High School Combat Robotics Club 15lb Robot

Who We Are:

We are the Technology High School student-led robotics team of 30 dedicated, intelligent people striving to learn and apply STEM-related skills in a competitive environment. Our team was founded in 2001 as a FIRST robotics team but has regrouped as a combat robotics team after the pandemic. Since 2023, we have competed annually in the NRL Sacramento Bot Battles against other college and high school teams. The goal in combat robotics is to design and build robots to strategically damage or disable the opponent robot in 1v1 tournament style matches. Our debut robot placed 7th out of 16 teams and won the design award. This year we are preparing 2 completely new designs for the upcoming competition. The most notable aspect of our team is our inclusivity. Anyone, can join our team regardless of skill level. We offer an educational robotics program for new or inexperienced members that allows them to learn the basics of combat robotics by building 1lb 3D-printed robots with the guidance of our more experienced members.

The team leaders showcasing our debut robot Free Hugs at the 2024 competition:

Goals:

• Teach students skills including CAD design, soldering, machining, material choice, and robot design considerations
• Build highly competitive robots using advanced manufacturing technologies including CNC machining and 3D printing
• Learn from our successes and failures to continually improve our robots
• Create connections to the manufacturing industry

The Vertical Spinner 15lb Combat Robot Project:

The success of other vertical drum spinner combat robots, specifically the 250lb bot Riptide, inspired the design of our new 15lb robot named Angular Aggression. The chassis is primarily a blend of machined UHMW plastic, carbon fiber, and AR500 reinforcement plates. This allows it to absorb large impacts while still being extremely strong and rigid. The drive system features brushless gear motors and 4 belted wheels, giving it very high maneuverability, speed, and grip. It will have a CNC machined 4140 or S7 hardened steel spinner reaching close to 16,000rpm that will easily send opponents to the roof. We have high hopes for the success of Angular Aggression, which will be going head-to-head with some of the best robots of the 15lb class in only 2 months as of writing this.

Why a PCBWay Sponsorship Would Help Us Succeed:

Our new 15lb robot is nearly complete except for the vertical drum spinner, a component requiring a 5-axis CNC mill and a large piece of 4140 or S7 steel measuring 2.5" x 5" x 6" per part. This is the core component of the robot and its unique geometry maximizes stored kinetic energy more than nearly all other types of spinners. We have actively been looking for material suppliers and machine shops to make this component but our limited budget is making it difficult to find a suitable option. Your 5-axis CNC machining service is exactly what we need to finish our robot, and based on the great experience other bot builders have had using your services, your parts would be of the highest quality and have the turnaround necessary for our timeframe. In return for your support of our team of future engineers, inventors, and machinists, we would promote your brand on our website, social media, and on our new 15lb combat robot. We are also welcome to share videos and/or other media of the upcoming competition with you.

Current progress on the robot:

Rendering of the vertical spinner that we need machined:

View our website which includes more pictures and monthly blog post updates of our projects: https://techhighrobotics.com/

View our Instagram

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely, The Technology High School Robotics Team