2025 Preseason

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!

Manufacturing Training:

The manufacturing team worked hard to prepare for the 2025 build season, focusing on learning the skills that will be critical during robot construction. Members started by learning how to interpret part sheets and use basic machines and hand tools. One of the biggest projects was the reconstruction of our beloved T-shirt Cannon from previous years. This allowed new members to get hands-on experience in building a complex system while veterans helped to improve and innovate the design. The goal was to create a more effective and reliable cannon while also giving new team members an opportunity to learn and contribute to the project.

 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!