Below is a robot developed by The Clueless #11212 FIRST Tech Challenge team, based in San Diego, California, USA. The current team is made up of 14 members from 8 middle/high schools across the San Diego area and competes in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) program. Over its 10‑year existence, the team has achieved many successes in competitions.

About the Robot and the Challenge

This robot was designed for the 2024–2025 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) season and built to compete in the Into the Deep game. In this challenge, teams design robots that can autonomously and manually collect game elements from the field, lift and place them into elevated goals, and complete a hanging task at the end of the match to earn additional points. The hanging task is an endgame challenge designed to reward robots that can complete a complex self‑lifting maneuver during the final phase of the match.

Ultra‑compact FTC competition robot featuring a mecanum drivetrain, turreted CV intake, and high‑speed mechanisms. Image Credit: Zaiden Dee (Team The Clueless)

Technical Design

The challenge requires teams to solve complex mechanical, electrical, and software problems while working within size, weight, and power constraints. The robot design reflects the team’s approach to optimizing speed, precision, and reliability across these tasks. To navigate the “Into the Deep” constraints, the team developed an ultra‑compact 12″ × 12″ drivetrain and a turret‑based intake that uses computer vision to guide the robot’s claw. Their custom‑machined aluminum slides and a dual‑motor counter‑springing system allow for rapid movement, enabling the robot to complete the complex Level 3 hanging task in under four seconds.

Further Information

• Robot details: https://www.thecluelessftc.org/our-robots/into-the-deep

• Team website: https://www.thecluelessftc.org/

• YouTube video about the robot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQsIcA_3xI

Post By: A. Tuter