Cheers to Kickoff ‘26!
After finishing up an exciting 2025 off-season, filled with new rookies and fun memories, us BreakerBots are shifting gears into our on-season building and competition preparation! Currently, we are in the process of prototyping and building up on our ideas. To add on to our already amazing group, we invited a few exceptional 8th graders to help us, and taught them about FRC (First Robotics Competition) and guided them into building more advanced robots using real parts, motors, and aluminum. From the moment the countdown to kickoff started, with each second passing by, we were ready to take on this year’s challenge! We spent the first few days working hard, expressing new ideas and thinking about our fluffy bot, a cute name for our concept of our robot before it begins to take on shape. We mainly focused on rough ideas and no did real designing. This helps us get our important ideas down and carefully evaluate our decisions. Further refining process comes after prototyping, which is something we have begun as well.
REBUILT™ Game: A General Overview
This year’s game, known as REBUILT™, is a game where alliances strategically gather “fuel” (yellow hard-foam spherical objects) and score them into dynamic hubs that alternate from off to on. We must make the shots into the hubs in order to score points. Additionally, we can also score special Ranking Points by climbing a tower, each of the three rungs giving more points as the robots ascend.
It’s like re-imagining and re-building the past through STEM! I am incredibly excited! – Lily Cervantes, NewsBreaker author and BreakerBots rookie.
This game features autonomous scoring, an epic endgame for more points, and many chances for critical thinking and action! Robots will be navigating obstacles and collecting fuel throughout the 2.5-minute matches. The tele-operated (unmanned) section of this game requires strategic scoring and defense. Another noteworthy game element is that on either side of the neutral zone—the zone in the middle of both alliances—there is only two ways to get in; over the bumper, or under a 65 in. wide, 47 in. deep, and 40.25 in. tall trench that robots can drive underneath. This additional element makes the game all the more interesting and fun to watch, while keeping us thinking about how we will proceed. Overall, the various elements in this game makes it incredibly fun and leaves room for unique strategies.
Engineering Strategies
The “Precision vs. Power” Balance
With the REBUILT™ field featuring dynamic hubs that toggle on and off, our technical focus has shifted toward our current concepts of a high-speed single-roller shooter, swerve drive, and attempts to climb at least two of the levels for additional RP (Ranking Points). Additionally, we are debating on whether or not we will have our robot be able to go under the trench, or just over the bumper. This year’s mechanisms require a sophisticated set of sensor cameras and driver agility. Currently, we are in the process of selecting a member who can drive the robot using a remote control. On the note of engineering, us BreakerBots are brainstorming and thinking of amazing ideas while managing the time to prototype and set those brilliant ideas in motion as well.
Smart Intake Systems: Since fuel consists of hard-foam spheres, our prototyping team is experimenting with snow-blower-like intakes to pick up as much fuel as we can while still preventing jamming and ensuring we can vacuum up fuel while moving.
The Tower Ascender: The three-rung climb is the crown jewel of the endgame. We are currently debating between a telescoping arm for reach or an elevator system, either way ensuring that the robot’s weight is balanced while still being able to climb as high as we can.
Vision Processing and Programming: We are refining our code to utilize Limelight/vision tracking that can instantly see an AprilTag (augmented reality marker on the field). This is crucial on the field.
Quotes of Significance
Inspiring Quotes from The Team
“In a puff of smoke (literally) we all come together!” – Leaf Grobman, enthusiastic rookie in BreakerBots!
“It’s my first season…I am so excited!” – Brian Wade, BreakerBots mentor
“I am excited to teach new skills to new members.” – Tim Grogan, BreakerBots mentor
“Robotics is fun!” – Eldon Leithead, a freshman Breakerbots rookie
Status: Ready
Transitioning from one phase to another, our motivation is inspired by our hope to build something together as one team. We’re not just in it for the trials, wins, and losses; we are in it for the determination and hard work, and for the accomplishments and memories we make together. We are honored to have the opportunity to compete and co-create with the top FRC groups out there. The BreakerBots are excited and raring to go! We believe in each and every one of you out there who is interested in robotics–and now, it’s your turn to rebuild the future.
Thank you for reading, Go BreakerBots!
