The build

Last year's robot: Sparky

Our first FTC build, designed and improved throughout the DECODE season.

Lightning Machines robot chassis
COMPLETED

FTC DECODE 2025–2026

Our mechanical team designs, builds, and improves our robot alongside our programming team. We started with the FIRST starter bot to learn the fundamentals, then adapted Sparky throughout the season based on testing, match experience, and driver feedback.

We redesigned the shooter for greater consistency and range, added an extra flywheel wheel for more power, and switched to mecanum wheels for improved movement. After our first qualifier, we also added far shooting to make scoring faster and more efficient.

DrivetrainMecanum, 4-wheel
Control hubREV Control Hub
ChassisREV extrusion frame
ProgrammingJava
Build statusCompleted
Our first build

From starter bot to Sparky

A look at how we built, tested, and improved Sparky throughout last season.

Team assembling the drivetrain

Assembling the drivetrain frame.

Team programming and testing

Programming and testing autonomous routines.

Team assembling field elements

Building practice field elements for testing.