⚡ 2023 Season Recap: CHARGED UP with the Terror Bytes! ⚡
The 2023 FIRST® Robotics Competition season had Team 6528 Terror Bytes absolutely buzzing with energy as we took on the high-voltage challenge known as Charged Up, presented by Haas. Our mission? To energize our alliance and power up the field by delivering game pieces, climbing platforms, and balancing under pressure—all while showcasing the spirit, strategy, and synergy of our growing team.
🔋 Game Overview
Charged Up threw teams into the heart of the energy revolution. This year’s game was all about gathering and delivering game pieces—cubes and cones—into various nodes on a grid to score points and create links. The field represented a futuristic energy grid, and we were the innovators powering the system.
Teams worked in alliances of three to:
Collect game pieces from the loading station
Deliver and place them onto the community grid made up of hybrid, mid, and high nodes
Form links by placing game pieces in a row
Dock and engage with the charging station (a tilting platform!) during autonomous and endgame for major points and crowd-pleasing moments
⚙️ The Field
The 2023 field was split into red and blue alliances, each with their own community grid and charging station. The charging station—an electrified platform at the center of each alliance zone—was a game-changer. Teams could dock on it for extra points, but balancing was where the magic happened.
Every match ended with a high-energy finale as robots raced to the charging station, tilted, teetered, and engaged to secure bonus points before the buzzer hit. Timing, coordination, and smooth driving were critical.
🔌 Our Objectives
Team 6528 Terror Bytes charged into the season with one goal: Dominate the grid and electrify the endgame.
Our key objectives included:
Designing a robust drivetrain capable of fast and agile movement across the field
Engineering an arm and intake system able to quickly switch between cones and cubes
Automating autonomous routines to score early and consistently
Mastering the charging station, balancing in both autonomous and teleop
Building team chemistry, both on and off the field, with a strong focus on communication, scouting, and strategy
⚡ The Power of Teamwork
This season marked a major step forward for the Terror Bytes. With our largest team to date—46 students strong—we embraced new challenges, mentored rookie members, and competed with pride at every event. Whether we were delivering game pieces with precision or coordinating a triple balance on the charging station, the spirit of innovation and teamwork drove everything we did.
