A rookie team, wired for what's next.
Circuit Overload is FIRST Tech Challenge Team #36748, a first-year team based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. This page will grow with us — for now, it's the honest version of who we are.
Who We Are
Circuit Overload is bringing together students from Stevenson High School and Daniel Wright Junior High School who share a passion for engineering, programming, and innovation. Our members come from diverse STEM backgrounds including FIRST LEGO League, Science Olympiad, science fairs, hackathons, coding projects, and academic competitions, giving our team a strong foundation in problem solving and collaboration. Whether we are designing mechanical systems, developing software, creating CAD models, documenting our engineering process, or connecting with our community through outreach, every member contributes their unique skills while continuing to learn from one another.
As a founding team entering our first FTC season, our goal is to build more than just a competitive robot. We are committed to creating a team culture built on curiosity, teamwork, and continuous improvement while developing the technical and leadership skills that will carry us through future seasons. By embracing challenges, learning from every iteration, and sharing our passion for STEM with others, we hope to establish a strong foundation for long term success both on and off the competition field.
What is FIRST Tech Challenge?
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a global student robotics program for grades 7–12, run by FIRST — the same organization behind FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Robotics Competition. Every September, FIRST reveals a brand-new game. Teams get roughly six months to design, build, program, and iterate a robot that plays that game — first with other teams on their alliance, then against them.
But FTC isn't just about the robot. Teams are judged on engineering process, innovation, outreach, business strategy, and how they contribute to the robotics community. The most prestigious award at any event — the Inspire Award — goes to the team that does all of it well, not the team with the highest score.
Design & build
Teams design a robot within an 18" × 18" × 18" starting size using the REV Robotics control system, custom-machined parts, and 3D-printed components. Mechanical design, CAD, and fabrication are all student-led.
Program & control
Robots run on Android-powered REV Control Hubs, programmed in Java (or Blocks). Every match has a 30-second autonomous period where the robot runs code with no driver input, followed by a driver-controlled period.
Alliances & matches
Two randomly-paired teams form an alliance and compete against another alliance in 2.5-minute matches on a 12'×12' field. Scouting, communication, and alliance strategy matter as much as the robot itself.
Engineering portfolio
Teams document every decision in an engineering portfolio and present to judges at every event. Outreach, business planning, and community impact are part of the portfolio — not just the robot.
Judged awards
Beyond match performance, teams earn awards for innovation, design, control system, outreach, and the top overall Inspire Award — which recognizes the most well-rounded team at an event.
Path to Worlds
The season advances from league meets → state championship → FIRST Championship in Houston, where hundreds of top FTC teams from around the world compete each April.
A season in Buffalo Grove, month by month
Every FTC season follows roughly the same rhythm — kickoff in September, league meets in the fall, state in January, and the road to Houston in the spring. Here's what ours looks like from the inside.
- May – August
Offseason & onboarding
New members learn the FTC control system, basic CAD in Onshape, and Java for the REV Control Hub. Returning members refine skills from last season, tear down the previous robot, and inventory parts. We run small skill-building projects — a claw, a linear slide, an autonomous path — so everyone has hands-on reps before kickoff.
- Early September
Kickoff & game analysis
FIRST reveals the new season's game. As a team, we watch the reveal together, read the full game manual, and break down scoring: what earns the most points, what's risky, and what alliance strategies look like. We build a strategy priority list before anyone touches CAD.
- Mid – Late September
Prototyping & design
Sub-teams prototype the hardest mechanisms in cardboard, 3D prints, and spare parts. We test intake geometry, shooter angles, or scoring arms in isolation before committing to a full robot design. CAD begins in parallel once a mechanism concept proves itself.
- October – November
Build season
The competition robot comes together. Machining and assembly happen alongside wiring, sensor tuning, and the first autonomous routines. We keep an engineering notebook every meeting — decisions, sketches, test data — because it counts for judged awards.
- Late November – December
League meets
Illinois runs a league format: several qualifying matches spread across the fall at nearby host schools. We compete, take notes on what breaks, and iterate at the shop between meets. Drive team practice ramps up hard here.
- January
League tournament & qualifiers
League standings and judged awards decide who advances to the Illinois State Championship. This is where reliability, driver skill, and a strong engineering portfolio pay off.
- February – April
State, Super-Regionals & Worlds
Advancing teams compete at the Illinois State Championship, and top teams from there earn invitations to the FIRST Championship in Houston. Even for a rookie team, the goal each year is to get one round further than the last.
Mission & Values
Build to learn
Every iteration teaches us more than the last. Progress over perfection.
Everyone contributes
Build, code, CAD, business — every role matters and every voice is heard.
Compete with integrity
We win the right way — respecting our opponents, helping other teams when they're stuck, and owning our mistakes when we make them.
Grow the community
We want to make robotics accessible to more students in Buffalo Grove.