2025 – 2026
SoCal ILT
- Winning Alliance – Captain
- Innovate Award 1st
SoCal Championships
- Finalist Alliance
- Think Award 2nd
Worlds
- 9th np-opr Jackson Dividion
- 3rd Alliance 3rd Pick
Decode Robot CAD Download (Coming Soon)
Beyond Robotics’ strategy begins with thoroughly analyzing the FTC Decode season’s game. From there, we develop a game strategy focused on maximizing consistency and efficiency. Using this strategy, we establish specific robot requirements that guide our overall design process. We brainstorm multiple solutions, narrow them down to four main concepts, and evaluate each based on our robot requirements before selecting the strongest design for prototyping and detailed development. Our robot design is one of a kind in our region able to sort, shoot, and lift
Our drivetrain utilizes bare motors to reduce weight and optimize space efficiency. To achieve our desired gear ratio, we custom-designed and 3D printed timing belt pulleys. We also conducted drivetrain simulations to analyze how different gear ratios affected the robot’s speed and acceleration while ensuring the system would not draw excessive current from the battery.
Throughout the season, we developed five intake iterations. Earlier versions experienced issues such as deadlocks, contacting too many artifacts at once, and slower intake speeds. Our final iteration features a passively pivoting mechanism that eliminates the need for an additional servo, reducing both complexity and battery consumption. As artifacts travel through the extended ramp, which we also designed and 3D printed, the intake automatically pivots upward to avoid interfering with nearby artifacts. The transfer system is designed to hold a maximum capacity of three artifacts and is powered by a dedicated motor to prevent stalling. Additionally, our robot incorporates a unique pass-through indexing system integrated directly into the transfer mechanism.
After extensive testing and iteration, we found that the compression and consistency provided by the Rhino wheels worked very well for our shooter design.
Our shooter utilizes five high-precision CNC-machined steel flywheels to increase rotational inertia and maintain a stable shooting velocity while minimizing vibration.
The system is powered by two 6000 RPM motors, enabling the robot to launch three balls in just 0.2 seconds.
We designed and tested multiple hood iterations throughout development. Our final version resolved the consistency issues present in earlier designs by increasing the size and smoothness of the shooting surface, resulting in more accurate and reliable shots.
During the endgame, our robot extends upward using a slide system, creating enough clearance for our alliance partner’s robot to fit underneath.
The slide mechanism is powered through a PTO system using two 6000 RPM drivetrain motors with a 24:1 gear reduction, providing the torque necessary for a reliable lift.
When the slides are not in use, locking pins securely hold them in place. These pins are automatically released before the lifting sequence begins.
After the robot is lifted, a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism engages to prevent the robot from falling, even if the robot loses power or is shut down.
For programming, in TeleOp, we are able to use the pinpoint odometry to figure out the pose of our robot at any time. We are then able to use this data to find the rough estimate that the turret needs to turn, and also automatically adjust the power of the shooter. We also use the limelight camera to fine tune the aiming of the robot. Automatically aiming and shooting speed increases accuracy by leaving out human error and allows us to cycle artifacts in the shortest time.
- Finalist Alliance – Captain
For the FTC Into the Deep season, Beyond Robotics prioritized a sample-focused game strategy designed to maximize scoring efficiency and consistency. At the same time, our robot retains the capability to score specimens effectively, allowing us to adapt to changing match dynamics and alliance needs.
Our drivetrain features custom-designed side plates with extensive pocketing to reduce weight while maintaining structural rigidity. For this season, we also integrated Pinpoint odometry pods, creating a fast, lightweight, and durable drivetrain that enables efficient and consistent scoring.
Our current bucket design is the result of over 20 iterations and numerous custom-designed, 3D printed components. The primary goal of the mechanism is to reliably acquire and control any sample regardless of its orientation or position on the playing field.
Our outtake system consists of three main components: the claw, the arm, and the slide. The claw is fully custom designed to securely grip samples and specimens without dropping them during operation. Additionally, the claw can rotate, allowing us to score specimens from top to bottom. This approach takes advantage of both momentum and gravity, improving scoring speed and consistency.
Our arm is the perfect length to score specimens. All we have to do is ram the robot into the submersible and slam.
Our claw is controlled by axon mini servos to provide grip power. We used GoBilda speed servos for fast claw rotation.
In TeleOp, we use autocomplete a lot. Usually, to score the sample, we would have to close the claw, raise the slide, and rotate the arm. We would originally have to use 3 buttons to do those actions, but with autocomplete, with only 1 button, we could sequence those actions. By using this autocomplete, the driver will not only make less errors, but also increase the number of samples we score in TeleOp from 12 to 18.
We use Pedro Pathing odometry to have our robot correct accurately when in the middle of paths. This mid-path correction removes the pauses that were present when we used Roadrunner last year. We also use touch sensors to prevent our slides from stalling, which fixed our previous power issues. All of these improve the consistency of our robot by multiple times.
2023 – 2024
SoCal ILT
- Inspire Award 3rd Place
- Winning Alliance – Captain
- Design Award
- Promote Award
- Compass Award 3rd Place
SoCal Regionals
Our robot “Picasso” has five modules: The drivetrain with slide, the intake, the outtake, the hanger, and the drone launcher. The size is 14 inches wide, 15 inches long, and 11 inches tall, which can travel through the gate and the trusses with ease. Our robot uses 2 meters of chains, 3 odometry pods, 7 servos, 8 motors, 8 linear slides, 13 compliance wheels, 20 sprockets, 48 bearings, and weights 31 lbs.
The drivetrain is fully customized so that it can mount linear slides in 60 degrees. It has three loony odometry pods for our auto. The drivetrain is sturdy, fast, and compact serving as the base for our robot.
Our design goal for our intake is: touch a pixel, own the pixel. We achieve this by designing an active intake using surgical tubing wheels powered by a high-speed motor and placing the wheels at the right place. We encountered a problem where the ramp edge can prevent pixels from going inside. We solved this problem by adding a dustpan edge. The ramp is auto-adjustable so that it always touches the floor to minimize the gap.
For outtake, we want to be able to make mosaics. We use compliance wheels to control where and how many pixels to be deposited. Notably, our outtake can pivot automatically, so, when it contacts the backdrop, it avoids knocking down the scored pixels during teleop and helps during auto because it allows error. The outtake is lifted up/down through the linear slides.
For hanger, we have 2 servos that rotate 2 compliance wheels which raise 2 tape measures with 3D printed parts holding the hooks. We use a high torque motor to tighten the rope to pull our robot up. The hanger is very reliable.
Our drone launcher has a unique v-guide which stabilizes the propeller from moving side-ways. The v-guide design makes the drone launching direction consistent. We also have an angle adjuster which helps finding the best projectile angle and a drone cover that minimizes drone movement during a game. These let us achieve maximum points by consistently landing in zone one. Another interesting design is that we use Scotch Yoke Mechanism to release the trigger.
Our control is mainly through three-wheel odometry. We uses the yaw reading from the built in IMU to correct overshot turns, which prevents our robot from veering off the planned path during auto. We successfully completed 2+2 under the trusses auto during the SoCal Championships.
“Picasso” is simple, reliable, very consistent on auto and end-game, and driver-friendly. Beyond Robotics FTC Team 21380 ranked the highest Non-Penalty OPR in SoCal again this season.
- Finalist Alliance – Captain
- Control Award sponsored by Arm, Inc. 3rd Place
Our robot features a compact 14″ × 14″ mecanum drivetrain, providing exceptional maneuverability, precise positioning, and reliable parking throughout the match. Mounted on the drivetrain is a turret powered by a goBilda servo, allowing for 180 degrees of rotation and enabling efficient scoring from multiple angles without requiring the robot to reposition.
Above the turret, we integrated a four-stage goBilda linear slide that provides the reach necessary to score on the highest junctions while maintaining a compact starting configuration. Attached to the slide is a set of custom-designed, 3D printed claws engineered to securely grasp and manipulate cones. The claw system is powered by two REV Smart Servos, delivering consistent gripping force and ensuring cones remain securely held throughout the scoring process.
For the Inter-League Tournament, our team developed an innovative junction pole aligner to improve scoring speed and accuracy. The aligner is powered by a Super Speed goBilda servo capable of rotating 180 degrees in just 0.06 seconds, enabling rapid deployment during scoring cycles.
The system operates fully autonomously, using the claw’s clearance from the slide’s lower limit as a reference point to ensure consistent alignment. For precise positioning, we utilize junction pole detection and pole-squaring algorithms, while the IMU provides accurate heading information. Together, these systems allow the robot to automatically align with junctions, reducing driver workload and increasing scoring consistency.
Our robot is simple yet very reliable and driver friendly. Beyond Robotics FTC Team 21380 ranked the highest Non-Penalty OPR in SoCal.
