2023-2024 Centerstage
A Season of Innovation and Growth
The 2023-2024 FTC season "Centerstage" challenged teams to navigate a theater-themed playing field while manipulating pixels and placing them on backdrops. TurbΩ V8 rose to the challenge with innovative design and strategic gameplay.
Season Achievements
Regional Qualifier
Finalist Alliance
Think Award
Advanced to regional championship as finalist alliance and earned recognition for our innovative engineering solutions.
League Tournament
Semi-Finalist
Design Award
Recognized for our exceptional robot design and engineering notebook documentation throughout the season.
Community Impact
Outreach Excellence
Expanded our community outreach programs, reaching over 300 students through workshops and demonstrations.
Robot Design
Design Highlights
Our Centerstage robot featured a sophisticated pixel manipulation system designed for both autonomous and driver-controlled periods. The robot excelled at precise placement and efficient collection strategies.
Key Innovations
- Dual-intake system for rapid pixel collection
- Precision placement mechanism for backdrops
- Reliable autonomous navigation system
- Compact design for maneuverability
- Robust drivetrain for consistent performance
Game Analysis
Centerstage Challenge
The Centerstage game required teams to place pixels on backdrops while navigating around props and other robots. Success required both technical precision and strategic thinking.
Our Strategy
- Autonomous: Consistent prop detection and pixel placement
- TeleOp: Efficient pixel cycling and backdrop scoring
- Endgame: Strategic positioning and drone launching
- Defense: Smart positioning to assist alliance partners
Technical Achievements
- Computer vision for prop recognition
- Advanced path planning algorithms
- Sensor fusion for precise positioning
- Optimized control systems
Season Journey
Kickoff
September 2023 - Game reveal and initial strategy development
Build Phase
October-November 2023 - Robot design, construction, and programming
Competition
December 2023-February 2024 - League play and qualifier tournaments
Recognition
March 2024 - Awards ceremony and season reflection
Team Development
Technical Skills
Team members developed advanced programming skills, including computer vision implementation and autonomous path planning. Our engineering notebook documentation reached new levels of detail and organization.
Collaboration
Strengthened partnerships with other FTC teams through scrimmages and knowledge sharing. Mentored three rookie teams throughout their first season.
Innovation
Pioneered new design approaches that were later adopted by other teams in our region. Our solutions were featured in FTC community forums and technical discussions.
Leadership
Team members took on greater leadership roles, organizing outreach events and representing TurbΩ V8 at community STEM initiatives throughout the Bay Area.
Lessons Learned
Engineering Process
The importance of iterative design and thorough testing became clear as we refined our robot throughout the season. Each competition provided valuable feedback for improvements.
Team Dynamics
Effective communication and role definition were crucial for success. We learned to leverage each team member's strengths while supporting areas for growth.
Strategic Thinking
Game analysis and strategic planning proved as important as technical execution. Understanding alliance dynamics and match strategy elevated our competitive performance.
