2020 Week 1: Build Journal

The moment the 2020 game reveal ended, Nemesis was instantly bursting at the seams with ideas on how to solve the problems they would face.  After a speed read of the game manual, the team was ready to begin brainstorming. 

The team split up into small groups, where everyone made a priority list of what parts of the game were strategically most important. The entire team  finalized what areas of the game the team would focus on. Once the “what” was decided, the team separated to tackle the “how”; where every team member threw out any and all ideas they had.  Each group created a design using contributions from every member. The team reviewed all the designs, effectively giving the members insight into the ideas of others, and additional potential solutions to all of the tasks to be completed.  After two days of brainstorming, the prototyping phase was ready to begin.

The team decided that the main subsystems that needed to be built included a power cell ground intake, a conveyer belt, a way to launch game pieces into the power port, a drivetrain, and a way to climb.  The entire team was split into prototype groups and proceeded to design and test prototypes to effectively address the game challenge. Some succeeded wonderfully, while others failed. Ideas quickly evolved; some branched off into completely new directions, while others were tweaked and perfected. Major progress was made with the shooting mechanism and climber.  As the prototypes improved, ideas were combined and the outline of the robot started to take shape.

The build season has just begun, but Nemesis is ready to tackle any challenge the 2020 season may bring!

Kicking Off Another Great Season

The 2020 build season has officially started! And this time it is more out of this world than ever before. This year’s annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) kickoff event took place at Montgomery High School and introduced a game challenge unlike any other.

Nemesis 2590 from Robbinsville High School was one of the many teams that took part in celebrating the start of the new season as well as over 30 local teams. Along with introducing the game challenge, there were also multiple workshops taking place such as, bumper design, safety, and women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) which included an impressive array of presenters from Princeton University and alumnae of Montgomery High School.    

As the time for the game reveal came closer, all team members rushed into the auditorium and silenced and as the light lowered a hush came over the crowded room. The MidAtlantic Regional teams that were mentioned in the video that Montgomery High School presented, including Nemesis 2590. As the countdown started the excitement could be seen on all the members’ faces, lost in the midst of crowd Shweta Raman, a sophomore on the Nemesis 2590 marketing team could be heard screaming, “3,2,1!” Slowly, the curtain revealed the new 2020 game challenge, FIRST Robotics Challenge: Infinite Recharge.

In this year’s game challenge, two alliances work together to shield FIRST City from incoming asteroids. This year’s teams were given an unlimited build season, which is different than the previous years where teams had six weeks to design and build a robot. Every Alliance, alongside their trusty droids, race to gather Power Cells to activate their shield generators and use them to score. Robots also need to move a control panel and balance their droids on a hanging steel rod in order to protect FIRST City! 

After the game reveal, teams raced back to their schools to create strategies and brainstorm ideas for this year’s season. May the force be with you and we hope to see you at our competition!

A Great End to a Great Season for Nemesis

There wasn’t a single moment when adrenaline levels weren’t through the roof in the stands and on the field at Brunswick Eruption hosted by North Brunswick High School on November 9th. Despite having to relocate to Linwood Middle School last minute, Brunswick Eruption was yet another successful off-season event that allowed different teams to come together in a creative space. The matches got intense, rockets and cargo ships were filled, and alliances were made. The energy created by everyone in attendance made it difficult to look away; the spirit that is always at FIRST competitions was shown through all the teams who came from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The drive team and everyone in the stands was exhilarated to cheer on Nemesis. 

Brunswick Eruption was the final goodbye to the 2019 game challenge, Destination Deep Space. Each robot would have to pick up hatches or cargo balls and place them in rockets and cargo ships. Every match with this challenge is always a surprise; there are endless possibilities with what can happen on the field. Whether it be the grueling defense or strategic placing of the hatches and cargo, this game challenge always kept everyone on their feet.

After the first couple of qualification matches, Nemesis proudly ranked number two out of the 38 teams at the competition; closely behind the hosts of the event, FRC team 25, Raider Robotix. Tensions in the stands were high--anything could happen any minute. Carefully observing the robots, the scouts were meticulously taking notes to aid in picking our alliance later on.

Just like that, 2590 took the lead. Gaia didn’t hesitate; moving fast and gracefully, it always managed to get a reaction from the crowds everytime it smoothly placed a hatch or cargo. The drive team was working hard in and out of the pit, always on their toes for whatever was coming next. Of course, with competition comes challenges. One of the shafts broke off from the robot that caused difficulty driving and steering the robot. However, the driver, Griffin David, and the rest of the drive team still managed to work around the challenges and won the matches. 

Winning all qualification matches, Nemesis enthusiastically progressed into quarterfinals and semifinals. When the time came to choose alliances, Nemesis chose team 225 (ranked 2nd) and team 303 (ranked 31st). Both teams gracefully accepted the alliance. As a part of the red alliance, Nemesis powered through quarterfinals and semifinals, winning all four matches. Prior to the nail-biting finals match, members of the Nemesis team were sure to show spirit and support their robot.

Everyone was on their feet for the final match, making sure not to miss a beat. Cheers erupted from the audience everytime Nemesis skillfully scored points; everyone in the stands and on the field was focused, watching with anticipation. The two final matches were suspenseful; when Nemesis won them 73-65 and 68-60, celebrations commenced and it was final; Nemesis won Brunswick Eruption 2019!

It was many members’ first FIRST competition, and they all left the competition satisfied and astonished. Build Chief Technical Officer, Gurveer Grewal explained, “Watching the stands erupt after the last match filled my heart with gratitude. Regardless of whether we won or not, it was a great feeling to work with my teammates and do what I love.”

As the Nemesis representatives went onto the field and accepted their trophy, all mentors and members of the team felt extremely proud of all of their work and payoff. Brunswick Eruption was an extraordinary event and created yet another opportunity for FRC 2590 to spread its wings in competition. Nemesis looks forward to upcoming events, like Discovery Day and the forthcoming season.

Nemesis 2590 would like to extend its gratitude towards the wonderful sponsors who made this season possible: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

Nemesis roars into 4th annual Engineering Day

As newspapers flew around the technology lab, students combined forces to solve an engineering challenge to build the tallest tower that could support a soccer ball.. Four years in the making, Nemesis Engineering Day was nothing ordinary; it was a session filled with craziness, excitement, and anticipation. Spanning two days, Engineering Day fostered and created opportunities for students to explore S.T.E.M by presenting an engineering based challenge to 5th-8th graders.

Students entered their sessions with optimism and eagerness to learn. Nemesis student mentors presented the engineering challenge: Following the presentation, the mentors joined with the campers to form teams of two. 

The challenge- seemingly daunting and complex- required teamwork, aptitude, and determination in order to succeed. With only masking tape and newspapers, students had to put their engineering and design skills to work. Not only did the restriction of materials serve as a constraint, there were additional rules that prohibited students from taping the ball to the newspaper and the entire structure to the ground.

Despite such barriers, all students worked productively with their teammates and mentors to implement their intricate and unique designs. After working for some time, students finally began testing their towers. Although, concepts varied, all the models were able to successfully hold the soccer balls at breathtaking heights. Some were even above eight feet!

Students also had the opportunity to explore the NAO Robot, an AI robot that can solve algebraic math problems, drive the 2019 award-winning competition robot Gaia, and play the First Tech Challenge (FTC) game. 

Last, but not least, students enjoyed a pizza lunch while telling tales of their success. All in all, students experience a life-changing moment as they were exposed to STEM .They also developed other critical skills such as communication, team work, and resilience.  The student mentors also gained valuable skills as they worked with the campers and realized the joy of bringing engineering to the next generation..

Thank you to all who attended! We hope to see you next year!

Nemesis would like to thank their sponsors: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Coldwell Bankers, and the family and friends of Nemesis.