Building robots, and the people who build them
We’re Team Squish, a private, not-for-profit team of students and mentors who design, build and code a competition robot from scratch every season in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
A varsity sport for the mind
Every January, FIRST reveals a brand-new game. Teams get a few weeks to build a robot that plays it.
Then it’s off to competitions, where robots play in alliances of three against three. You won’t find a better way to learn engineering, programming and teamwork than doing it for real, against the clock, with a crowd watching.
- Robot
- 125 lb
- Build
- ~8 weeks
- Alliances
- 3 v 3
Part of something bigger
We compete in a worldwide program, run here at home by a Canadian charity.
FIRST
A global nonprofit founded in 1989. Its robotics programs reach 850,000+ students in 110+ countries.
FIRST Robotics Canada
The registered charity that has brought FIRST to Canadian students since 2001, with grants that help rookie teams start.
The Ontario district
As a Scarborough team we compete in Ontario’s district, playing events across the province on the way to Provincials and the FIRST Championship.
Find your place on the team
There’s a job for every interest. No experience needed: we teach everything from the ground up.
Mechanical
Machine, cut and assemble the drivetrain, arms and mechanisms.
Design & CAD
Model the whole robot in 3D before a single part gets made.
Electrical
Wire motors, sensors and the control system so it all talks.
Programming
Write the Java that drives the robot, plus vision and autonomous.
Strategy & Scouting
Study the game, scout other teams and pick our alliance partners.
Business & Media
Run sponsorships, outreach, photos, video and our socials.
From a pile of parts to a robot that drives
Mechanical
Design the frame, drivetrain and arm in CAD, then cut, machine and bolt it all together.
Electrical
Mount the battery, power hub and roboRIO, then wire every motor and sensor.
Programming
Write the Java that reads the sensors, drives the wheels and moves the arm.
From kickoff to competition
November to April, month by month.
- Pre-season
- Build season
- Competition
- Nov
Recruit & train
New members join, pass shop safety and learn CAD, machining, wiring and Java.
- Dec
Practice build
Build and code a practice drivetrain, lock in sponsors and order parts.
- Jan
Kickoff & design
FIRST reveals the game. We pick a strategy, prototype and CAD.
- Feb
Build & code
Machine, wire and program the robot, then practise driving.
- Mar
District events
Our Ontario district competitions, three robots against three.
- Apr
Championships
Ontario District Championship, then the FIRST Championship if we qualify.
Gracious professionalism
Compete hard, help everyone. We lend parts and a hand, even to the teams we’re playing against.
Open to everyone
Any student, any background, any skill level. If you’re curious, you belong here.
Out in the community
Demos, workshops and mentoring younger FIRST teams, so the next generation catches the bug.
Every robot starts with a sponsor
Registration, parts, tools and travel all add up. Your support puts students in front of real engineering problems.