Carmel School is a pioneer - the first school from Hong Kong to participate in the annual FIRST Robotics Competition, which attracts competition from around the world. This year the team travelled to Ventura County, California where our students faced stiff competition from teams backed by industry giants like Disney, NASA, and Google. Yet, they didn’t let their rookie status hold them back. Last year, they were the sole representatives from Hong Kong, and this year, they achieved a stunning top-ten finish at the Ventura Regionals. “With every mistake, we push ourselves to find solutions. With every achievement, we push ourselves to find ways to improve,” reflects one of our students. This mindset encapsulates the essence of FIRST Robotics: “It’s not students building robots—it’s robots building students.”
Caleb, Team Captain and Head of Coding & Electronics, highlights their progress: “Out of the 52 teams involved in the Ventura Regionals Competition, we placed 10th and were able to obtain the alliance captain position. This was a significant improvement compared to last year where we placed 23rd and couldn’t even participate in the playoffs.” Their success was largely due to adopting new coding systems, computer-aided design, and a revolutionary drivetrain upgrade. Arriving at the Ventura County Regionals in California, the team was eager to show off a more robust robot design, which carried loftier expectations.
Innovation in Motion: The Swerve Drive
Peter, Head of Mechanical Engineering and CAD, explains the game-changing drivetrain upgrade: "We took on the immense challenge of upgrading our robot’s drivetrain. Our students and mentors poured hours into coding and implementing a drivetrain where each wheel is steered and driven independently, transforming our robot into a swerve drive." This advanced system allows for sharp turns and quick direction changes, akin to a "ballerina effortlessly gliding across the field with precision and grace."
However, implementing this system wasn't without its challenges. The team encountered issues with code libraries designed for the imperial system, which they overcame by creating their own custom code library. "Our coding team created our own custom code library to build the code for our swerve drive," Peter notes.
The Spirit of Collaboration and Competition
The FRC environment is as much about collaboration as it is about competition. The atmosphere at the regionals is electric, with teams working tirelessly to fine-tune their robots. Ayla, CAD and Marketing Team, describes: "Everyone is doing something at every moment ... adjusting bearings, tightening screws, reconnecting wires, rushing to the other team’s pits to borrow tools," describes a team member. Despite the intensity, there's a strong sense of camaraderie: "At the same time, everyone is willing to help you. All fellow competitors, our opponents, willingly helped us to the best of their capabilities."
Overcoming Unforeseen Challenges
One of the most memorable moments came during their last match of the day. Despite having the highest-ranked team in their alliance, their robot malfunctioned, moving backwards uncontrollably. "We tried our best to stay out of our teammates' way, eventually pulling into a corner and hitting the emergency-stop button," recounts Caleb. The team later discovered that the issue wasn't with their robot but with the competition field itself. This setback taught them valuable lessons about quick thinking and problem-solving under pressure.
As we reflect on our students' journey, it's clear that the true victory lies not just in their ranking but in the skills and resilience they've developed. In the world of FIRST Robotics, it's not just about building robots; it's about building the next generation of innovators and leaders. At Carmel School, we are proud to support and nurture this spirit of innovation and teamwork, empowering our students to excel in the global arena.