Team 612 Assembles the Climb Mechanism

Overview: The mechanical subteam of Chantilly Robotics with a new development for the endgame challenge, climb.

CHANTILLY, VA, FEBRUARY 15TH, 2025. Team 612, Chantilly Robotics develops their competition robot to climb FRC’s deep cage. We implemented a system that hooks onto the cage and hangs tight to ensure that the team gains maximum points during competition.

This year’s competition presents a new challenge during the Endgame phase, in which cages are dropped down onto the field that robots must attach to. There are two different heights of cages on the field: shallow cages and deep cages. Due to their distance off the ground, shallow cages allow for robots to simply latch onto the bottom of the cage and hang as the cage rises. Although offering extra points for climbing, the deep cage doesn’t leave room underneath for robots to hang on. Despite the challenges, 612 created a solution that can hang on the sides to maximize points.

612 created a slanted ramp design to latch on the side of the robot. “We created a claw system that latches on the side,” said Desiree, a Mechanical member. 612 places a motorized claw system on a ramp, which can be adjusted forwards and backwards to attach itself onto the robot. Another section of the climb mechanism pushes a pole that sits below the claw into the hole underneath the cage. While the claw holds on to the upper parts of the cage, the pole stabilizes the lower section. This system fits entirely within the robot, ensuring that its parts do not interfere with other sections of the robot. This design ensures that the robot has a stable grasp on the cage and can reliably complete the challenge.

The team is in the process of building the climb system. Although most of the model is finished, Mechanical needs to connect the claw and implement sensors to make sure that the claw does not open too much. After Mechanical finishes the model, Electrical takes over the climb system, which connects wires around the system to ensure that the vital points are receiving power. This system is then passed on to programming, who codes the various aspects of the system to connect it to the cage. The combined efforts from all aspects of Team 612 allows the competition robot to move forwards and reliably win.

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.

Elvin Duong