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This past week, Team 4909 had the incredible opportunity to compete at the New England District Championships (DCMP). Alongside the top teams from across the region, we came together in an intense and inspiring celebration of robotics. The event not only showcased the best of New England's talent but also determined which teams would earn a coveted spot at the World Championships. It was a thrilling and memorable experience for everyone involved!
 Despite our best efforts, we finished with a 1-2 record in the playoffs and weren’t able to perform at the level we had hoped for. Still, the experience was invaluable, and we’re proud of how we persevered. Most exciting of all, we officially qualified for the World Championships!
 Throughout the event, our team had several meaningful interactions with pit judges. In total, we were visited three times by different groups, including those evaluating robot design and overall team attributes. These visits gave us the chance to share our technical innovations, team dynamics, and the hard work that went into our season. It was a great opportunity to highlight what makes Team 4909 unique both on and off the field.
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Team 4909, The Bionics from Billerica Memorial High School, recently competed at the 2025 NE District UVM Event. Throughout the qualification matches, we displayed strong engineering, strategic gameplay, and relentless determination, delivering a standout performance that set the stage for an unforgettable competition. 
Throughout the competition, we encountered numerous challenges, but our drive team showcased incredible adaptability and determination, overcoming every obstacle that came our way. By the end of qualifications, our hard work paid off, earning us the 2nd seed heading into eliminations.
During the elimination rounds, we demonstrated exceptional synergy with our alliance partners, executing well-coordinated strategies and showcasing our refined technical skills. Through precise teamwork and strategic gameplay, the alliance remained undefeated, securing a flawless victory in every elimination match. This remarkable performance culminated in earning the prestigious blue banner, a testament to the team’s dedication, perseverance, and competitive excellence.
After an incredible run at UVM, we returned to Billerica to a hero’s welcome, escorted by the police back to our school. The excitement was through the roof as the escort not only boosted our team’s morale but also made the moment even more special. The officers stayed with us for photos and to personally congratulate us on our accomplishment. The celebration didn’t stop there—true to his word, our lead mentor, Blake, honored a deal he had made with us months ago. The next day, in a moment we had all been waiting for, team members got the chance to shave his head, marking the perfect way to celebrate our hard-fought victory.
This past weekend, Team 4909 participated in the Week 4 UNH competition. We fought through 12 qualification matches, earning us the 3rd alliance captain. 
Moving into alliance selection, we were honored to captain the 3rd alliance. Our first pick was Team 6324, The Blue Devils, and Team 1922, Oz-Ram. With these teams at our side, we were able to fight our way into the quarter-finals. We fought hard with our alliance members, giving our best to win. But ultimately fell short.
Beyond matches, we also had three sets of pit judges come visit us. They took a great interest in various aspects of our outreach, safety, engineering process, and of course our robot. A major highlight of our pit was a fully functional R2D2, built by our mentors. This impressive droid is connected to a controller allowing the robot to move freely, featuring full 360-degree head movement, and sounds. R2D2 was a huge hit, drawing the attention of many attendees, especially children, who loved stopping by to interact with him.
Overall, our time at UNH was an incredible experience filled with teamwork, perseverance, and excitement. We are proud of our performance and look forward to our next competition, UVM!
At the Pine Tree District Competition in Lewiston, ME, Team 4909 delivered another outstanding performance. After a series of intense qualification matches, we secured a high ranking and entered the elimination rounds as a strong contender.  During qualifications, we played 12 matches and won 9. Through qualifications, we gave it our all fighting for 1st seed. By the end, we were ranked 4th seed. We faced many challenges during these matches but our drive team was able to quickly adapt and power through.
Throughout the competition, five sets of pit judges came to visit us and learn more about our robot, engineering processes, safety, and team outreach. The team had a great time answering questions and loved talking about what makes our team unique. At the close of the competition, we won the Excellence in Engineering Award! Additionally, our lead mentor, Blake Bourque, was honored with a nomination for the Woodie Flowers Award, a prestigious recognition in FRC that celebrates outstanding mentors who inspire and empower their teams. 
This past weekend, we competed in the Granite State Competition, delivering a strong performance throughout the qualification matches. By the end, we secured an impressive second-place ranking, earning the role of Alliance 2 captain. For the elimination rounds, we joined forces with the LigerBots (Team 2877) and The Big Red (Team 1512), ready to take on the competition. Ultimately earning us second place.  During qualifications we had twelve matches, winning all of them. Throughout the qualifiers, we faced a variety of challenges, from defensive pressure to unexpected field issues, but our drive team adapted quickly, making smart adjustments to maintain a competitive edge. Our alliance partners played a crucial role in each match, and we worked together to maximize scoring opportunities while ensuring smooth coordination on the field. Throughout the competition, our team had the opportunity to speak with the pit judges, who visited us not just once, but twice—showing great interest in our ongoing projects. They asked insightful questions about our engineering process, outreach initiatives, and the unique design elements of our robot. Their enthusiasm for our work validated the countless hours our team has put into development and innovation. It was exciting to share our passion for robotics with them, and their engagement reinforced the impact of our efforts beyond just performance on the field.
By the end of the qualification rounds, our consistent performance earned us second place in the rankings. This achievement not only highlighted our robot’s reliability but also reflected the dedication and teamwork of our entire group, from scouting and strategy to pit crew and programming. Securing the second seed meant we would enter the elimination rounds as the captain of Alliance 2, setting the stage for an exciting playoff run alongside our alliance partners, the LigerBots (Team 2877) and The Big Red (Team 1512).  After a strong performance in qualification matches, we were prepared for a tough battle against the competition’s top teams. Our alliance quickly found its rhythm in the quarterfinals, executing a well-coordinated strategy that played to our strengths. With efficient scoring, strong defense, and smooth communication between our drive teams, we secured victory and advanced to the semifinals. As the competition intensified, our alliance faced fierce opponents determined to stop our run. In the semifinals, we fought hard in a back-and-forth series, making key adjustments to our strategy in response to our rivals. Despite our best efforts, we ultimately fell short, marking the end of our playoff journey. Though we didn’t take home the championship, our performance in eliminations showcased our team’s resilience, strategic adaptability, and commitment to excellence. The experience provided valuable lessons that will help us refine our approach for future competitions.  With our sights set on the next event, Team 4909 is more motivated than ever. We’ll be working hard to fine-tune our robot, analyze our performance, and come back even stronger. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our season!
This weekend, the team participated in the Week 0 event at Merrimack High School in New Hampshire, and new members gained valuable competition experience. We played three qualification matches (Matches 1, 6, and 11) and won all three, showcasing our robot’s capabilities.
 With Week 0 approaching, the team is finalizing robot improvements, refining automation, and training drive teams and strategists. Competition etiquette and pit judging prep are also in full swing to ensure smooth performance on and off the field. With continuous testing and practice, we’re getting ready for a strong showing.
Key advancements were making replacement wheels, fixing coral intake, making an end-effector slip, and constantly improving the robot. Meanwhile, other members of the team were further improving on the field elements, and we used these to practice with our robot in shop. The drive team has taken full advantage of this by taking hours of their days to practice in and out of our weekly meetings. Software: This week, the team made significant strides in both software and electrical systems, pushing our robot's capabilities even further. The algae manipulator program has been successfully completed, and we are now focused on testing and refining its functionality. The team is also actively working on autonomous routines, improving auto-align and auto-cycles to enhance overall performance. On the electrical side, we resolved a critical issue with the VI system and successfully repaired the E-chain. Additionally, a new sensor was installed on the end-effector to improve precision and control. The end-effector itself is undergoing modifications to further optimize its efficiency. As testing continues, we are committed to refining these systems to ensure smooth operation and peak performance.
With these preparations, the team is ensuring smooth communication, professionalism, and readiness for upcoming events.
Looking ahead: Week 6 has been a week of progress and preparation, with major advancements in strategy, automation, and competition readiness. As we head into Week 5, the focus shifts to final refinements and finalizing our approach for the Granite State competition from February 28th - March 2nd. With momentum on our side, we’re ready to take on the challenge—let’s keep pushing forward!
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! 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!
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