Team MineKee • FRC 7520

Hey! This is more of a blog post! - Want a summary? Read the homepage or my resume instead.

Throughout high school, and even before Team MineKee was a driving force in my interest in robotics. Beginning as the programmer for a newly formed VEX IQ team, at age 10, I quickly developed a passion for robotics. Unfortunately, my team was disbanded due to the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic, in September 2021, MineKee restarted as with FIRST Tech Challenge, and I was invited to join as the lead programmer. Quickly, the group moved onto FIRST Robotics Competition in January 2022, where the team initially struggled to find its footing. Through the perseverance of me and my 6 teammates, we were able to stay afloat, although by the end of the 2023 season, the team was at its lowest point.

In 2023, we were unfortunately even unable to qualify for Provincials, but I was determined to turn the team around. I began to focus on improving the team's programming and mechanical capabilities. In the 2023 offseason, I had focused on improving the tooling for robot automation, and had taught another a friend of everything I knew about programming. As the 2024 season started, I focused on learning CAD and using it for the first time in the team's history. This is where I discovered my passion for mechanical design. Having ample experience in programming, I was able to more effectively design the robot, knowing what sensors and actuators would be needed to make the robot function. By the end of the 2024 season, we had preformed the best that we ever had, and we were able to qualify for Provincials, and even place around the middle of the pack.

In the 2024 offseason, I focused on helping on ensuring the team was fully familiar with CAD. I also continued teaching new members about programming. In the 2025 season, the programming team grew to 4 members, and I was able to focus on improving the mechanical design of the robot. Still striving for excellence, with now a team of 20 members with ~20 parent volunteers, we were again able to qualify for Provincials, finally for the first time in the team's history, we were able to qualify for the World Championship. Additionally, with our efforts in STEM education in our community we were able to bring home the Engineering Inspiration award at Humber College. In the 2025 offseason, We continued to improve our mechanical capabilities, acquiring a CNC router, unlocking a lot more freedom in our designs.

In the 2026 season, my graduating year, and our largest graduating class yet with 11 out of a now ~30 member team graduating, we were determined to make our mark on the FRC community in Ontario. We were able to create a turret shooting 7 balls per second, scoring in a goal with a 41 in diameter with over 90% accuracy. We were able to shoot from anywhere on the field, and while moving. Furthermore, we used regression analysis to determine speed of the flywheel, how high to aim and the angle of the robot. To account for movement of the robot, we would predict the time of flight of the ball, and use predictive aiming to ensure that the ball would go in the goal. We were able to use this to our advantage, and we were able to win the Ontario District Championship, and qualify for the World Championship for the second year in a row.

To me, MineKee will always be a defining part of my high school experience. I have learned so much about programming, mechanical design, and leadership through my time on the team. I have also made lifelong friends and memories that I will cherish forever.

Go Team! Hope you have many more successful years to come!