Velocity Bucks — Co-Founding an Independent FTC Team
Co-Founder, Lead Programmer, and Technical Mentor
I co-founded an independent FIRST Tech Challenge team operating outside any single school institution. I serve as lead programmer for both the competition robot and the team website while mentoring teammates in CAD design and mechanical assembly.
Role and authorship attribution
Co-founded collaboratively with peers. My direct responsibilities include organizational co-founding, robot control software architecture, team website development, and hands-on technical mentorship in CAD and assembly.
Context and constraints
Operating independently of an institutional school program requires sourcing external funding, workspace, and equipment while building team workflows from zero.
Members bring varying levels of prior experience, making clear documentation and shared engineering standards essential.
Analysis, alternatives, and criteria
We adapted lessons from previous FTC seasons—prioritizing upfront CAD validation and clear role ownership—to fit an independent team’s timeline and budget.
On the software side, I structured robot code into modular subsystems and commands so teammates can read, test, and maintain mechanisms independently.
Execution and teamwork
I write the robot control codebase and build the team’s web presence while collaborating directly at the workbench during physical assembly.
I actively transfer practical knowledge in Onshape modeling, 3D printing tolerances, and match strategy to newer teammates.
Verified outcomes and lessons
- Established a self-sustaining engineering workflow where technical knowledge is shared openly across the team.
- Core takeaway: building from scratch teaches that organizational resilience is just as important as mechanical precision.
Documentary evidence
Velocity Bucks Robot Control Codebase
Modular subsystem and command-based FTC software architecture.
Velocity Bucks Official Team Website
Public outreach and team documentation site.