Beach Cities Robotics

FIRST is a non-profit educational organization that was founded to inspire the next generation about science and technology. The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is designed to help high school students discover the rewarding life of engineers and researchers. Every January a new challenge is announced, which is followed by strategic analysis, design, fabrication, and coding. After around two months of work, teams compete in local competitions with the hopes of qualifying for the World Championship. Teams are recognized for not only engineering excellence, but also demonstrated team spirit, professionalism, and problem-solving skills.

Mechanical

The Mechanical subteam brings our robot from concept to competition. Students design parts in Onshape using strategic design principles, then turn their drawings into real components in our machine shop with tools including the CNC and laser cutter. They also learn wiring, soldering, and circuit basics as they connect the motors and sensors that bring the robot to life.

Programming

The Programming subteam writes the Java code that controls our robot. Students use sensors, vision processing, and PID controllers to help the robot move accurately, and build autonomous routines that follow planned trajectories. They also design driver controls and dashboards, and create web applications that support scouting and data analysis.

Operations

The Operations subteam keeps our team organized and connected to the community. Students budget and find sponsorships, manage branding, social media, and merchandise, and document the team's work. They also recruit new students and coordinate outreach events, including Brickbotics, our robotics program for people with differing developmental abilities.

Our Impact

Team 294 is committed to providing STEAM opportunities to the Beach Cities as we strive to inspire young minds to grow and change the world for the better. We are dedicated to fostering a fun and healthy learning environment where everyone belongs. In line with these values, we are a community based team that draws students together from two rival high schools as well as welcoming students from schools that don’t have access to FRC teams. As a FIRST team, we are devoted to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We embrace and encourage differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, income, language, learning difference, or any other characteristics that make members of our team and community unique. In part of this effort, our team focuses on inclusivity across all of our initiatives because we know that there is not a lack of skill in the world, but rather a lack of opportunities. These opportunities arise out of welcoming spaces that value everyone, no matter who they are.

2026 Annual Report (PDF)

Gender Imbalance

In 2023, our team had a 1:5 female-to-male ratio. We saw this as a problem that we had to address. Our team did this by creating a three step plan that involved direct outreach to girls, efforts to make STEM information more accessible, and the creation of training programs put in place to combat imposter syndrome. Through our efforts, we have reduced our gender imbalance down to a 1:2 female-to-male ratio and now have more women in leadership. Another focus of our effort to fight gender imbalance in STEM can be seen through our mentorship of local FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams, where we empower female students to feel equal in these programs.

Brickbotics

Brickbotics is a 6 week robotics program created by our team in partnership with The Friendship Foundation. It increases interest, awareness, and access to STEM within members of our community who live with differing developmental abilities. Our team works extremely hard to create an environment and welcoming atmosphere where everyone can thrive and where all participant's contributions are equally celebrated. Members of our community who live with differing developmental abilities are often overlooked and excluded from areas of STEAM so to be able to share robotics with them and include them has been extremely rewarding for our team.

Mentors