Competitive Robotics

Welcome to this special page about my journey in competitive robotics! I started competitive robotics in the First Lego League, and then competed in the Vex Robotics Competition for four seasons. The whole experience introduced me to the world of STEM and helped me develop leadership skills. Read on below to find out what I did each season!

TECHNOLOGY

PROGRAMMING, ENGINEERING, & MANAGEMENT

2023

Competitive robotics robot with its disc launcher extended

The whole experience introduced me to the world of STEM and helped me develop leadership skills.

VRC Spin Up: Team 25K
VRC Tipping Point: Team 3150A
VRC Change Up: Team 839A
VRC Tower Takeover: Team 839Z
FLL Into Orbit: Team Polaris
Timeline: 2018–May 2023

Overview

Impact

We achieved the most prestigious award of 2022 Provincial Tournament Champion, and qualified to the international 2022 Vex Worlds tournament. At Vex Worlds we made it into the round of 16 in our division.

Overview

Competition robot on the floor of a robotics event

Crowded robotics competition arena illuminated in red

Team Polaris - 2018/19

Team Polaris LEGO robot on a First Lego League competition field

On First Lego League Team #38474 Polaris, I worked on building the structure of the code as well as the main programming for our robot. I worked on mechanical design, building the robot to accomplish the missions in FLL. Our team managed to get all the way to provincials, placing 2nd. We also won our Qualifying tournament, as Tournament Champion.

Achievements

Champion's Award 1st Place — Regionals
Robot Performance Award — Regionals
Robot Performance 2nd Place — Provincials
Strategy & Innovation Award — Provincials

Team Polaris robot displayed with robotics competition trophies

Team 839Z - 2019/20

Team 839Z robot with an extended intake mechanism

As a member of the programming team and mechanical team on VRC Team 839Z, I worked on building the robot as well as programming it to complete the challenges presented in the VEX Robotics Competition. I learned new programming techniques as well as improved my skill with C++.

Achievements

Tournament Champions — Appleby
Tournament Finalists — Brampton
Judges Award — Provincials
Rank 1st — Kalahari

Team 839Z robot on a competition field filled with coloured cubes

Team 839A - 2020/21

Team 839A robot with its tall ball intake mechanism

As the head programmer and digital development team lead of VEX Robotics Competition Team 839A, I managed our libraries of code for our robot. I collaborated with other programmers on Team 839A to solve problems and find new solutions to challenges we are presented to in VRC. I lead the team in using online technologies such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and GitHub. On VRC Team 839A, I also contributed heavily to designing and building the robot for each season, using tools such as Fusion 360 CAD and MeshCAM. We have successfully ranked 6 th in Ontario and qualified for the global VEX Worlds 2021 Championship.

Achievements

Robot Skills 2nd Place — CT Classic
Global Rank 36 — Worlds

Overhead view of the Team 839A robot and its ball intake

Team 839A robot at a robotics competition

Team 3150A - 2021/22

Team 3150A robot suspended with its lifting mechanism extended

While on Silver Owl Robotics Team 3150A, I worked with the team to produce a competitive robot for our local, provincial, and international Vex Robotics Competition tournaments. We have won three local live remote tournaments, and qualified to the 2022 Ontario Provincial Championships. We achieved the most prestigious award of 2022 Provincial Tournament Champion, and qualified to the international 2022 Vex Worlds tournament. At Vex Worlds we made it into the round of 16 in our division.

Achievements

Provincial Champions — Provincials
Tournament Champions — Disco Dynamic
Worlds R16 — Worlds
Smallest Robot Built — Global

Team 3150A robot beside an award at a robotics event

Team 3150A robot with a yellow game goal outdoors

Team 3150A robot at an outdoor backyard robotics scrimmage

Close view of the Team 3150A robot at an outdoor scrimmage

Team 25K - 2022/23

I founded Vex Robotics Competition Team 25K and as a team of 8 we competed in the 2022-2023 Vex Robotics Competition season, Spin Up. As team captain, I manage the team, and work on robot design, and program the robot. Together we managed to win three awards, Build, Design, and Excellence. After placing 3rd in skills at the 2023 Ontario Provincial Championships, we qualified for the 2023 Vex World Championships. As a completely student run team, some added responsibilities included managing the team budget, logistics, and sponsorship acquisition. Overall, this experience was extremely fun and eye opening, and I gained valuable leadership experiences.

Achievements

Excellence Award — iDesign
Design Award — Brampton
Build Award — CanSTEAM
Tournament Semifinalists — Provincials
Robot Skills 3rd Place — Provincials

Team 25K robot with extended string mechanisms and an award

Team 25K robot photographed in a school hallway

Team 25K robot with discs and a red game goal

Reflections

Participating in competitive robotics has really changed who I am. From teaching me how to code for hardware to gaining valuable skills for leadership and communication, the Vex Robotics Competition and First Lego League was a huge part of my life. To compete at a high level, I had to put in a lot of dedication, learn new skills and meet new people.

Now, I’m focusing on the media and communications part of robotics with projects like The Drive Team Podcast and Magazine. Even though I’m not competing in the Vex Robotics Competition anymore, my journey from the start has helped me find what I love to do and was a place to meet new people and make new friends.

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