About SILAMBU Robotics
We are SILAMBU Robotics, comprising an Upper Elementary team (FLL #70465) and a Middle School team (FTC #29694), serving students in the Farmington area and working with the Farmington, Novi, Walled Lake, and Northville school districts. Aligned with the mission of FIRST, our goal is to introduce a wide range of students to STEM education, equipping them not only with technical skills but also with critical soft skills essential for their future success.
FLL Team #70465
FTC Team #29694
Our Journey
The 2025 season is our rookie year, during which we have successfully completed pilot projects. We proudly showcased our work at CSK’25, a cultural event conducted by SILAMBU, where 19 students participated across two categories: under 12 years old and above 12 years old. In this event, we designed, built, and demonstrated two fully functional robots.
Looking ahead, our aspiration is clear:
“To build the best robot possible, running the best software possible, to play the best FTC game possible this year.”
Our Mission
At SILAMBU Robotics, we aim to:
- Inspire and guide students to ideate, design, build, validate, and program autonomous and driver-operated robots that perform complex tasks for FIRST competitions.
- Promote collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership among our team members.
Team Structure and Mentorship
SILAMBU is privileged to have mentors from diverse fields including mechanical, automotive, and computer engineering. These professionals, many of whom have worked with leading automotive and technology companies, guide and coach our students in areas such as:
01
Engineering principles
Foundational concepts that govern robot design and performance, including mechanics, electronics, and software integration, ensuring systems are efficient, reliable, and safe
02
Robot Construction (Chassis Design, Mechanisms, FTC Controls and Sensors)
Designing and assembling a robust chassis and mechanisms tailored to game tasks, integrating FTC-standard controls, actuators, and sensors for precise operation and feedback
03
OpenCV for Object Detection and Image Processing
Utilizing OpenCV, an open-source computer vision library, to enable robots to interpret visual data for tasks such as detecting objects, recognizing patterns, and navigating the environment autonomously.
04
Autonomous Path Planning
Developing algorithms that enable robots to plan and execute movements without driver input, optimizing routes to complete tasks efficiently and reliably during autonomous game periods.
05
Pugh Analysis for Evaluating and Selecting Ideas
A systematic decision-making tool used to compare multiple design alternatives against defined criteria, supporting teams in selecting the best concept objectively.
06
Quality Function Deployment (QFD) for Game Strategy and Functional Requirements
A structured approach to translating competition objectives into technical specifications, ensuring the robot design aligns with strategic goals and maximizes performance on the field.
07
The Engineer’s Design Process
A formal, iterative workflow guiding teams through problem definition, brainstorming, prototyping, testing, analysis, and refinement, ensuring a thoughtful and systematic approach to robot development.
08
Engineering Hand Calculations
Manual computations used to quickly evaluate forces, torques, power requirements, and other essential parameters, providing valuable checks during early design stages.
09
Systems Integration
Coordinating mechanical, electrical, and software components into a unified, functional robot, ensuring seamless communication between subsystems for reliable and optimized performance.
Community and Acknowledgements
Our team’s success would not be possible without the support and vision of the senior members of the SILAMBU community, who have championed the importance of introducing children to STEM education and training.
We are especially grateful to our self-volunteering mentors who took the initiative to form and lead teams from across multiple school districts — making FIRST Robotics accessible to students who might otherwise not have had this opportunity.