As the robotics season ramps up, teams across the globe are fine-tuning their robots and sharpening strategies for each level of competition.
This year’s game, Reefscape, places high school students in an underwater-themed arena, where robots act as marine conservationists completing tasks inspired by real-world ecological efforts.

In Reefscape, robots score points by performing actions that simulate coral reef restoration. A primary objective is collecting and placing PVC pipes, referred to as coral, onto a central structure called the Reef, mimicking how marine biologists seed coral to help damaged ecosystems regenerate.

Robots must also harvest algae, represented by rubber playground balls, and deposit them into the Processor, symbolizing the effort to maintain ecological balance.

As each match nears its end, robots rush to the Barge to attach to a cage, a task modeled after how divers tether themselves for a safe ascent to the surface.

“This year’s game is challenging because the pieces are so large compared to previous years,” junior Dante Zou, Business and Media Team Lead, said. “Picking up the coral is difficult, we need to lift it from the ground all the way to level four, which is six feet high.”

Reefscape has posed challenges across all divisions of the CHS Robotics team, the 4500 Robohounds.

“Placing the coral accurately on the Reef requires extreme precision,” senior Victor Sabbagh said. “It’s really interesting to see how the coding team achieved that kind of control during the autonomous period.”

While some subteams worked to perfect coding and driving, others, like the pit crew, had to stay on constant alert between matches.

“There are always problems with the robot,” said senior Nathan Chin, Pit and Mechanical Team Lead. “In one match, our elevator jammed because a loose screw interfered with the mechanism. We only had 15 minutes to diagnose and fix it before the next round.”

The pit crew is responsible for maintaining the robot mid-tournament, but their work begins long before competitions.

“When the season starts, we immediately begin building wooden replicas of the field elements,” Chin said. “The earlier we finish, the more time our drivers have to practice.”

After completing the props, the crew shifts to preparing their competition workspace and supporting the mechanical team.

“It’s stressful,” Sabbagh said. “If we’re not troubleshooting, we’re helping fabricate parts. If we’re not fabricating, we’re prepping tools or organizing the pit. There’s always something to do.”

Behind the scenes, the Business and Media team ensures the Robohounds have the funding and visibility to compete.

“Each season, we rely heavily on sponsors,” Zou said. “This year, Boeing gave us $5,000, and we secured another major sponsorship from General Motors.”

The team also organizes local events to raise additional funds, including their biggest fundraiser, the annual Chili Cook-off.

“The Chili Cook-off is key to engaging the community and raising awareness for what we do,” Zou said.

Beyond fundraising, Zou leads efforts in producing promotional content and managing the team’s public image.

“In FIRST, there’s something called Impact,” Zou said. “We create a reveal video, write essays, run the Instagram, and keep the website updated to show how we’re contributing beyond just the robot.”

Whether writing code, cutting metal, or designing graphics, every Robohound learns new technical skills and gains insight into engineering.

“There are all these new tools, new principles, and new ways of thinking,” Sabbagh said. “It’s a lot to absorb, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”

The team uses shop tools like lathes and mills, CAD for design, Java for programming, and platforms like Canva for outreach.

“I’ve learned so much more than I expected,” Zou said. “Robotics has introduced me to mechanical and electrical engineering and shown me what working in STEM can actually look like.”

The FIRST Robotics Competition aims to create a positive, hands-on experience for students considering careers in science and technology.

“The whole experience helps the next generation discover a passion for engineering,” Zou said.