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.

Our Journey

"From the community, for the community, and by the community — that's the spirit and slogan of SILAMBU."

Our vision is to make robotics and technology learning accessible to all students across diverse communities, nurturing the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.

SILAMBU recognized that several schools either lacked robotics programs or had them only at limited capacity. To bridge this gap, we dedicated our efforts to building an inclusive, community-driven robotics program that provides equal opportunities for every child, regardless of school or background.

Today, our robotics program proudly includes students from seven different school districts, representing diversity, teamwork, and shared curiosity.

Early Beginnings (January 2025)

SILAMBU launched this program in early 2025 (Jan 2025) with just six students, under the mentorship of Maheshkumar, who introduced the fundamentals of robotics, mechanical engineering, and simple coding concepts.

Our first breakthrough came when the students learned and designed a pharmacy drug-handling bot, a small pick-and-place robot that was later repurposed to distribute candies at the Science-Tech Exhibition at Farmington High School on May 10, 2025. The creative demonstration inspired many attendees, and the team quickly grew from 6 to over 10 students after the showcase.

Summer Growth

During the summer, students deepened their knowledge of electronics, hardware systems, and sensing technologies. They successfully developed a rugged field bot capable of picking and dumping items autonomously. This project, presented at the Summer Community Picnic, further captured public interest, expanding our team from 10 to 20 members.

From this growing pool of young engineers, SILAMBU formed both FIRST LEGO League (FLL) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams.

Key Achievements

"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:

Our Teams

FLL Team #70465

SILAMBU Cyber Titans

FTC Team #29694

SILAMBU Strikers

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:

The teams are SILAMBU CyberTitans (FLL) for elementary students and SILAMBU Strikers (FTC) for middle school students.

👥 Team Staff and Coaches

🧑‍🎓 Student Roster

🌟 Core Philosophy

Through this initiative, SILAMBU continues to promote:

• Equity in STEM education
• Hands-on experiential learning
• Innovation through collaboration
• Diversity and inclusivity in technology

Together, we are building a foundation where every child can dream, design, and deliver.

🤝 Current Sponsors and Partnerships

SILAMBU's robotics program has been strengthened through generous support from both industry leaders and local community organizations.

This blend of industry and community support enables us to deliver world-class robotics education while maintaining inclusivity and accessibility for all students.

🔬 Industry Engagement and Learning Exposure

Our students had the unique opportunity to connect with the Director of Pharmacy Automation at Baptist Healthcare, gaining firsthand insights into real-world robotic implementation in clinical environments.

This experience helped students understand how robotics supports precision, efficiency, and safety in the healthcare sector, reinforcing the connection between classroom learning and real-world applications.

Key Training Areas

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.

Gallery

Team Videos