TEAM 4909 - BIONICS - Blog

6/8/2025

battlecry

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Team 4909 recently competed at BattleCry 25, hosted at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on June 7–8. As one of the most competitive offseason events in New England, BattleCry brought together over 60 teams for two full days of intense robot action.

The qualification rounds were a grind. Our alliance combinations varied, and while we gave it everything on the field, consistent synergy was hard to come by. Over the course of 8 qualification matches, we ended with a record of 2 wins and 6 losses, finishing 53rd out of 62 teams.

We had strong moments—like our high-scoring victory in Match 5 and a solid win in Match 13—but small setbacks in auto or endgame often flipped the outcome. The drive team adjusted match by match, and our pit crew kept the robot running hard all weekend.

With a final rank of 53rd, we weren’t in a position to captain an alliance or be picked for eliminations. Only the top 16 alliances moved forward, and despite our reliability and effort, we didn’t make the playoff bracket this time.

Despite the tough qualifications results, we punched our ticket to the eliminations. Team 1277, captain of the 7th-seeded alliance, selected us as their third pick, alongside teams 9642 and 2265. That bumped us into the playoff bracket—no small win given the competition.

In the playoff bracket as part of the 7‑seed alliance. We competed in Quarterfinal Matches, facing the 2‑seed alliance. Our alliance battled through hard-fought matches, pushing deep. Though we didn't advance to the semis, the experience and lessons were invaluable. Final Rank: Officially seeded 7th in playoffs, with alliance placement in quarterfinals.

We didn’t cross into Top 4, but the playoff stint showed that even off-seed alliances can compete under pressure.

Offseason events like BattleCry are where growth happens. New systems get tested. Failures turn into improvements. While this wasn’t our most dominant showing, it was the kind of weekend that builds stronger teams. We’re already back in the shop, retooling and planning for what’s next.

Stay tuned. Team 4909 is just getting started.

6/1/2025

MA State champs

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Team 4909, Bionics, hit the field at the 2025 Massachusetts State Championship with energy, strategy, and a drive to compete. Coming off a strong competition season, the team brought their A-game to the Merrimack College venue, facing off against some of the best teams in the state.

In a packed field of high-performing robots, 4909 fought through each match with consistency and solid execution. The drive team delivered smart plays under pressure, the pit crew kept the robot in peak condition between matches. Strategic alliances and a solid autonomous routine gave the team an edge in multiple games, pushing us to finish qualifications with a respectable record of 4 wins to 3 losses.

Team 4909 was selected as a second pick by the 5th seed, recognizing our robot's capability and the team's reputation for dependable support and smart driving. While not leading an alliance this time, the team played a crucial role in tight playoff matches. Our robot consistently delivered game pieces, executed clean cycles, and held strong in defense when needed.

We made it to the quarterfinals. The matches were brutal and high-stakes. Despite tough opposition and a few close calls, our alliance fought hard. Even getting match replays in our favor. Ultimately, we were eliminated before the semis, but not without making it clear that 4909 is a team to watch—versatile, resilient, and composed under pressure.

We didn’t walk away with a banner, but we left with momentum. The team proved depth, discipline, and potential. The State Championship capped off a season of progress and learning, and it set the tone for what’s next. The Offseason starts now, and 4909 isn’t slowing down.

5/11/2025

Worlds, Week 7

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Our Journey to the FIRST Robotics World Championship
We’ve just returned from an unforgettable experience at the FIRST Robotics World Championship, and wow—what a ride it was!
Competing on the global stage, we faced off against some of the best and most innovative teams in the world. The level of talent, engineering, and strategy at Worlds is truly unmatched, and we were honored to be part of it.
After a series of intense qualification matches, we earned a spot on the 4th seat of the 8th alliance in the Newton Division. Joining forces with some incredible teams, we entered the elimination rounds with determination and excitement. We fought hard in every match, pushing our robot and ourselves to the limit. Though our run ended in match 13, it was a battle to be proud of—especially knowing that the Newton Division alliance went on to win the entire FIRST

World Championship on the Einstein field.
One of the highlights of our trip was watching the Einstein Division finals—where the best of the best competed for the championship title. Seeing those matches up close, witnessing the strategies, precision driving, and flawless teamwork—it was nothing short of inspiring.

Exploring Houston: Space, Games, and Great Food
In between matches and scouting sessions, we made time to enjoy some of the best that Houston has to offer. One of our favorite experiences was visiting the NASA Johnson Space Center, where we watched The Moonwalkers, a cinematic journey through the Apollo missions and the extraordinary people who made lunar exploration possible. The exhibit sparked our imagination and reminded us of how far human innovation can go when passion meets purpose.
We also had an awesome time at Cidarcade, a retro-style arcade packed with classic cabinets and modern multiplayer games. The team had a blast going head-to-head in Killer Queen, a 10-player arcade game that quickly became a favorite. It was a perfect way to relax, blow off some steam, and enjoy some friendly team competition.
To top it off, we wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner at a hot pot restaurant, where everyone got to cook their own meal right at the table. Sharing food, laughter, and stories made the trip even more memorable and brought our team even closer together.

Empowering the Next Generation: Girl Scouts Visit Our Shop
After returning from Worlds, we welcomed a local Girl Scouts troop to our robotics shop on May 6 as part of their journey to earn the Robotics Badge. During their visit, the Scouts built small, battery-powered fans using basic electronic components—giving them a fun and accessible introduction to simple circuits.
We also shared our experiences from the FIRST Robotics Competition, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to design, build, and compete with a robot at the international level. From CAD and programming to strategy and teamwork, the Scouts got a broad look at everything that goes into being part of an FRC team.
It was amazing to see their curiosity and enthusiasm as they explored robotics hands-on. Visits like these are a powerful reminder that our impact reaches far beyond the playing field—we’re helping spark interest in STEAM and empowering the next generation of innovators.
This experience has fueled our passion for robotics even more. We’re returning home with new ideas, stronger connections in the FIRST community, and a renewed drive to keep improving.
A massive thank-you goes out to our mentors, sponsors, families, and fellow teams for supporting us every step of the way!

4/7/2025

DCmp, week 6

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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!

During the qualification matches, Team 4909 was placed in the Ballard division. With determination and grit, we fought through a tough schedule, finishing with a 7-5 record. Despite facing several challenges and needing to adapt quickly, we gave each match our all. By the end of quals, we landed as the 23rd seed. However, our efforts didn’t go unnoticed, we were honored to be the first pick of the 5th alliance, a testament to the strength and consistency of our performance.

For alliance selections, we sent two of our team members, accompanied by our trusty R2-D2 droid, to represent Team 4909. We were honored to be selected by the 5th seed alliance and thrilled to team up with two outstanding partners: Team 8708, Ov3R1y K0Mp13X, and Team 95, the Grasshoppers. Both teams brought experience, innovation, and strength to the field. Together, our alliance entered the elimination rounds with determination, collaboration, and a shared drive to compete at our best.

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!

While matches were underway on the field, the pits were buzzing with excitement of their own. One highlight was the return of our very own R2-D2 droid, a crowd favorite. To our surprise, our pit neighbors also brought along an R2-D2 of their own! By the next day, even more R2-D2s had rolled into the event, turning the competition into an unofficial droid gathering. We even managed to snap an amazing group photo featuring all the R2 units and their creators proudly standing behind them. A perfect snapshot of the creativity and community that make FIRST events so special.

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.

4/1/2025

UVM, Week 5

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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.

We battled through the qualification rounds, competing in 12 intense matches, where we secured 10 wins and faced only 2 losses. Right from the start, we made our mark by setting the event high score of 210 in our very first match.

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 alliance selections, we were honored to be picked by the number one seed, Team 5687, The Outliers. Without hesitation, we accepted their offer, excited to join forces for the elimination rounds. Together, we carefully strategized and selected our third and final alliance partner—Team 8544, Reinforcement. With our alliance solidified, we were ready to take on the competition, confident in our combined strengths and teamwork.

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.

3/24/2025

UNh, Week 4

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This past weekend, Team 4909 participated in the Week 4 UNH competition. We fought through 12 qualification matches, earning us the 3rd alliance captain.

Throughout the qual matches, we gave it our all and fought our way through, earning us an 8-win and 4-lose record. We faced many challenges throughout these matches but were able to adapt quickly and end up as the 5th seed.

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!

3/17/2025

pine tree, week 3

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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.

Moving into elimination we were first pick for the 2nd seed, Team 5813 Morpheus. Working alongside teams 5813 and 8023 we moved through matches and secured a spot in the finals. We were against teams 6329, 501, and 5687. The finals were hard-fought. our opponents won the first round, but we won the second round. The third match was the ultimate tiebreaker—a nail-biting showdown where we came incredibly close to victory. We ultimately finished in second place!

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.

3/3/2025

Granite state, week 1

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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!

2/17/2025

Week 0

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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.

We then moved on to the elimination bracket, we fought through four matches, winning three and losing one. We then fought through the losing bracket before advancing to the finals. After an intense final match, we finished in 2nd place alongside our alliance partners, Team 166 Chop Shop and Team 1073 The Force Team.

Week 0 was a great opportunity to test our robot, refine our strategies, and build team synergy. With this experience, we’re ready to take on the Granite State competition at the end of the month!

2/14/2025

Week 6

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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.

Mechanical:

This week, the Mechanical team has made incredible progress, tackling a range of tasks and significantly improving our robot. They successfully addressed and fixed almost all issues on the two existing robots while also focusing on the development of the next iteration, v3.

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.

Operations:

This week, the Operations team focused on competition readiness with multiple training sessions. New members attended a competition etiquette presentation to learn proper conduct during events. The operations team continued pit judging training and prepared for the upcoming robot reveal. Additionally, an etiquette presentation was given to 8th graders, helping introduce them to competition standards.

With these preparations, the team is ensuring smooth communication, professionalism, and readiness for upcoming events.

Strategy:

This week, the strategy team focused on preparing for Week 0 by developing game plans and analyzing potential match scenarios. Alongside planning, new strategists underwent training to ensure they are ready to make informed decisions during competition. With careful preparation, the team is refining strategies to maximize performance on the field.

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!