16169 Banana Box

Community

Outreach & impact

Spreading FIRST robotics through workshops, events, and partnerships.

Sustainability plan

We keep the team thriving year over year through six pillars: team continuity (experienced members mentor newcomers and we stay connected with alumni), knowledge transfer (engineering notebooks, CAD libraries, and code templates), recruitment (engaging youth and professionals through outreach), funding stability (fundraising through concessions, recycled parts, and Mission FTC-Possible), resource stability (an organized, well-maintained, safe workspace), and succession (setting SMART goals each season and improving our processes).

Season timeline

Robot and outreach, month by month

  1. January–February 2026

    OutreachHosted NH FTC Qualifier #5 and supported 26 teams.

  2. May 2026

    OutreachMentored teams and helped form new FTC and FLL teams.

  3. August 2026

    OutreachStarted the Gear Up! online workshop series for FLL and FTC teams.

  4. September 2026

    OutreachCompleted Gear Up! and Robot in 24 Hours, and participated in Wicked STEM.

  5. October 2026

    OutreachParticipated in the MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference.

Outreach in detail

Our Impact

  1. January–February 2026

    NH FTC Qualifier #5

    We hosted the qualifier at Windham Center School and supported the event in roles ranging from field inspection to emceeing.

    • 26 Teams
  2. May 2026

    Team Mentoring & Formation

    We mentored teams and helped form new FTC and FLL teams.

  3. August–September 2026

    Gear Up! FLL and FTC Online Workshop Series

    Gear Up! was Banana Box's online workshop series for FLL and FTC teams. Through weekly sessions, we shared technical skills, robot-design ideas, programming concepts, FIRST resources, engineering process and strategy, and lessons we had learned with other teams.

    Sessions

    FLL Challenge
    • Introduction to FLL Program and FLL BioGlow Season
    • Spike Prime and Engineering Process
    • FLL Resources and Project Innovation
    • Base Robot Designs, LEGO Parts, and Sensors
    • Game Strategies and Robot Design Techniques
    • How to Build a Better Base Robot
    • Robot Alignment and Line Followers
    • Python Programming
    FTC
    • Introduction to FTC Program, Resources, Parts
    • Control Systems - Existing and New
    • Robot Drivetrains and Sensors
    • Robot Design Process and CAD
    • Odometry and Pedro Pathing
    • Robot in 24 Hours
    • "BioBuzz" Game Strategies and Programming
    • Engineering Portfolio and Community Outreach
    • Coaches Panel

    See Gear Up session posts and updates on Instagram

September 12–13, 2026

Robot in 24 Hours

A 24-hour build challenge where our two robot subteams built functional robots while sharing progress and lessons with other FTC teams.

Explore Robot in 24 Hours

Event overview

through

Banana Box divided into A Team and B Team, and each subteam built its own robot. Both robots were functional by the end of the 24-hour event and able to intake and score.

The build challenge was part of the broader Gear Up! Robot in 24 Hours event. Astro Box also participated.

During the event, we used Zoom calls to share progress, challenges, and lessons with other FTC teams.

  • Built during Robot in 24 Hours.
  • Functional by the end of the 24-hour event.
  • Able to intake and score.
Banana Box A Team and B Team with both completed Robot in 24 Hours robots
Banana Box after completing Robot in 24 Hours with both A Team and B Team robots.

A Team

Build progress

A Team robot build progress during Robot in 24 Hours
A Team robot build progress during Robot in 24 Hours
A Team shooter assembly during Robot in 24 Hours
A Team shooter assembly during Robot in 24 Hours

Completed robot

A Team completed Robot in 24 Hours robot
A Team completed Robot in 24 Hours robot

A Team Robot in 24 Hours GitHub repository

B Team

Build progress

B Team robot build progress during Robot in 24 Hours
B Team build progress during Robot in 24 Hours

Completed robot

B Team completed Robot in 24 Hours robot
B Team completed Robot in 24 Hours robot

B Team Robot in 24 Hours GitHub repository

  1. September 19, 2026

    Wicked STEM Festival

    We participated in Wicked STEM, a festival where we connected with children and professionals and shared the excitement of FIRST robotics.

    Banana Box at Wicked STEM 2026Banana Box at Wicked STEM 2026
  2. October 11, 2026

    MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference

    We participated in the MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference.