THE MELODIES OF MATERIALS
Materials science is at the heart of innovation, shaping the tools and technologies of our modern world. Let's dive into the intricacies behind the materials that define the music and sounds of our lives.
4/29/2025 ⋅ By Rishi Pai ⋅ 4 min read
The 2025 FIRST World Championships
Well, we made it. We qualified for the FIRST World Championships in Houston, which took place on April 15-19 earlier this month. Hitherto, this was the best competition I’ve been at. It was a week of not only robotics, but professional workshops, teamwork, and networking. The experience provided me much more than robot expertise, but furthered my understanding of complex engineering/programming concepts through workshops and improved my communication skills to build lasting connections with professionals I met that week.
As mentioned before, I compete on team 1683, the Techno Titans. At the FIRST Championship, 600 teams compete for the winning title, the Einstein Champions. These 600 teams are divided into 8 divisions of 75, in which the winning alliances of each division play in a final playoffs, known as the Einstein Playoffs. We were in the Milstein Division, and the competition we had ahead of us was quite the obstacle. We were matched in the same division as some of the highest scoring teams in the world. Thus, we had just two days to prove ourselves, make our mark, and rise to the occasion.
My week was nothing short of busy. Whether it was attending a workshop, working on match strategy, or talking with other teams, I was constantly running around the George R. Brown Convention Center, one of the largest venues I’ve encountered. I’m proud to say that our strategy team at this competition was unmatched. We excelled in every aspect of match strategy, and we were able to overcome obstacles and win matches nobody thought we could have done. Prove ourselves - check
The Einstein Playoffs
Our team was in a goldilock’s zone by the time it came to alliance selection. We weren’t among the best, but we were still one of the top scorers for our division in the rankings, which gave us an unlucky pick in the alliance selection process. We ended up on alliance #6, but we made do with our circumstances to show that alliance 6 is better than the 6th out of 8th alliance. Match strategy was especially difficult and stressful during this time as we were constantly matched up with alliances that were statistically miles ahead of our team. However, with expert scouting we were able to cause the best upsets, maximize the potential of all of our alliance members, and secure a solid spot in the rankings, even if we didn’t make it to Einstein. Rise to the occasion - check.
Our team comes from a relatively small competition district, known as the Peachtree District. While we may be among the top teams in that division, we are unknown in the vast world of robotics. Not many knew who the Techno Titans even were walking into this competition. And so, we made it our mission to not only win, but to make our name and reputation known, to create a new legacy for our team at the FIRST Championship. Our solid performance in qualification matches as well as in our division playoffs did exactly that. Countless times when walking down the aisles of the robot pit area, wearing my team’s shirt, people recognized me and my team in a positive light. This made me confident that we’ve proven ourselves, not just through statistics. Make our mark, check.
This one week was a thrilling experience that I would hate to miss out on for the next two following years on this team. This year was our best performance yet, but I know we will come back next year stronger and exceed the expectations of many. I have no doubt in my mind that we will qualify again, and again, and perform better each time. And, I hope that during each of these times I am even more involved, even more integral to the team than the last. So until dhin . . . stay upbeat and stay tuned.