How We Do It!
BAD (Business and Development)
BAD handles team branding, the business plan, and outreach, bringing Rosie the Riveter’s message to life across everything from spirit wear to the website. FIRST has recognized their work with the 2022 Team Spirit Award and, previously, the Entrepreneurship Award.
What they do
- Develop the team business plan and pursue sponsorships
- Design branding, uniforms, and pit décor
- Create and sell spirit wear
- Build and maintain the team website
- Lead outreach and community engagement
What students learn
- Business planning, budgeting, and fundraising
- Graphic and web design
- Professional writing and public speaking
- Marketing and community relations
FAD & CAD (Fabrication, Assembly and Design)
FAD is where the robot comes together. CAD students model every part in Autodesk Inventor, giving the mechanical group a blueprint for what to fabricate. The team Safety Captain and pit staff are also part of FAD.
What they do
- Model the robot in 3D using Autodesk Inventor
- Design mechanisms to meet the season’s game requirements
- Fabricate parts using shop tools and machinery
- Assemble, test, and refine the robot
- Staff the pit and make repairs during competition
What students learn
- 3D modeling and technical drawing
- Mechanical design and problem solving
- Machining, fabrication, and shop safety
- Prototyping and design iteration
PEP (Programming, Electronics and Pneumatics)
PEP brings the robot to life through code, electrical systems, and pneumatics. Each programmer owns a specific robot function and develops that code across the full season, working in LabVIEW.
What they do
- Program robot functions in LabVIEW
- Design and build the electrical board
- Select and integrate sensors
- Plumb, wire, and program pneumatic systems
- Troubleshoot issues during build and competition
What students learn
- Programming logic and debugging
- Electrical wiring and circuit design
- Sensor integration and pneumatics
- Systematic troubleshooting under pressure
SAD (Strategy and Drive)
After kickoff, SAD breaks down the year’s game to set the requirements for a productive robot, then works with FAD to shape the design. At competition, SAD scouts and analyzes match data to identify the strongest alliance partners.
What they do
- Analyze the game manual, rules, and scoring
- Set design priorities and work with FAD
- Develop match strategy
- Scout robots throughout competition
- Analyze data to inform alliance selection
What students learn
- Strategic thinking and rules analysis
- Data collection and interpretation
- Cross-team communication
- Decision making under pressure
