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Build Season: January Update

This season began with our annual kickoff potluck, where the team got together to analyze the 2024 FRC game 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition CRESCENDO presented by Haas Game Animation. Summarized, the game is designed for robots to deliver foam rings to different areas on the map. This year's game also consisted of an unusual climb, in which the robot must hang on a chain alongside other robots after the two minute game period. After breakfast, the team watched the game reveal live stream video and brainstormed potential ideas. Over 20 generous GRT alums visited the shop and built the game pieces. Our kickoff weekend concluded with a humanized version of the game, with team members playing the robots.

Week 1:

In our first week of kickoff our four mechanism groups, the climb, intake, shooter and elevator, brainstormed potential ideas for full robot designs. We then established our full robot in a town-hall style meeting with the team, mechanism leads, and mentors. The shooter and intake provided unique difficulties this year, since the ring must be capable of reaching several areas on the map and be picked up at different angles. After designing, machining and assembling our first robot, we used lessons learnt in its creation to make an improved robot two.

In this time, subgroups have been hard at work on their designated aspects of the team. Recently, the drivetrain has been machining the swerve drive for our second robot. The controls subgroup is programming the autonomous section of the competition, which involves picking up and placing the rings on a foot tall wooden stage. Business just finished the Impact Award (formerly known as The Chairman's Award), capable of sending us to The World Championships if won, and the animation subgroup recently submitted the Digital Animation Award:

We are excited to watch our finalized robot in action as we wrap up the final weeks of the build season. This year we will be attending the Silicon Valley Regional (SVR), for the first time in competition week one, and the Idaho Regional during week four. Please feel free to visit us during tournaments! In preparation for competitions, our members adhered to our longstanding tradition by once again dying our hair a bright hue of red!