Redesign, Rebuild - Field Elements

Chantilly, VA, February 11th, 2026. Chantilly Robotics is building the field elements for this year's game. Field elements are parts or obstacles unique to this year's game. Making these field elements allows the team to test their robot on these newly made parts and optimize the robot accordingly.

One element that the team made this year was the hub, which is where the robot shoots balls, called fuel, to score. Another element the team made was the tower, which is where the robot ends the game by climbing its ladder like structure. Finally, the team remade the bump, which is an obstacle that the robot has to drive over in the game. With all these parts finished, the team can test their robot and see if it can perform all of the necessary actions needed for the game.

Every year FIRST publishes a manuel that suggests how to build all the field elements for that year's game. However, due to 612’s small storage space and the challenges of moving big parts, many of the field elements, including the hub, are hard to store and move. To fix this the team designed their parts to shrink such as allowing the hub to fold and making the bump in two separate parts.

Problems the field elements team ran into were measuring and planning. Abraham, the field element's team lead, had to constantly remind teammates to “measure twice, cut once” ensuring that all measurements are accurate. Another problem the field elements team ran into was the lack of planning they had when starting to build the hub. The team first intended to build a CAD, or a 3d model online, however instead started to build the hub without the CAD. After the hub didn’t turn out how they wanted, the team made a CAD as a draft to create a clear plan on how to make the hub. 

This is a learning opportunity for valuable skills such as tool management and problem solving.

About Chantilly Robotics 

Chantilly Robotics (FRC team 612) brightens the future for leaders and student technologists within our team, school, and community through fun and engaging methods of learning and teaching while shining a light on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). 

Founded in 2001 with eight student members as an engineering class project, Chantilly Robotics is one of the largest extracurricular organizations at Chantilly High School with over 100 registered members each year. Team 612 competes at FIRST Robotics Competitions in the Chesapeake District. Outside of competition, Team 612 supports multiple FIRST Lego League Teams and elementary school STEM activities in the Chantilly High School Pyramid, spreading love for STEM as well as FIRST values through community outreach. 

For more information, visit https://www.frc612.org or email chantilly.612@gmail.com. The Chantilly Governor’s STEM Academy, located at Chantilly High School, sponsors Team 612. Chantilly Academy inspires and empowers a diverse body of learners to explore career pathways employing current industry trends taught by dedicated professionals.

For more information on sponsoring Team 612, refer to the attached Sponsor Package.

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