Overview
During the CENTERSTAGE season, I served as the Lead Software Developer for FTC Team 23495, Equinox. I led the software development effort for a competition robot equipped with 6 sensors, writing control logic for both autonomous and driver-controlled periods. This was a formative season where I developed core skills in programming robots, working with sensor data, and collaborating with a team under competition deadlines.
My Role
As the lead software developer, I was responsible for all robot control code — from reading sensor inputs to translating driver commands into motor and servo actions. I started the season programming in FTC Blocks and transitioned to Java as the complexity of our robot grew. I integrated 6 sensors including encoders and distance sensors to give the robot spatial awareness during autonomous routines. I also worked closely with the build team to understand mechanical constraints and tune software parameters to match hardware capabilities.
Technology Stack
What I Learned
This season was my introduction to competitive robotics software development. I learned how to translate mechanical designs into working code, how to read and act on sensor data in real time, and how to debug software on a physical robot under time pressure. Transitioning from Blocks to Java taught me the value of a real programming language for managing complexity, and working with the team showed me how important communication is between software and hardware developers. These lessons became the foundation for my work on FeNiX.exe the following season.
Photos
