ROBOTICS
World Robot Olympiad (WRO)
I have participated in 4 WRO seasons: 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Writing in teams of 3, we build a LEGO Mindstorms robot to solve a pre-set challenge on a given playfield. The competition gets split into 3 phases: Regionals, Nationals and Worlds. Top teams from each round progress to the next. To win, teams must solve the pre-set challenge along with a surprise challenge, scoring maximum points in the shortest possible time.
We start preparing 3 months before the Regionals, beginning by carefully understand the challenge requirements and brainstorming potential robot designs. We pick our best idea, build an initial robot and program it to complete the challenge. We continue developing our design, making it lighter, optimising sensor usage, testing other ideas from the brainstorming and improving our robot path, all with the goal of reducing time and increasing consistency.
Results: 1st in India in 2019, 2021 and 2022; 1st in the World from 1,000+ teams from 70+ countries in 2022! 🥇
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
I have been a member of my school’s FIRST Robotics Competition team (Team Elev8 #7539) since Grade 8.
I have been the youngest in a leadership role, serving as Programming Captain for 2 years, pioneering advanced vision capabilities and new drivetrains. I led over 20 students in the programming team to win the 2023 Autonomous Award for the best use of sensors and automation.
Under my leadership as Team Captain in 2024, we won the Gracious Professionalism Award. I also received the Dean’s List Finalist Award for outstanding leadership and commitment within the team and community.
Because there are no FRC competitions in India, we have had to travel all over the world, including California, New York and Istanbul. I cherish the memories we made while working together as a team.
Kohinoor, our 2023 robot, is the most complex project I have worked on. It was designed to pick up cones and cubes, place them at a drop-off station, and balance on a moving platform independently.
It featured our first Swerve Drive, with independently controlled wheels, allowing movement in any direction and orientation. This gave the robot immense manoeuvrability, outpacing other robots.
Additionally, it was our first robot to use the Limelight for accurate sensing of vision targets, enabling automatic alignment to the drop-off station.
Lastly, we perfected an algorithm allowing the robot to autonomously balance on the moving platform without driver input.
Video of the robot in a match. (Follow 7539 on the bumpers)
Others (FTC, FLL, VEX, Robotex)
Starting in 2017, I have participated in many other robotics competitions. I started with VEX IQ in 2017-18. We placed 2nd in India and also qualified to represent our country at the Kentucky World Championships where we won the Build Award!
In 2018, I participated in the FLL Into Orbit season, working in a team of 10 to build and program a modular robot with different attachments for different challenges.
In 2018, I also perfected line following algorithms for Robotex in Estonia, where we had the 8th fastest Lego Line Following robot.
I also was the founding and youngest member in FTC Team Sigma in 2019-2020. We won the Control Award at the India Regionals that year. Now, Sigma has gone on to be 2-time National Champion and represented India at the World Championship.