Robotics
Program Overview
- Upper School Robotics: FRC League
- Upper School Underwater Robotics: MATE League
- Middle School Robotics
Upper School Robotics: FRC League
The mission of the Seattle Academy Robotics program is to offer curious students a place to learn foundational skills in building, coding, design, and business administration. For students that want to excel and commit more time, they will have an opportunity to explore high engineering problems and advanced coding techniques. We believe deeply in a student-run program with mentors to give support and vision. Students select from various proficiency building sub-groups that include but are not limited to coding, precision fabrication, Computer Aided Design (CAD), business & marketing, and more. Throughout the season, students have a sense of ownership and commitment to the program through a competition that promotes applied technical learning alongside a group of mentors who facilitate the experience.
Seattle Academy started with a single First Tech Challenge team within the FIRST league, which is the largest competitive robotics league in North America. As the program grew and Seattle Academy found success at the World Championships three years in a row, we transitioned to the First Robotics Competition (FRC) league within FIRST, building faster and larger robots in a shorter amount of time and truly entering the “big leagues” of robotics. The FRC league pushes students to work together, learn skills, and have fun while doing it!
Follow @8032redshift on Instagram
Upper School Robotics Calendar
More Than Robots:
The Red Shift program spends a lot of time designing, building, and testing robots. There is also a significant community service component to the program. In the last four years, Red Shift has done more than 4,500 hours of community outreach. Students have taught robotics to elementary students, they have volunteered at Unified Robotics, built and donated NXT robots to students in Zambia, mentored other robotics teams in both FRC, FTC, and FLL, and motivated local professionals to support and mentor FIRST robotics programs. Upper School students also have the option of mentoring SAAS Middle School Robotics students to gain volunteer hours and give back to the institution and the youth. The size of our growing Middle School program would not be possible without our wonderful upper school volunteers. The team is so much more than robots.
Cost and Family Involvement:
Red Shift robotics is supported and run by Seattle Academy but our program thrives with the support of families. Monetary support for the team comes in the form of snack sign-ups. Students come to practice for three hours after school and our coveted snack closet is a very much needed part of the program. Parents and guardians are occasionally asked to provide snacks for the club, usually through an online sign-up. We also appreciate help with transportation and other logistics. If parents/guardians have an interest in becoming a mentor, please reach out to our Robotics Program Director Gerald Elliott.
Our Upper School Robotics Lab
In the fall of 2016, Seattle Academy opened a brand new robotics lab for students. In the basement of our beautiful STREAM building, we have a shop with a mill, lathe, drill press, and band saw. The larger workshop is fully equipped with power tools, hand tools, electrical equipment, raw materials, three 3D Printers, a Glowforge Laser Cutter, and all things robots.
In 2022, the SAAS robotics lab added an upgraded design space that students named the “CAD corner,” and the program purchased its first Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, a router that will enable the club to make precision aluminum parts faster and more accurately.
Recent Awards and Accomplishments
2019-2020
FRC Rookie Team of the Year Award
- Made it into the FRC playoffs as rookies
2018-2019
World Championships in Houston
- Think Award Winners
2017-18 Relic Recovery
Western Super Regionals
- Innovate Award 2nd Place
Washington State
- Winning Alliance
- Inspire Nomination
Regional Tournament
- Winning Alliance
- Inspire Award Winner
2017-16 Velocity Vortex
World Championships in Houston
- Finished in top 20 teams
- Inspire Award Nomination
Western Super Regionals
- Elimination Semi-Finalist
- Design Award 2nd Place
Washington State
- Inspire Award 2nd Place
- Washington State Champions
2015-16 Res-Q
Western Super Regionals
- Finalist Alliance 2nd Pick
Washington State
- Inspire Award Nomination
- Think Award Winner
Regional Tournament
- Finalist Alliance Captain
- Inspire Award Winner
Upper School Robotics at SAAS FAQ
- How much experience do I need to participate?
- When does it start?
- What is the time commitment?
- Is the robotics team a class or a club? Can I get class credit for robotics?
- What kind of programming is done in robotics?
- Can I do a sport and robotics at the same time?
- How do I get involved?
How much experience do I need to participate?
When does it start?
The FRC preseason begins in fall and returning students are encouraged to work on self-guided projects, while incoming freshmen and new students learn the fundamental skills required for the season launch in winter. The regular season begins winter trimester and continues on into spring. Students are encouraged to participate in the preseason but it is not a requirement for participation during the regular season in winter.
What is the time commitment?
Red Shift robotics has a preseason in fall that is two hours a week after school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and one or two Saturdays a month that run 10 AM-2 PM. Students are encouraged to attend all practices but we also accommodate students who want to commit to some practices but not all because of other commitments (theater, athletics, homework, etc.).
The regular season in winter has an increased commitment. There are three practices a week for 3.5 hours each after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Saturday practices are most weekends and run from 10 AM to 5 PM. Once again, interested students do not have to attend every practice unless you are part of the Robotics Leadership Team.
Is the robotics team a class or a club? Can I get class credit for robotics?
The robotics team is considered a team and does not meet during a regularly scheduled class period; however, because of the high level of time and developed skills, SAAS does give credit for participation in the club. Students can earn a credit for fall trimester and another credit for winter trimester.
What kind of programming is done in robotics?
Can I do a sport and robotics at the same time?
How do I get involved?
Show up and commit to a practice! Communicate with one of the team mentors and come to practice after school on a practice day. Feel free to also reach out to Gerald Elliott with any questions you may have about the program.
Upper School Underwater Robotics: MATE League
Seattle Academy's Underwater Robotics team participates in the annual MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) contest which simulates many real-world aquatic challenges through a series of tasks. Blueshift Robotics designs and constructs Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to complete these tasks in new and innovative ways. In the 2020-21 competition, Blueshift Robotics advanced to the World Championship, which went swimmingly as we placed in the top 10 telepresence teams!
Some challenges we have faced in the past are:
- Locating the wreckage of a vintage airplane and returning its engine to the surface.
- Installing and recovering a seismometer.
- Installing a tidal turbine and instrumentation to monitor the environment.
- Transplanting coral fragments.
The team practices several times per week during winter and spring trimester, learning principles of buoyancy, fluid power, waterproof electronics design, coding, design, prototyping, fabrication, and testing to produce a working robot that can solve the competition tasks. In addition, the team learns best practices in product management and team dynamics. The season is a bit longer than that of “Redshift Robotics” and is less competition focused, which opens the door for more student-driven projects.
While every team member is involved in multiple aspects of the project, each member works on subprojects, such as budgeting, marketing, electronics, chassis design, and documentation. There are roles for both engineering and business-focused team members. Project leaders are elected by the team and the work is done entirely by students (with mentor supervision).
While the team is competitive in the Northwest Region, this program is intended to welcome all enthusiastic participants regardless of experience level. In Blueshift Robotics, the world is your oyster.
Follow @blueshiftrobotics2020 on Instagram
Worlds 2021 Competition Videos
Recent Awards and Accomplishments
2020-2021
World Championship
- Finished in top 10 teams
2018-2019
Regional Tournament
- Finished in top 5 teams
Underwater Robotics at SAAS FAQ
- What’s the difference between the FTC Robotics club (Red Shift) and Underwater Robotics (Blue Shift)?
- Who can be involved?
- What is the time commitment?
- Can I get class credit for Underwater Robotics?
What’s the difference between the FTC Robotics club (Red Shift) and Underwater Robotics (Blue Shift)?
Red Shift (which we refer to as “terrestrial robotics”) participates in an event (FRC) that involves working with and against other teams to win games. Blue Shift focuses on a practical problem that teams attempt to solve with their design. While the event is judged and scored based on the team’s success in solving the problems, our robot is never in head-to-head competition against other robots. The underwater aspect also adds a significant level of difficulty to the design problem for Blueshift Robotics. Team members must take a deeper dive into engineering concepts due to the added complexity of performing underwater given that the robot must be able to maintain neutral buoyancy and stability while working several meters under water to solve the competition tasks.
Who can be involved?
What is the time commitment?
Can I get class credit for Underwater Robotics?
Middle School Robotics
The mission of the Seattle Academy Robotics program is to offer curious students a place to learn foundational skills in building, coding, design, and more. The program runs during the fall and spring trimesters, two days a week after school, and is also broken into two sub groups: a skill-oriented team and a competitive team. Once students have completed the basic training of the skill-oriented team, as well as a displayed maturity, they can level up to the competing team.
Adult mentors act as engineering guides who take care of a lot of the overhead logistics but the backbone of training and support centers on Upper School Robotics Club volunteers. Adults work with high school students on activities, lessons, and skill building, and then everyone supports the Middle School team in achieving their goal.
Fall Trimester Robotics Theme: Combat Robotics
In the fall, students will design and build robots that compete against each other. “Battle Bots” is a subgroup of combat robotics and students will focus on building robots for either the 1lb or the 3lb leagues. Please visit combat robotics for more information.
Throughout the trimester, students will work on the competition platform to learn carpentry, painting, and more. Students transition to building a combat robot and then focus on design upgrades and custom fabrication that will enable them to succeed. The design and build is followed by drive practice, then a focus on maintaining and fixing the robot between rounds. Finally, students will engage in mock competitions before the big show that will hone their skills on everything previously mentioned (drive practice, maintenance, etc.) The competition is held in March at the Seattle Maker Space in Wallingford. While the competition does involve “combat,” the end goal is engineering and collaboration and the competition is just a vehicle that makes it a bit more engaging.
Spring Trimester Robotics Theme: Underwater Robotics
In spring, students participate in the annual MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) contest which simulates many real-world aquatic challenges through a series of tasks. Students design and construct Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to complete these tasks in new and innovative ways. The Middle School team competes in the Scout League of MATE, while the high school team competes in the Explorer League, so the two division teams will see and support each other at the spring competition at the Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Students begin by analyzing the challenge for the year before moving into fabrication of an ROV. Examples of past challenges include:
- Stopping an “oil spill” of food coloring at the bottom of the pool.
- Locating the wreckage of an airplane.
- Helping move coral from one area to another.
The construction of an ROV to complete a task builds student proficiency in design, fabrication, ballasting and buoyancy, and so much more while creating a supportive and collaborative learning environment to meet the goals of the competition and the club itself.
Cost and Family Involvement:
The Middle School Robotics Program is supported and run by Seattle Academy but our program thrives with the support of families. Monetary support for the team comes in the form of snack sign-ups. Students come to practice for two hours after school and our coveted snack closet is a necessary part of the program. Parents are occasionally asked to provide snacks for the club, usually through an online sign-up. We also appreciate help with transportation and other logistics. If parents have an interest in becoming a mentor, please reach out to our Robotics Program Director Gerald Elliott.
Our Middle School Robotics Lab(s)
In fall of 2019, Seattle Academy opened the Middle School building which houses an innovations and robotics lab on the ground floor. The Middle School Robotics Club meets in this space, which is full of tools and equipment necessary for the construction of robots. The program also utilizes the robotics lab in the basement of the STREAM building. Opened in the fall of 2016, the STREAM building has a robotics lab (the “R” in STREAM) that has additional equipment and space. Between the two robotics labs, the program has access to 3D printers, hand tools and power tools, a test tank for underwater robots, and so much more!
Middle School Robotics at SAAS FAQ
- How much experience do I need to participate?
- When does it start?
- What is the time commitment?
- Can I do a sport and robotics at the same time?
- How do I get involved?
How much experience do I need to participate?
When does it start?
What is the time commitment?
Can I do a sport and robotics at the same time?
How do I get involved?
Look for the interest form that is emailed to Middle School families at the beginning of the year. You can also show up to a practice or email program director Gerald Elliott to express interest or ask questions.
Program Communications
SAAS Robotics Program Winter Season Information - November 9, 2022