FIRST Robotics 2026 - Week Two Report

Bit of an odd week.  The last half of it had bitterly cold temps.  The sort of numbers that don't really matter if you quote them in F or C.  There was also - good timing - mid winter break, and some kids off doing college tours/Science Olympiad, etc.  But still, progress marches on.  (Yikes, makes me think of March, when our competitions start!!)

Lots of clever new mechanisms being prototyped, with a few approaching final production versions.  This is version 2.0 of the ball launcher, with an adjustable hood to change angle of launch.

This shows the Version 1.0 of the ball intake, and some crude duct tape experiments with the conveyor that will bring balls back to the launcher.

And, we have the robot's frame cut and ready for motors and mechanisms.

Here's the Week Two progress video.   

Video production has stepped up this season.  We are doing two a week now.  Here's a short, fun one where the "Hub", that's the field element you shoot the yellow balls into, is pulled out and assembled.  And then, well, suffice to say there is an option for a "Human Player" to launch a few from the sidelines....

And so it goes.  Decent progress but a few key systems need to get past the cardboard and duct tape stage of prototyping.  The nasty weather has slowed down parts delivery a bit....