On April 3-6, Team 4909 came together with 95 NEFIRST teams in West Springfield, MA to compete in the New England FIRST District Championship. ![]() Like previous events, the match structure is composed of qualification matches, followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket within the 2 divisions, Richardson and Ganson. The winning alliances of both divisions face off on a combined field to determine the ultimate victor of the event. Team 4909 played on Richardson Field, where they ranked 13th at the end of qualification matches. Later during alliance selections, the team was selected by Alliance 4, consisting of Captain Team 8709 - Pathfinder Tech, and Team 2648 - Infinite Loop. The BIonics Beocme Finalists at The UniveRSITY of rhode islandOn March 14-16, Team 4909 - The Bionics competed at the University of Rhode Island District Event in Kingston, RI for Week 3 of the 2024 FIRST® Robotics Competition. This weekend-long competition took place at the Keaney Gymnasium and was the team’s third official event of the 2024 season. In the weeks prior to the competition, the team was able to focus on consistency. The software team updated code to improve the robot's performance during both automated and tele-operated periods and the drive team held extensive driver practices to consistently score game pieces with short cycle times. Like previous events, the match structure is composed of qualification matches, followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket. Team 4909 ended the first day of the competition undefeated and broke the event high score of 91 points in one match. After the end of qualification matches, The Bionics won 11 of 12 qualification matches and was tied in ranking points with the first-place team. However, the Bionics dropped down to 2nd place due to FRC's tiebreaking procedure. Despite this, Team 4909 captained the 2nd-seed alliance, partnering with Team 1058, “PVC Pirates” of Londonderry, NH and Team 8544, “Reinforcement” of Sutton, MA. During the playoffs, the alliance won three consecutive matches, moving on as event finalists. In the finals, the Bionics won their first match against the 1st-seed alliance. Unfortunately, this match did not count and had to be replayed due to a field error. Despite the previous success, the team's robot suddenly experienced a mechanical error in the drive train, causing the Bionics to lose the replay, and the following match. This ended the competition with the Bionics placing second, earning the title, "Event Finalists." Even though the Bionics did not take home a blue banner, URIDE was unarguably one of the team’s best performing competitions in team history. Bionics Win Industrial Design AwarDDuring the award ceremony, the judges awarded Team 4909 the Industrial Design Award, presented by General Motors. This award, "celebrates excellence in marrying form, function, and aesthetics within the realm of robotics." The judges specifically complimented the team's implementation of industrial design principles, including the use of precise machining and a compact design. The Bionics' next competition will be the New England District Championship at The Big E fairgrounds in Springfield, MA from April 4-6. Published on 3/18/2024 by Daniel Darris-O'Connor Team 4909 Places 3rd at the Granite State District Event in Salem, New HampshireOn March 1st and 2nd, Team 4909 - Billerica Bionics competed in the Granite State District Event for Week 1 of the 2024 FIRST® Robotics Competition. This weekend-long event was hosted at Salem High School in Salem, NH and was the Team’s first official event of the 2024 season. This competition attracted 35 high school teams from across New England, all aiming to take home a coveted blue banner. For this competition, high school students were challenged to build robots that operate in both autonomous and remote-controlled (tele-op) modes. Robots are required to pick up notes, ring-shaped game pieces and score them at precise targets across the game field. To score, teams have developed different ways to shoot and place game pieces. To score extra points in this year’s endgame challenge, robots must climb the stage, a field element located at the center of the field composed of a rigid structure with a metal chain linked across. Robots must attach to this element to lift off of the ground in order to receive points. In the competition, the match structure is composed of qualification matches, followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket. With a rough start on day one, Team 4909 ended up winning 7 out of 14 qualification matches, placing the team in 11th place. During alliance selection, Team 4909 partnered with Team 9443, “Aluminium Panthers” of West Newbury, MA and alliance captain Team 1922, “Oz-Ram” of Contoocook, New Hampshire to form the 4th-seed alliance. During the playoffs, the alliance won the first match. Unfortunately, the Bionic alliance lost the second match, dropping the team down to the lower bracket. The alliance won two consecutive matches in the lower bracket, but were ultimately defeated by the 2nd-seed alliance in the final match of the lower bracket. The Bionic alliance ended up placing 3rd of the eight alliances, and the team took home 46 district points, 10 more than the team’s first competition of the 2023 season. Team 4909 Wins the Judges’ Award
Sophomore Luis TEIxeira Wins Dean’s List
Team 4909’s next competition will be this Saturday and Sunday at the Bridgewater State University event in Bridgewater, MA.
|
Details
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR BLOG
Email [email protected] to receive an email notification every time a new blog is posted! Archive
January 2025
|