The sound of exciting conversations radiated from everyone’s computers as Nemesis 2590 brainstormed ideas for their next project…

One of the competitions that Nemesis participated in for the 2021 FIRST FRC season was the Innovation Challenge (IC). For this contest, teams were given the prompt, “Identify a problem or opportunity and design a solution to help people (or a community of people) keep, regain, or achieve optimum physical and/or mental health and fitness through active play or movement.”

The dedicated and hard-working Nemesis IC subteam immediately jumped in to take on the challenge. Although the entire season was fully virtual, this obstacle did not hinder Nemesis in any way. Many excellent ideas were developed during the first few weeks, from fitness tracking shoes to an online platform with live workout challenges. After going back and forth between many inspirational proposals, the team ultimately decided on BeneFit.

BeneFit is a free fitness app that emphasizes a physical and mental health balance. The app greets the user with a screen that asks how the user is feeling. Based on this information, the app recommends a specific workout tailored to the user, ranging from high-intensity training to yoga and meditation. At the end of the workout, users answer another brief survey on their likes and dislikes of the workout they just did. Through this process, BeneFit learns the user’s preferences to improve the recommendation system for future workouts and the app can provide unique workouts to each user. This design helps to bridge the gap between mental and physical health, as the system revolves around the emotions of the user.

The app has many other aspects as well, such as a personalized daily schedule, avatar customization through in-app currency, and the option to order food within BeneFit through vendors such as Hello Fresh. BeneFit also has a feature that imitates working out with friends through real-time progress reports of all the participants, even if they aren’t physically there together. This was an especially relevant feature at the time since many people refrained from meeting others during the Covid pandemic.

Extensive planning was needed to make BeneFit. The IC team conducted thorough research to formulate the business plan for the app. Many factors, such as video ads, affiliate links, in-app purchases, customer outreach, and other resources needed for BeneFit were taken into account when making the business plan. Several user experience mockups were created to show the interface of the app, and a detailed competitive analysis comparing BeneFit with other popular health apps such as Calm and Weight Watchers was done as well. Furthermore, the team consulted several experts from different fields such as mental health, software, and finance to seek feedback and improve BeneFit as much as possible.

Nemesis advanced to the semifinals for the 2021 Innovation Challenge. However, the story doesn’t end here! The team submitted the idea of BeneFit for the 2021 Altice Innovator Awards. Nemesis won first place for the Innovative Design Concept Award and the runner-up for the Outstanding Business Model Award. In total, Nemesis was presented with a grant of $2500.

Although the virtual season was not ideal, Nemesis was very proud of what they achieved. BeneFit is a creative innovation that is very useful for individuals striving to improve their mental and physical health. The team was grateful to take part in the 2021 Innovation Challenge.

Four weeks into the build season, Nemesis 2590 briefly stopped prototyping, dropped their tools, and took a break from the usual chaos to host the best night of the month, Nemesis’s Sponsor Networking Night! 

As a robotics team and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Nemesis depends on donations from sponsors to support the team. Nemesis’s Sponsor Networking Night provides the most direct way to maintain relationships with sponsors and thank them for their support. Through various presentations, hands-on demos, and interactions with team members. Nemesis provides its sponsors with an insight into how the team operates.

The night began as pairs of students greeted sponsors and parents. They were then escorted to presentations offered by the different subteams. Senior build executives, Danny Marincas and Mathew Joseph, explained the 2020 FIRST Robotics Competition Game Challenge: Infinite Recharge. Providing insight to the robot parts, explaining the team’s strategy for the season, and playing a video displaying the prototype of the robot. After the presentation, students answered technical questions about the robot and the game challenge as well. 

In the business center, senior Zach Harris as well as juniors Josh Lichtenstein and Madhu Seshadri gave a presentation which recapped Nemesis’s successful 2018-2019 season as well as their community outreach. Sponsors such as Mrs. Thadal, Mr. Mollica, Assemblyman Benson, and Councilman Schuberth had the opportunity to watch these presentations.

During the past season, the team won the Bensalem District Competition along with three Entrepreneurship Awards. Currently, the team is working on an initiative with the local government to help establish a pilot program that provides grant funding to school districts to participate in FIRST Robotics Competitions. Nemesis also sponsored a STEM challenge introducing underprivileged students to FIRST on a trip to Panama with the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

Finally, sponsors experienced the robots in action as they watched students drive Nemesis’s 2019 award winning robot Gaia and the 2018 robot Fury. The student drivers demonstrated how the robots picked up balls and shot them. In 2007, Nemesis began as a small 14 student team, now the team has grown to over 60 members. Nemesis takes pride in their many accomplishments and extensive community outreach. This would not be possible without the support of Nemesis’s sponsors, friends, and family. 

Nemesis 2590 would like to extend its gratitude towards the wonderful sponsors who made this season possible: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

The moment the 2020 game reveal ended, Nemesis was instantly bursting at the seams with ideas on how to solve the problems they would face.  After a speed read of the game manual, the team was ready to begin brainstorming. 

The team split up into small groups, where everyone made a priority list of what parts of the game were strategically most important. The entire team  finalized what areas of the game the team would focus on. Once the “what” was decided, the team separated to tackle the “how”; where every team member threw out any and all ideas they had.  Each group created a design using contributions from every member. The team reviewed all the designs, effectively giving the members insight into the ideas of others, and additional potential solutions to all of the tasks to be completed.  After two days of brainstorming, the prototyping phase was ready to begin.

The team decided that the main subsystems that needed to be built included a power cell ground intake, a conveyer belt, a way to launch game pieces into the power port, a drivetrain, and a way to climb.  The entire team was split into prototype groups and proceeded to design and test prototypes to effectively address the game challenge. Some succeeded wonderfully, while others failed. Ideas quickly evolved; some branched off into completely new directions, while others were tweaked and perfected. Major progress was made with the shooting mechanism and climber.  As the prototypes improved, ideas were combined and the outline of the robot started to take shape.

The build season has just begun, but Nemesis is ready to tackle any challenge the 2020 season may bring!

The 2020 build season has officially started! And this time it is more out of this world than ever before. This year’s annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) kickoff event took place at Montgomery High School and introduced a game challenge unlike any other.

Nemesis 2590 from Robbinsville High School was one of the many teams that took part in celebrating the start of the new season as well as over 30 local teams. Along with introducing the game challenge, there were also multiple workshops taking place such as, bumper design, safety, and women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) which included an impressive array of presenters from Princeton University and alumnae of Montgomery High School.    

As the time for the game reveal came closer, all team members rushed into the auditorium and silenced and as the light lowered a hush came over the crowded room. The MidAtlantic Regional teams that were mentioned in the video that Montgomery High School presented, including Nemesis 2590. As the countdown started the excitement could be seen on all the members’ faces, lost in the midst of crowd Shweta Raman, a sophomore on the Nemesis 2590 marketing team could be heard screaming, “3,2,1!” Slowly, the curtain revealed the new 2020 game challenge, FIRST Robotics Challenge: Infinite Recharge.

In this year’s game challenge, two alliances work together to shield FIRST City from incoming asteroids. This year’s teams were given an unlimited build season, which is different than the previous years where teams had six weeks to design and build a robot. Every Alliance, alongside their trusty droids, race to gather Power Cells to activate their shield generators and use them to score. Robots also need to move a control panel and balance their droids on a hanging steel rod in order to protect FIRST City! 

After the game reveal, teams raced back to their schools to create strategies and brainstorm ideas for this year’s season. May the force be with you and we hope to see you at our competition!

The sound of jousting robots colliding and battle cries filled the halls of Robbinsville High School on November 23rd and 24th. These half-day events called Discovery Day are annually hosted by two robotics’ teams, Nemesis; Robbinsville’s FIRST robotics team and Nemesis Prime; Robbinsville’s FTC team. The goal of this event is to foster interest in STEM and provide elementary and middle school aged campers with exhilarating experiences centered around Legos to encourage them to keep building. 

This year’s challenge for Discovery Day dated back to the Middle Ages as the 64 campers were tasked with building a robot that could joust. In order to moderate difficulty, second through fourth grade students experimented with RCX motors while fourth to sixth graders worked with the more challenging NXT Mindstorms. This required them to code a program from scratch. The winners of this challenge were determined by which jousting robot remained undefeated. Campers could also earn “extra credit” if they could build a lance that was capable of lowering itself. 

Split into groups of two or three, campers were paired with high school mentors who were impressed after hearing the unique ideas each camper had for building their robot. When third grader Gabby suggested placing the lance at an angle so that their robot could be “stronger,” Anushka, a sophomore on the build team, was left in awe; this was an idea that hadn’t even crossed her mind. When it was put to the test, the idea proved to be successful. Although their robot didn’t seem too stable to begin with, it demolished several competitors. Additionally, the young campers also exhibited an inspiring amount of perseverance. Instead of getting frustrated when their robot lost a challenge or when the code for the NXT robots didn’t work as intended, they simply laughed it off and agreed to try something else. In fact, second grade Anoushka happily claimed that her favorite part of Discovery Day was breaking the robot. 

Aside from testing gears and different Lego designs, campers also improved their teamwork skills. Paired with two boys who barely knew each other, Ritika Bhatnagar, a sophomore, noted, “By the end of Discovery Day, Arin and Lucas became fast friends. It was hard getting them to talk to each other and cooperate in the beginning, but competition is an incredible motivator and aided them in opening up to each other.”

However, there is a lot more to Discovery Day than jousting robots, campers are also encouraged to participate in engaging activities such as driving Gaia (Nemesis 2590’s competition robot) as well as FTC’s robot. These opportunities also sparked interest in STEM by demonstrating the different ways to work with competition robots. 
Overall, this year’s Discovery Day had a definite impact on both the campers and their high school mentors. Guaranteed with a 100% return rate, Nemesis 2590 and Nemesis Prime look forward to hosting this event again next year and help campers accomplish other missions that lie ahead.

Nemesis would like to extend a special thanks to its sponsors: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

There wasn’t a single moment when adrenaline levels weren’t through the roof in the stands and on the field at Brunswick Eruption hosted by North Brunswick High School on November 9th. Despite having to relocate to Linwood Middle School last minute, Brunswick Eruption was yet another successful off-season event that allowed different teams to come together in a creative space. The matches got intense, rockets and cargo ships were filled, and alliances were made. The energy created by everyone in attendance made it difficult to look away; the spirit that is always at FIRST competitions was shown through all the teams who came from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The drive team and everyone in the stands was exhilarated to cheer on Nemesis. 

Brunswick Eruption was the final goodbye to the 2019 game challenge, Destination Deep Space. Each robot would have to pick up hatches or cargo balls and place them in rockets and cargo ships. Every match with this challenge is always a surprise; there are endless possibilities with what can happen on the field. Whether it be the grueling defense or strategic placing of the hatches and cargo, this game challenge always kept everyone on their feet.

After the first couple of qualification matches, Nemesis proudly ranked number two out of the 38 teams at the competition; closely behind the hosts of the event, FRC team 25, Raider Robotix. Tensions in the stands were high--anything could happen any minute. Carefully observing the robots, the scouts were meticulously taking notes to aid in picking our alliance later on.

Just like that, 2590 took the lead. Gaia didn’t hesitate; moving fast and gracefully, it always managed to get a reaction from the crowds everytime it smoothly placed a hatch or cargo. The drive team was working hard in and out of the pit, always on their toes for whatever was coming next. Of course, with competition comes challenges. One of the shafts broke off from the robot that caused difficulty driving and steering the robot. However, the driver, Griffin David, and the rest of the drive team still managed to work around the challenges and won the matches. 

Winning all qualification matches, Nemesis enthusiastically progressed into quarterfinals and semifinals. When the time came to choose alliances, Nemesis chose team 225 (ranked 2nd) and team 303 (ranked 31st). Both teams gracefully accepted the alliance. As a part of the red alliance, Nemesis powered through quarterfinals and semifinals, winning all four matches. Prior to the nail-biting finals match, members of the Nemesis team were sure to show spirit and support their robot.

Everyone was on their feet for the final match, making sure not to miss a beat. Cheers erupted from the audience everytime Nemesis skillfully scored points; everyone in the stands and on the field was focused, watching with anticipation. The two final matches were suspenseful; when Nemesis won them 73-65 and 68-60, celebrations commenced and it was final; Nemesis won Brunswick Eruption 2019!

It was many members’ first FIRST competition, and they all left the competition satisfied and astonished. Build Chief Technical Officer, Gurveer Grewal explained, “Watching the stands erupt after the last match filled my heart with gratitude. Regardless of whether we won or not, it was a great feeling to work with my teammates and do what I love.”

As the Nemesis representatives went onto the field and accepted their trophy, all mentors and members of the team felt extremely proud of all of their work and payoff. Brunswick Eruption was an extraordinary event and created yet another opportunity for FRC 2590 to spread its wings in competition. Nemesis looks forward to upcoming events, like Discovery Day and the forthcoming season.

Nemesis 2590 would like to extend its gratitude towards the wonderful sponsors who made this season possible: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

As newspapers flew around the technology lab, students combined forces to solve an engineering challenge to build the tallest tower that could support a soccer ball.. Four years in the making, Nemesis Engineering Day was nothing ordinary; it was a session filled with craziness, excitement, and anticipation. Spanning two days, Engineering Day fostered and created opportunities for students to explore S.T.E.M by presenting an engineering based challenge to 5th-8th graders.

Students entered their sessions with optimism and eagerness to learn. Nemesis student mentors presented the engineering challenge: Following the presentation, the mentors joined with the campers to form teams of two. 

The challenge- seemingly daunting and complex- required teamwork, aptitude, and determination in order to succeed. With only masking tape and newspapers, students had to put their engineering and design skills to work. Not only did the restriction of materials serve as a constraint, there were additional rules that prohibited students from taping the ball to the newspaper and the entire structure to the ground.

Despite such barriers, all students worked productively with their teammates and mentors to implement their intricate and unique designs. After working for some time, students finally began testing their towers. Although, concepts varied, all the models were able to successfully hold the soccer balls at breathtaking heights. Some were even above eight feet!

Students also had the opportunity to explore the NAO Robot, an AI robot that can solve algebraic math problems, drive the 2019 award-winning competition robot Gaia, and play the First Tech Challenge (FTC) game. 

Last, but not least, students enjoyed a pizza lunch while telling tales of their success. All in all, students experience a life-changing moment as they were exposed to STEM .They also developed other critical skills such as communication, team work, and resilience.  The student mentors also gained valuable skills as they worked with the campers and realized the joy of bringing engineering to the next generation..

Thank you to all who attended! We hope to see you next year!

Nemesis would like to thank their sponsors: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Coldwell Bankers, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

On September 19th, Connie Mehl, Gurveer Grewal, Matthew Joseph, and myself had the privilege to visit Picatinny Arsenal, a unique facility that provides support for all branches of the US military, to attend a presentation from the retiring FIRST president, Mr. Don Bossi. In his presentation, Mr. Don Bossi focused on the connection between the Department of Defense (DoD) and FIRST, showcasing how FIRST is creating the next wave of engineers to fill jobs in the US military. The leadership and soft skills taught in FIRST programs, as well as the exposure to STEM ideas, enable students to succeed in the work environment of the DoD. Mr. Don Bossi stressed that FIRST constantly tries to give back to the military, as the DoD has been a sponsor of FIRST and a multitude of FIRST teams for many years. From there, Mr. Don Bossi shared a story about a week that he spent with the military, experiencing the life of a service member in each of the five branches. He traveled across America, spending a little over a day with each branch and saw first hand their training and daily operations. Mr. Don Bossi cited this opportunity as instrumental in garnering his utmost respect for the men and women who serve this country.

After the presentation, we were given a tour of two machine shops on the base. The first building we visited was being renovated into a nanotechnology materials lab for the production of alloys used in a variety of different armor platings. We were shown a few CNC (Computer Numerical Control) mills and state of the art reaction chambers for making 3D printable metal dust. Next, we toured an additive manufacturing building, housing most notably industrial grade 3D metal printers. The machines can be used to make anything from detailed micro scale models to robust structural beams, all of which are incredibly strong, especially compared to parts made on the plastic 3D printers in our technology lab.

Nemesis is very grateful for Picatinny Arsenal’s invitation to witness Mr. Don Bossi’s presentation and a tour of their labs, as well as their generous donations and support.

From April 24 through April 27, 408 of the most elite First Robotics Competition teams converged at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan for the largest event of the year; the FIRST Championship! For the eighth consecutive season, Nemesis qualified and competed with these international, prestigious teams. 

As the first day of the tournament began, Nemesis prepared for qualification matches by setting up their pit station, participating in practice matches, and pre-scouting other teams. Tirelessly working, Nemesis ensured that all of these tasks were completed thoroughly, ultimately preparing them for take off.

Following April 24, Nemesis competed in their qualification matches. Competing in the Carson Division, Nemesis contested with 67 other teams, aiming to achieve the number one rank. Throughout 10 qualification matches, Nemesis consistently fought hard, putting up impressive statistics across major categories.

Throughout the competition, there was much excitement as team members had the opportunity to partake in many activities in the Cobo Center, mostly revolved around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These included listening to guest lectures, visiting the amazing Innovation Faire, and connecting with diverse teams. 

After two days of 114 qualification matches, the stage intensified as the alliance selection process was to take place the following morning. Despite the fear of not getting selected, Nemesis remained calm and collected, letting its hard work determine its fate. 

Prior to the alliance selection process, members maintained keeping their composure. One senior, Rahul Sawant stated, “ Our work speaks for itself. We’ve given our best efforts and have done a great job. Now all we can do is wait.”

During the second round of the alliance selection, Nemesis erupted from the stands as they were invited to join forces with the sixth alliance. Graciously accepting, this alliance was led by FRC 4362 Gems, who selected 1768 RoboChiefs in the first round, and eventually completed the alliance by taking 3314 Mechanical Mustangs. 

Entering their first elimination match, the sixth alliance remained focused on implementing a successful strategy. During this match, the sixth alliance competed to the best of their abilities, but came up short, losing by a fine margin. Following this loss, Nemesis regrouped with their alliance to develop a new strategy. Approaching their second quarterfinal match, Nemesis concentrated on keeping their season alive, and giving their alliance the opportunity to potentially advance in the competition. 

Finally, the second match began with the alliance attempting to score points in the sandstorm round. As the match continued, Nemesis put its maximum effort to do whatever it took to win this match. From playing defense to placing pieces, Nemesis showed its commitment to the alliance. Similarly, their alliance partners also displayed tremendous efforts. Unfortunately, the sixth alliance lost this match, ending their 2019 competition season. Despite being eliminated, Nemesis continued to prove itself as a dominant force as they were semifinalists in two events, quarter finalists in one other event, and the alliance captain of the winning team at one event. Having a successful competition season, Nemesis will look forward to replicating their success by competing in multiple off-season events soon.

Thank you to our proud sponsors Robbinsville High School, Navair, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, Nordson, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Johnson & Johnson, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, Church & Dwight, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

Eagerly and anxiously watching the screen at the FIRST Mid-Atlantic District Championship, Nemesis awaited the announcement of the teams who qualified for the FIRST World Championship in Detroit. “One more: 2590!” The pit area was filled with shouts of joy. They had done it once again! For the eighth year in a row, Nemesis was advancing to Worlds. Entering the Mid-Atlantic Championship ranked third in the district, Nemesis put on an excellent performance.

This competition, hosted at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, consisted of 120 qualification matches. Based on the result of the qualification matches, the alliance selections took place, in which the top eight ranked teams chose their respective alliance partners. Each alliance contained three teams that competed to become champions of the Mid-Atlantic District through the elimination rounds. This year, 60 robots competed; each eager to advance to the FIRST World Championship.

Nemesis battled through twelve difficult qualification matches, scoring several hatch panels and cargo during each match. Despite several challenges, the team’s robot, Gaia, remained strong throughout the competition. After every match, the pit crew worked diligently, repairing the robot in preparation for the next match. When Nemesis was on the playing field, team members in the stands jumped up in support of the drive team and Gaia, holding large glowing signs. Every time the robot climbed to the Level 3 platform, cheers erupted from Nemesis’s portion of the stadium. By the end of the qualification rounds, Nemesis had scored a total of 357 cargo and 152 hatch panels.

Throughout the event, scouts collected data on other teams’ robots in order to create an effective strategy. The scouts observed each match closely and took notes on helpful information that would benefit the team. While the pit crew made quick improvements to the robot, members of the marketing team captured the interests of the judges by explaining Nemesis’s structure, sustainability, and excellent community outreach programs to compete for the Entrepreneurship Award.

During the alliance selections, Nemesis was chosen by the eighth alliance, comprised of FRC Team 2577 Pingry Robotics and Team 5895 Peddie School Robotics respectively. Nemesis contributed their abilities and strategies in preparation for the first quarterfinal match.

Unfortunately, Nemesis exited the competition after encountering a narrow defeat to the first seed alliance. Nevertheless, it was a great experience for the team. Many challenges were overcome by Nemesis throughout the competition, a truly inspiring and phenomenal accomplishment. Kavya Velliangiri, a sophomore on the pit crew, noted, “Even through many  obstacles, the team still managed to rebound and perform well. The support from the team members in the stands was amazing and so encouraging!”

In the end, Nemesis left Lehigh University with a spot in the FIRST World Championship. After a win in the Bensalem District Competition, battling to the semifinals at the Mount Olive District Competition and Central New York Regional, and becoming quarter-finalists at the Mid-Atlantic Championship, Nemesis looks forward to culminating an exciting competition season at the FIRST Championship this April.
Nemesis 2590 would like to thank extend its gratitude towards the wonderful sponsors who make this season possible: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

It was a frigid, winter day in Utica, New York as robotics teams from around the world shook the stands of SUNY Polytechnic Institute for the Central New York Regional Competition from March 13 - March 16, 2019. The crowd watched anxiously as they waited to see which alliance’s rocket would be the first to soar skyward. “And the winner of this match is…. the blue alliance!” The crowd jumped with excitement. Nemesis 2590, along with alliance partners Team 4083, The Iron Wolverines , Team 3044, 0xBE4, and Team 639, Code Red Robotics, advanced to the semi-finals after beating their opponents with a score of 52-38! After a weekend full of tense matches, optimism and excitement exploded throughout our team making us believe that we will make it to the finals!

Nemesis was hungry for a win following their semi-finalist finish at Mount Olive High School. The Drive Team (seniors Rahul Sawant, Alex Keller, Richa Mandrekar, and Harsh Padhye, along with junior Gurveer Grewal) battled tirelessly through every match to secure the maximum amount of points. The pit crew (Nolan Quon, Peter Mathews, Connie Mehl, and Mathew Joseph) worked after every match to run system checks and reamp the robot to increase Nemesis’ competitiveness. The Strategy Team leads (Chinmay Savanur and Bhargavi Lanka) analyzed every robots’ performance to determine which team would provide us with the best chance for success.

Throughout the qualifying matches, Nemesis started small, testing strategies and implementing new subsystems. After every match, the pit crew determined what to improve for future matches. Concurrently, the Marketing Team’s amazing presentation along with their stellar business plan wowed the judges, resulting in a Nemesis win of the Central New York Regional Entrepreneurship Award. This took a full team effort from the Marketing Team who presented the team’s operations and outreach efforts to judges. When asked about winning the award Likhitha Patlolla, the Director of Marketing, commented, “It was incredibly gratifying to see our hard work recognized with the Entrepreneurship Award!”

During alliance selections, Nemesis, the 6th seeded alliance captain, chose Team 0xBE4, and Code Red Robotics to join them for the elimination rounds. Nemesis scored a great amount of points during the quarter-final rounds, getting their robot to the second level of the Hab Station. With around twenty seconds left of the match, OxBE4 raised their rocket on to the third level, giving the alliance enough points to move to the semi-final rounds. The semi-finals proved to be a tough challenge to overcome for Nemesis. Unfortunately, the alliance lost its partner, Code Red Robotics, due to a malfunction. To combat that, a substitute, The Iron Wolverines, joined the alliance playing a critical role defensively. Despite the valiant efforts of Nemesis and the rest of the alliance, the opposing team took the victory.

Nemesis left the competition more determined than ever to continue improving for their upcoming competitions, the Bensalem District Event and hopefully the Mid-Atlantic Regional Competition.

Nemesis would like to thank our gracious sponsors: Robbinsville High School, Navair, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Picatinny Arsenal, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Lockheed Martin, Robbinsville Education Association, Investors Bank, SkyLink Technologies, CCC, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Gilbane, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, Triangle Copy, DesignTree, and Coldwell Bankers.
 

Robbinsville High School’s FIRST Robotics Team 2590, Nemesis, was thrilled to support alumna Jolia Thadal as she partnered with the Center for Panamanian Women (CEMP) from February 7-12, 2019 as she ran a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) seminar. CEMP is a non-governmental, non-profit organization which works for the empowerment of women and children in pursuit for a fairer society without violence.

The team sent the supplies, a bilingual instructional video, and the written guidelines necessary to create a Scribble Bot challenge for 50 children, enabling the children of CEMP to create a small robot which makes artistic designs using markers, a battery, a plastic cup, and a small motor. Each child was encouraged to innovate and create their own unique designs.

Many Nemesis team members first fell in love with engineering by playing with LEGOs. Through a collective effort with the Robbinsville community, Nemesis successfully coordinated a month long LEGO Drive in which over 160 pounds of gently used and new LEGOs were collected to provide the Panamanian children of CEMP the opportunity to creatively explore the wonders of engineering.

John Exner, a freshmen member on the team, expressed, “It was a privilege to be able to contribute to such a charitable cause. Thank you to those of the Robbinsville community, who graciously donated to our LEGO Drive. By the conclusion of it, our team was able to raise an outstanding 162.5 lbs of LEGOs! It is satisfying to know that all the hours we spent collecting and packaging the LEGOs was worth it. I hope the children in Panama find as much joy playing with the LEGOs as we once did and that it inspires them to pursue careers in STEM fields”.

To spread the STEM message locally, Nemesis runs Robotics Discovery and Engineering Day camps annually for elementary and middle school students. The team was grateful for the opportunity to expand internationally once again after last year’s House of Hope Project in Haiti. Discovery and Engineering Day campers loved playing with the Nano Hexbugs, mini robots given at the camps; this inspired Nemesis to send Hexbugs to fascinate the children of CEMP in Panama with the joy of robots.

Marie Thadal, who volunteered in Panama and participated at the STEM seminar, had this to say about the experience,“The project with the children was amazing. At first glance they were a bit shy and unsure of what this whole project was about. Within half an hour or so after they watched the video, the first scribble bot was running, then the next. You can’t imagine their smiles when they realized they built this little guy. All the helpers, myself Patricia Akiens PhD, Marylynn Halland Seceritariat General of the IFSCC led by Jolia were just as amazed as the children. Thank you so much to the entire team.”

Nemesis hopes that the STEM seminar inspired the children of Panama to become future engineers and innovators.  

Thank you to our proud sponsors Robbinsville High School, Navair, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, Nordson, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Johnson & Johnson, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, Church & Dwight, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

In the midst of statewide freezing temperatures, excitement filled Robbinsville High School (RHS) as sponsors, politicians, and community members converged at Nemesis’ 7th Annual Sponsor Networking Night. The event provided the opportunity for attendees to converse, watch engaging presentations, and drive Nemesis’ 2018 award winning robot, Fury, all while partaking of the delectable snack options set out by the team. Not only is it an opportunity for sponsors to network among themselves and learn about the team's previous season, it is an opportunity for Nemesis to show appreciation.

The night began with pairs of students greeting and introducing themselves to invited guests. After attendees were greeted, the Build and Marketing Teams offered presentations on their respective subteams. On behalf of the Build Team, senior executives Rahul Sawant and Richa Mandrekar provided a detailed explanation of the 2019 FIRST Robotics Competition Game Challenge, explained the functions of common robot parts, and even gave a sneak peak of Nemesis’ 2019 prototype. After a tour of the RHS Technology Lab, students answered technical questions, and provided an in-depth analysis of the six-week build season.

Across the hall, senior Likhitha Patlolla and juniors Noel Varughese and Michael Lim wowed the audience with their presentation showcasing Nemesis’ extensive community outreach followed by a  recap of Nemesis’ highly successful 2018 competition season. The team highlighted their most recent outreach event, a LEGO drive to support the STEM camp curriculum and supplies donated to children of the Center for Panamanian Women.

In addition to the presentations, attendees jumped at the opportunity to drive Nemesis’s 2018 competition robot. There was more excitement to be found as everyone watched the Nao humanoid robot perform complex dances and show off its mathematical skills. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to mingle and ask questions of the students in small personal groups.

In 2007, Nemesis began as a 14 member team. Nemesis is currently a 60 student strong nonprofit organization. Nemesis takes great pride in their technical accomplishments and community outreach efforts. None of this would be possible without the support of Robbinsville High School, their sponsors, and the community.

Nemesis is a 501(c)(3) organization and would like to thank their sponsors: Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, and the family and friends of Nemesis.

Thanks, in part, to Nemesis and the Project Lead the Way curriculum, Robbinsville Township has propelled itself into the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM). Its students actively participate in technology courses and clubs. On January 29th, Nemesis focused on the roots of Robbinsville Township: agriculture. Teammates Gurveer Grewal, Zachary Harris, and Likhitha Patlolla paid a visit to the Robbinsville Leafy Green Machine, a hydroponics facility used for sustainable horticulture. Hydroponics is a rather unique agricultural accomplishment. Rather than soil, plants are grown in a mineral solution. The Leafy Green Machine utilizes hydroponics along with other techniques to streamline efficiency. Hearty greens are grown vertically to preserve storage space. Water is fed through vertical feeding tubes and the excess is drained and reused. Computer regulation systems work around the clock, meticulously modifying pH levels, LED lighting frequencies, humidity levels, and nutrient supplies. Overall, the Leafy Green Machine showcases the advancements and strides Robbinsville is taking towards a sustainable community.

Nemesis met with the Hydroponics Farm Coordinator Kyle Clement to begin their tour. Afterwards, the Nemesis teammates began discussing the possibilities of Robbinsville High School’s involvement with Robbinsville Hydroponics. “The tour provided great insight into a very interesting concept. The Leafy Green Machine was amazing in that it showed me how STEAM can help develop and improve even the simplest concepts, like farming. Thank you Mr. Clement for helping to both start such a project and include our team in its plans for the future.” remarked Gurveer. Indeed, the Leafy Green Machine presents an amazing opportunity to contribute to Robbinsville’s sustainability and Nemesis eagerly awaits these possible opportunities.

Team Nemesis 2590 would like to thank Robbinsville Hydroponics and Kyle Clement for providing a wonderful tour and an opportunity to serve the Robbinsville community in the near future.   

We would love to thank our sponsors. We can’t do it without you!  Navair, Robbinsville High School, Picatinny Arsenal, Lockheed Martin, DoDStem, Bristol-Myers Squibb, CCL Label, Investors Foundation, New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Robbinsville Education Association, Sharbell Development, RAS, Robbinsville Education Foundation, Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, EAG Laboratories, DesignTree, CCC, Gilbane, Triangle Copy, SkyLink Technology, Inc., Coldwell Banker, and the family and friends of Nemesis.