FIRST Robotics Competition

Overview

From 2020 to 2022, I was a member of a FIRST Robotics Competition team based in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Over two competition seasons, our team designed and built two robots from scratch, competing in both local and global FIRST Robotics events.

My Role

I was primarily responsible for:

• CAD design: Creating 3D models of robot subsystems using Fusion 360 and Onshape
• 3D printing: Manufacturing custom structural and functional parts using FDM printers
• System integration: Assembling mechanical, electrical, and control subsystems into a cohesive robot

Design Process

Each season followed an iterative design cycle:

1. Game analysis — Understanding the year's competition challenge and constraints
2. Concept generation — Brainstorming mechanisms for scoring, defense, and autonomous routines
3. CAD modeling — Detailed design with interference checking and mass budgeting
4. Prototyping — Rapid 3D printing and laser cutting to test mechanisms
5. Integration & testing — Assembly, wiring, programming, and field testing

Technical Highlights

Custom Intake Mechanism

One of our robots featured a pneumatically actuated intake system with 3D-printed rollers. The geometry was optimized to handle game pieces of varying sizes:

where $v_{\text{intake}}$ is the desired intake speed and $r_{\text{roller}}$ is the roller radius.

Drivetrain

We used a West Coast-style tank drive with 6-inch wheels and a 2-speed gearbox, balancing pushing power with maneuverability.

Gear Ratio (high):  8.45:1  → ~4.2 m/s free speed
Gear Ratio (low):  14.88:1  → ~2.4 m/s, higher torque

What I Learned

This experience was formative in developing my engineering intuition — learning to design for manufacturability, manage project timelines, and debug systems under competition pressure. It directly motivated my decision to study Mechanical Engineering at TU/e.

Technologies Used

Fusion 360, Onshape, FDM 3D printing (Ultimaker Cura), Arduino, pneumatics, basic electronics