Bambu Lab H2D
3D printing
Design brackets, spacers, and test parts.
Students build the robot.
And the team.
A community robotics team in Vancouver, BC. Students learn to design, build, and program together. Beginners are welcome.
- 11302
- FRC team number
- 2026
- Rookie season
- 2027
- Second season: BIOCORE
- Vancouver
- Home base, BC
Supported by
Argosy FoundationMotorola Solutions FoundationFIRSTRoboPlanetCARATMechSpace
What is FRC?
A team sport powered by engineering. Students build a real robot, then work with alliance partners on a shared challenge.
Understand the challenge
Study the game and decide what the robot should do.
Design, build & test
Connect mechanical design, electronics, and code in one working machine.
Compete together
Three robots form an alliance. Communication and cooperation matter.
REDREDRED
vs
BLUEBLUE11302
Alliances are reshuffled every match, so a team you play against now may be your partner in the next one.
What happens to FIRST students later
Brandeis University followed FIRST participants and a matched group of similar students for more than eight years.
- 83%
- of FIRST alumni study a STEM major by their fourth year of college
- 63%
- of FIRST alumni now work in a STEM field
- 2.3×
- more likely to grow their interest in STEM than similar students
- 15–20%
- of MIT undergraduates took part in FIRST, by MIT admissions' estimate
A program with reach
- 4 million+
- young people have taken part in FIRST since 1989
- 114
- countries with FIRST programs
- 93,000
- FRC students in 35 countries in the 2025 season
- 200+
- Fortune 500 companies support FIRST
FRC was created by inventor Dean Kamen with Woodie Flowers, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. Joining a team does not guarantee admission anywhere. It gives a student real work and a real story to tell.
These figures describe FIRST participants as a whole, not 11302 Prototype. Sources: FIRST impact data; Brandeis University, FIRST Longitudinal Study, 96-month findings; FIRST at a glance; MIT News, June 2026; MIT Open Learning.
Who supports the team
11302 Prototype is backed by foundations, community organizations, and FIRST itself.
11302 Prototype supporters
- Argosy FoundationSponsor of our 2026 rookie season. Also a FIRST Strategic Partner.
- Motorola Solutions FoundationSponsor of our 2026 rookie season
- FIRSTFIRST headquarters in the United States sponsored our rookie season and covered part of our registration fee
- RoboPlanet Education and Community SocietyProgram support
- Canadian Association for Robotics, AI and TechnologyProgram support
- MechSpaceOur workshop and fabrication lab
Who sponsors FIRST
The FIRST program is funded worldwide by its Strategic Partners, including some of the best-known names in technology, aerospace, and engineering.
- NASA
- Apple
- Google.org
- Boeing
- Qualcomm
- General Motors
- GE Aerospace
- 3M
- RTX
- BAE Systems
- John Deere
- Caterpillar
- FedEx
- Medtronic
- Dow
- Rockwell Automation
- TE Connectivity
- NI
- Novelis
- Bechtel Group Foundation
- Stellantis Foundation
- LEGO Education
- Gene Haas Foundation
- Argosy Foundation
The organizations in this second list support the FIRST program worldwide. They are not sponsors of 11302 Prototype unless they also appear in our own list above. Source: FIRST Strategic Partners, as listed by FIRST.
What students work on
Every role connects to a real result: a part that fits, code that works, a clear plan, or an activity that helps someone else.
Build & test
Turn a design into a working part. Measure, test, find the problem, and improve it.
Code & troubleshoot
Use sensors and software to control a robot. Learn to explain why something works.
Communicate & lead
Share responsibility, explain decisions, teach a teammate, and finish a shared task.
Tools students learn to use
At MechSpace, students connect a design on screen to a part they can hold. Each machine has a purpose, and each skill begins with instruction and supervised practice.
Bambu Lab R1
Laser cutting & engraving
Prepare 2D designs and cut approved sheet materials.
X8-2200L
CNC fabrication
See how digital geometry guides a cutting tool.
King Canada
Precision machining
Practise accurate measurement and understand how careful setup produces parts that fit.
FoxAlien
CNC routing
Explore smaller parts and prototypes, inspect the result, and improve the design.
Mastercraft
Drilling & assembly
Learn marking out, workholding, drilling, and checking alignment before assembly.
Fabrication tools
Cutting & preparation
Learn how stock becomes a usable part through cutting, finishing, and careful inspection.
Equipment photography: MechSpace. Machine use follows equipment-specific training and supervision. Bambu Lab R1: official product image from Bambu Lab.
See the work
See engineering in action
A robot brings many student contributions together: its frame, mechanisms, wiring, software, and match strategy.
Build Forward: LEGO reuse
In our first year, students ran a LEGO collection and reuse project with Richmond Public Library, and took it to the City of Vancouver.
Meet the people who teach here
Our mentors bring world-championship qualification coaching experience, mechanical and mechatronics engineering, CAD, electronics, and product management to the team.
TonyHead CoachGina ChoiCAD & RoboticsAlvaro Fernandez CortesRobotics & EngineeringLeoBusiness & Projects
Visit the team
Visit the workshop, meet the students and mentors, and ask anything.
Our Team
Built by students. Backed by mentors.
Students from different schools across Greater Vancouver come together to build a robot, and to grow into people who are ready for a future shaped by AI.
Some students arrive already knowing how to code. Others have never held a wrench. Everyone starts with the same safety training and takes on more as their confidence grows.
Students plan, build, program, and compete. Mentors teach, ask questions, and keep everyone safe, but the robot belongs to the students.
Run by students
Every part of running a robotics team has a student who owns it. Leads plan the work, teach newer members, and answer for the result.
Student Captain
Sees the whole team, keeps the schedule moving, and speaks for the team. The captain does not take on a technical lead role, so they can stay fair and focused on the whole picture.
Design & Build
Designs the robot in CAD, makes the parts, and puts it together. Makes sure every subsystem fits with the rest.
Electrical & Programming
Wires the robot and writes the code that drives it, from teleop to autonomous. Code and files are shared so more than one student can maintain them.
Strategy & Drive
Studies the game rules, scouts other teams, and trains the drivers and pit crew who represent the team on competition day.
Business & Impact
Plans the budget, writes to sponsors, runs outreach, and documents the team's work for judges and community partners.
Operations & Safety
Keeps tools and parts organized and makes sure students are safe. The safety captain records any incident, however small.
Roles scale with team size. On a small team one student may cover two areas, but every area has one named student and one named adult responsible for it.
Mentors support, students own
Mentors are teachers and safety supervisors. They help students get better at the work, and they do not do the work for them.
Students
- Choose a main role and try a second one.
- Do the designing, building, wiring, coding, and writing.
- Make design decisions and explain why.
- Teach newer students what they have learned.
Mentors
- Teach skills, ask questions, and review decisions.
- Check student work before it goes on the robot.
- Supervise machining, powering up the electronics, and travel.
- Step back as students become able to lead.
How a new skill is taught
01ShowA mentor or senior student demonstrates once.
02Do togetherThe student works alongside them.
03Do aloneThe student tries it independently.
04Write it downFeedback, then the student records the method for the next person.
How a new student grows
Nobody is expected to know it all on day one. The first month is about safety, trying things, and finding where you fit.
WEEK 1JoinLearn about the time commitment, then sign up and tell us which roles interest you.
WEEK 2Safety firstComplete safety training and a hands-on test before touching any tool or machine.
WEEK 3Try two groupsTake part in two different workgroups and start a first practice task.
WEEK 4Find your roleGet a main role and a second role, and be paired with an older student.
Competing takes proof, not just attendance.
Before a student operates a robot system at a competition, they show a mentor they can do the job independently.
See the Skills page for what each role teaches.
Skills for a future shaped by AI
Tools will keep changing. What lasts is the ability to figure things out, judge what is true, work with other people, and lead. A robotics season gives students real problems to practise on, with real consequences when something does not work.
Problem solving
The robot fails, and students trace why, test a fix, and try again. They learn that a problem can be taken apart.
Critical thinking
Students weigh design options, check data before trusting it, and learn to use AI tools with good judgment rather than copying an answer.
Creativity
With limited time, parts, and budget, students invent their own solutions and build prototypes to find out what works.
Communication & teamwork
Engineers, programmers, and strategists have to understand each other. Students explain their work to teammates, judges, and sponsors.
Responsibility
Students own a real part of the robot. Others depend on them, so they learn to keep commitments and speak up early.
Learning how to learn
Nobody teaches every skill. Students learn to find resources, practise on their own, and ask better questions.
From member to leader
Leadership is practised here, not just talked about. Each student takes on more as they show they are ready, and the most experienced students teach the ones who come after them.
01ObserveWatch how the team works and ask questions.
02LearnBuild core skills with guidance from mentors and older students.
03ContributeDo real work on the robot, independently.
04OwnTake responsibility for a subsystem or a project.
05Lead and mentorPlan the work, teach newer students, and represent the team.
The robot is the project. The students are the point.
We judge a season by who the students become, not only by how the robot performs: confident problem solvers who can lead others and keep learning.
How we work together
AI is changing how people design and work. The habits that last are asking good questions, solving real problems, working with others, and taking responsibility.
- Stay curious
- Ask questions, test ideas, and let the results decide what to try next.
- Build together
- Share what you know and bring another student into the work.
- Own your commitments
- Say what you can do, and speak up early when you need help.
- Make room
- Give new students real work and useful feedback.
- Compete with respect
- Prepare seriously, help other teams, and treat everyone well.
- Root our work in community
- Listen to local needs and build relationships that last.
- Leave it better
- Leave tools ready, files clear, and lessons written down for the next student.
The team is supported by RoboPlanet Education and Community Society, CARAT, mentors, families, and community partners.
Meet our mentors
Meet the coaches and instructors who teach, coach, and supervise. They are here to support the students, not to do the work for them.
T
Head Coach
Tony
Head coach of multiple robotics teams that qualified for world championships.
Coaches student development, team organization, and competition preparation.
CAD & Robotics Instructor
Gina Choi
Mechanical Engineering, UBC. Three-time FLL Hong Kong champion.
Teaches 3D design, mechanical CAD, and robot building.
Robotics & Engineering Instructor
Alvaro Fernandez Cortes
Mechatronics Systems Engineering, SFU.
Teaches CAD, electronics, and 3D printing.
L
Business & Project Mentor
Leo
Experience in product management at Unity, business systems at UBC Extended Learning, and consulting.
Supports planning, communication, and coordination across the team.
Skills
Skills for the future, built on a real robot.
FRC is a real engineering project run by students. Along the way they build technical skills, leadership, and the habits that matter in a world shaped by AI.
What students learn
Every student starts with a shared foundation, then picks a main area and can explore a second.
Foundations & safety
Workshop safety, the engineering design process, how a robot's systems fit together, and keeping clear records.
Mechanical & fabrication
Build real parts with hand tools, 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines.
CAD & design
Design parts and assemblies in Onshape, and check them before they are made.
Electrical & control
Wire power, motors, and sensors, and track down faults.
Programming
Write robot code in Java with WPILib, and manage it with Git and GitHub.
Strategy & scouting
Break down the game, collect match data, and turn it into decisions.
Drive team & pit crew
Drive in matches, and repair the robot fast between them.
Business, media & impact
Manage a real budget, work with sponsors, tell the team's story, and run outreach.
Students keep examples of their own work: a design, code, a test result, or an activity they helped organize. Finishing a course is not enough. A mentor signs off on practical work before a student takes on a role in competition.
Why join FRC
A real engineering project, run by students.
Real engineering
Students design, build, wire, and program a robot that has to work in competition, not just on paper.
Work you can point to
Each student keeps evidence of what they made, which makes a real story for school and work applications.
A path beyond high school
FIRST alumni are more likely to study engineering and computer science. See the figures on our home page.
How a match works
Two alliances share the field. Each alliance has three teams, each with a robot and student drivers.
Red alliance
vsRobotRobotRobot
Three teams working together
Blue alliance
RobotRobotRobot
Three teams working together
Two ways to control the robot
Autonomous: the robot follows students’ code and sensor readings.
Driver control: students operate the robot and make decisions with their alliance.
Not sure which role fits?
New students try different activities before choosing. You can contribute through building, coding, writing, photography, strategy, or organization.
Impact
FIRST in the community
FIRST prepares young people for the world of tomorrow. Our team brings that spirit to the people around us: families, libraries, and the next generation of builders.
The FIRST pathway
FIRST is a global robotics community with programs for every age, so a student can start young and keep growing with it.
Grades K–8 · ages 5–16
FIRST LEGO League
Younger students build and program LEGO robots and solve a challenge as a team.
Grades 7–12 · ages 12–18
FIRST Tech Challenge
Middle and high school teams design, build, and program a robot to compete.
Our program · grades 9–12 · ages 14–18
FIRST Robotics Competition
High-school teams build a full-size competition robot and play in alliances. This is the program 11302 Prototype competes in.
Program details from FIRST. Local programs and age groups can vary by region.
The spirit behind FIRST
FIRST exists to prepare young people for the world of tomorrow. Two ideas shape how teams treat each other, and six core values shape what they do.
Gracious Professionalism
Do high-quality work, value everyone's contribution, and show respect for people and the community, even while competing hard.
CoopertitionTeams help one another while still competing: learning from teammates, teaching others, and working with mentors.
Discovery
We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation
We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact
We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion
We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork
We are stronger when we work together.
Fun
We enjoy and celebrate what we do.
Source: FIRST core values and philosophy.
Ongoing project
Build Forward: LEGO reuse
In our rookie season, students organized a LEGO collection and reuse project with Richmond Public Library. Families donated LEGO they no longer used. Students sorted and cleaned it so other children could build with it.
Next, we are looking at extending the same idea to usable robotics kits and parts.
A second life for LEGO
01CollectBring unused parts together
02Sort & careClean, inspect, and organize
03Build againTurn materials into new learning
04ShareConnect with schools and families
Next: more ways to share FIRST
Planned
Open Lab
Families and younger students visit the workshop, meet the team, watch the robot run, and try an engineering activity.
Planned
One-Day Design Challenge
Younger students build, test, and improve a solution with simple materials, coached by our team.
Planned
FIRST Pathways Mentoring
A partnership with a younger robotics group, focused on a shared learning goal.
Bring FIRST to your community
Schools, libraries, and community centres are welcome to ask for a robot demonstration or a joint activity. Tell us who the audience is, the setting, and what you hope people take away.
We tell the FIRST story wherever we go, from the library to the City of Vancouver, and we credit FIRST and our supporters for making it possible.
Join
Interested in joining?
No robotics experience needed. Explore a role, meet the team, and tell us what interests you.
Team roles
Design & Mechanical
Design the robot in 3D, then make, assemble, and repair the real parts.
For students who like building thingsElectrical & Controls
Wire power, motors, and sensors, and track down faults.
For students who like careful, precise workProgramming
Write the code that drives the robot, including on its own.
For students who like coding, math, and logicStrategy & Scouting
Study the game, collect match data, and plan how to win.
For students who like sports, games, and dataBusiness, Media & Community
Work with sponsors, manage the budget, tell the team's story, and run community projects.
For students who like writing, design, and peopleOperations & Safety
Keep the workshop organized and safe, manage parts, and plan events.
For students who like organizingProject Leadership
Set goals, run meetings, and keep every group moving together.
For students who like leading and listeningDrive Team & Pit Crew
Drive the robot in matches and repair it between them. Chosen closer to competition.
For students who stay calm under pressureNot sure yet?
That is normal. New members try several areas through introductory activities before choosing.
Just tick “Not sure” on the formHow to join
Tell us you are interested
Fill in the student interest form.
Come and visit
Join an information session or arrange a workshop visit.
Talk it through
We talk about your interests, the team experience, and how you can contribute.
Register and start training
Complete registration and begin the foundations course.
- Who can join
- High-school students
- Where we meet
- Vancouver, BC
Questions families ask
Does my child need robotics experience?
No. Most new members start from zero. Fall training covers tools, design, coding, and safety from the beginning.
Can students join from any school?
Yes. We are a community team and welcome students from across Greater Vancouver.
Does my child need to be interested in engineering?
No. Students also contribute through writing, design, photo and video, strategy, organization, and community work.
Is it safe?
Students are trained before using any tool, wear safety glasses in the build area, and always work with an adult mentor present.
Will every student travel or drive the robot?
Not always. Events have limited places, and field roles depend on preparation and skill. We explain how the choices are made before anyone is selected.
Can parents help without a technical background?
Yes. Driving, meals, event organization, professional advice, and introductions to possible partners all make a difference.
Are places limited?
Yes. The number of students we can take depends on mentors and workspace. If the team is full, we keep a waiting list.
Support Us
Support the students
Help students build, learn, and take part in their community.
Two ways to help
Students do the work. You help them do it better, or make sure they have what they need to do it.
Give your time
Become a mentor
Share what you know. Engineers, programmers, makers, and business professionals help students learn by working beside them.
Mentor the team → Give funding or materialsBecome a sponsor
Help cover registration, robot parts, travel, and community programs. Companies, foundations, and families are all welcome.
Sponsor the team →Where support goes
Every contribution goes toward students building, learning, and giving back.
01RegistrationEntering the FIRST Robotics Competition.
02Robot partsMaterials, motors, electronics, and tools.
03TravelGetting the team and robot to competition.
04Community programsProjects like our LEGO reuse initiative.
Thank you to our founding supporters
These organizations backed a brand-new team and made our 2026 rookie season possible.
- Argosy FoundationSponsor of our 2026 rookie season. Also a FIRST Strategic Partner.
- Motorola Solutions FoundationSponsor of our 2026 rookie season
- FIRSTFIRST headquarters in the United States sponsored our rookie season and covered part of our registration fee
- RoboPlanet Education and Community SocietyProgram support
- Canadian Association for Robotics, AI and TechnologyProgram support
- MechSpaceOur workshop and fabrication lab
← Support the Team
Become a sponsor
Sponsor 11302 Prototype
Every contribution goes to students: competition registration, robot parts, safety equipment, travel, and community programs.
Why sponsor 11302 Prototype
We are a community team, not a school team. That means students depend on local partners to take part, and every contribution reaches students directly.
Invest in local students
Your support covers registration, robot parts, safety equipment, travel, and community programs for students in Greater Vancouver.
Build tomorrow's talent
Students practise engineering, programming, teamwork, and leadership on a real project. These are the skills the next generation of workplaces will need.
Make a community impact
Students take what they learn back to the community, from our LEGO reuse project with Richmond Public Library to introducing younger children to robotics.
Back a young team
We competed in our first season in 2026 and return in 2027. Early supporters help a new team build something lasting.
Be part of FIRST
FIRST is a global program that prepares young people for the world of tomorrow. Sponsors join that mission alongside well-known foundations and companies.
See where it goes
Supporters get updates during the season and an end-of-season report on student work and how funds were used.
Support student learning
We confirm logo placement with each partner before anything is printed.
Beyond financial support
Machining time, materials, technical mentoring, workplace tours, equipment, meals during long build sessions, and introductions to others who may want to help.
What we share with supporters
Updates on student work during the season, and a season-end report on what students accomplished, the community activities we ran, and how your support was used.
Start a conversation
← Team roles
Join the team
Student interest form
Tell us a little about yourself. Our team will contact your parent or guardian with next steps.
← Support the Team
Become a mentor
Mentor 11302 Prototype
A mentor teaches, asks good questions, and keeps students safe. The decisions and the robot stay with the students.
Why become a mentor
Mentors are the reason a young team can do real engineering safely. In return, you get to be part of something that changes how students see themselves.
Help students grow
Work beside students from different schools as they take on real responsibility, build confidence, and learn to lead.
Pass on what you know
Your trade, your craft, or your career experience becomes something a student can use. Even a little time makes a difference.
Keep learning
Students bring fresh questions and new tools, including AI and computer vision.
Strengthen your community
Our team grows from local roots. Mentors help students give back through projects like our LEGO reuse initiative.
Join the FIRST community
Be part of a worldwide network of mentors, volunteers, and teams who share the spirit of Gracious Professionalism.
No FRC experience needed
If you can teach, ask good questions, or keep students safe, you can help. We will show you how the team works.
Who we are looking for
- Mechanical engineering
- Machining and fabrication
- Electrical and wiring
- Software and Java
- Computer vision and AI
- 3D design
- Project management
- Finance and fundraising
- Marketing and media
- Event logistics
You do not need FRC experience. University students, working professionals, retirees, and parents have all made good mentors.
What it involves
- Place: our workshop at MechSpace in Vancouver, or online for design and code reviews.
- Other ways to help: a guest talk, a workplace tour, or reviewing a student design.