NANO NERDS

When you build robots, you build community.

More Than Robots, an Original documentary, streaming March 18 on Disney+.

We helped start this team when they were adorable little first graders in Jr NorCal FIRST LEGO League Challenge (now FLL Explore) They continued on to FLL and now FTC. Today they hosted their very first FTC event! We are very proud mentors!
https://www.facebook.com/103551915529375/posts/124232006794699/?d=n

Opening Ceremony for the 1st annual Metal Maniacs FTC qualifier. Good luck to all the teams participating today!!

Emily is home from college and back at mentoring the Metal Maniacs FTC

BBC Bitsize interview this morning, stay tuned for more.

Here are some general building best practices! What are some building best practices your team always follow?

• Always ensure the robot’s main power switch is easily accessible.
• Batteries must be securely mounted to the robot and should be protected from any sharp edges or protrusions.
• Design to facilitate easy repair. Make sure that every part is accessible and easy to fix for quick and painless pit repair.
• Build the robot for competition. Consider the outcome of different types of collisions and add guards and bumpers in the design to minimize impact. Protect wires and position motors so that the end of the wire is inside the robot body.
• As screws, nuts, and washers are removed from the robot or from early prototypes, check them for damage and discard or mark parts that are no longer perfect.
• Investigate and experiment with gear ratios.
• Investigate and experiment with traction.
• At the end of each build session, unplug all chargers.
• Always double-check to make sure that fuses are matched exactly in type and amperage, and never use anything other than the correct fuse to bridge the connection, because batteries can overheat and catch fire if too much current is drawn.
• Reroute wires through channels where possible, for safety, and to prevent entanglement.

Happy Pride Month! ❤️🧡💛💚💙 💜

Ensuring that all members of the FIRST community feel a sense of belonging has long been a part of our equity, diversity and inclusion mission.

We are proud to celebrate le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, and q***r people and allies by using our platform to raise awareness and highlight LGBTQ+ voices within our community, and through our new collaboration with Project THRIVE, a multi-year, collaborative effort of national organizations led by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Read more about how we are celebrating Pride Month from Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at FIRST, Dr. Janell N. Catlin: https://hubs.ly/H0PlR6g0

Check out this rookie grant!

FIRST Tech Challenge Grants What is FIRST Tech Challenge?

Two of our favorite volunteers showing how to !

Today is the last day of Women's History Month! How did your team celebrate women in STEM and history this month?

We love , if you haven't already make sure to check them out! https://firstlikeagirl.com/

Advait and Bernie mentoring FLL!!

We can join in on the fun too

National Mentoring Month is all about celebrating the incredible mentors who have made an impact on our lives.