ViperBots Robotics is a competitive student robotics program aligned with FIRST at Vandegrift High School in Austin, TX.
We are one of the best ranked high school robotics programs not only in the state of Texas, but in the world!
FIRST is more than robots. The robots are a vehicle for students to learn important life skills. Kids often come in not knowing what to expect - of the program nor of themselves. They leave, even after the first season, with a vision, with confidence, and with a sense they can create their own future.
- Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST
2023-24 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
FRC Highlights:
FRC FIRST in Texas District Championship - Industrial Design Award
World Championships FRC Division Alliance Captain - 3rd place overall Semifinalist alliance
FRC FIRST In Texas District San Antonio - Excellence in Engineering Award
FTC Highlights:
2024 FIRST Championships FTC Edison Division Worlds Design Award Winner
Texas State Championship - 3 qualifiers
Swept Inspire Award at Texas Central Semi-Area Championship
FTC Dean's List Semi-Finalist
THE VANDEGRIFT VIPERBOTS ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Our FRC team 6800's first match at the 2022 Worlds Competition
OUR ROBOTICS PROGRAM
Our program began in 2010 with ten kids as an after school club. Now we typically have about 140 students across 11 teams.
Our teams build robots to compete in a national league, FIRST.
An example our FRC team 6800 VALOR on a FRC field
Our program currently competes in two levels of FIRST Robotics:
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC®) - 1 team of 40 students
FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC®) - 10 teams of about 10 students
for a total of 11 teams at Vandegrift High School.
THE ROBOT GAME
In both levels, the teams compete head to head by designing, building, and programming a robot to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robots perform tasks such as scoring objects into goals, stacking objects, hanging on objects or robots bars, and balancing robots on a tilting platform.
THE ROBOT GAME STRUCTURE:
Both the FTC and the FRC robot games have three periods:
An autonomous period where the robot performs tasks on its own,
A teleop period where the robot is driven and operated by the students, and
An endgame period that involves more difficult, higher scoring period tasks.
The game, the field, and the required set of tasks changes annually.
The teams may build from a kit of standard set of parts or may buy or fabricate their own specialized parts.
WHAT VIPERBOTS STUDENTS LEARN
In our program, students learn how to use power tools, CNC routers, 3D printers, and a powder coating machine.
Our computer lab allows our students to code in C++ and Java, as well as design custom parts in OnShape.
We depend on our sponsors to keep the program running - thanks for your support!
SPONSOR OUR PROGRAM
Our robotics program is very much like a student internship program in the engineering and technology field. Our students learn engineering, programming, design, and business skills through building robots as a team.
A team member operating a metal lathe.
WHAT WE NEED TO RUN OUR PROGRAM
This requires a lot of resources - parts, tools, equipment, computers, software, and the means to travel to tournaments.
INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS IS INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE
Sponsoring our robotics teams leads your organization to a direct pipeline of quality candidates with a vested interest in your success. Investing in Viperbots Robotics produces students that are already viable STEM industry candidates and entry level employees. By sponsoring our team, not only are you producing top level future engineers, programmers, CAD designers, and STEM business employees, you are allowing them to learn about and connect with your organization before they even attend college.
A team member operating a CNC machine
MARKETING EXPOSURE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
Sponsoring our program also allows for exposure for your organization as your company logo will be displayed on our team shirts and on the robots. Each lower level competition typically involves 300 to 1000 students, 100 or more volunteers, and of course all the family and community spectators. At the state level in Texas, those numbers increased to total of 20,000 over three days. At the Worlds level competition, over 40,000 people attend the week- long competition, and it is streamed live on Twitch and individual matches are uploaded later to YouTube.
ViperBots Excel in the Classroom as Well As On the Robotics Field
Graduates have gone on to colleges across the country and world including:
California State Polytechnic University
Colorado School of the Mines
Colorado State University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Baylor University
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Emory University
Florida Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Miami University
Northeastern University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Oregon State University
Rutgers University
Southern Methodist University
Stanford
Texas State University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University, Galveston
The Julliard School
University of Arkansas
University of British Columbia
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, San Diego
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Houston
University of Idaho
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Minnesota
University of Texas, Austin
University of Texas, Dallas
University of Texas, Arlington
University of Utah
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Madison
West Virginia University
Our Connections in the STEM Community
Company Visits & Presentations
Acxiom, ALEN Purifiers, Amazon, Atlassian, Austin Precision Machining and Manufacturing, IBM, MakerArm, Nvidia, Dell, Delphi, Headspring, Integromat, Jacob’s Engineering Group, Petrotech Industrial Automation, Nokia, KUKA, Loblaw, Milserve International, Mythic, NASA, Realtek, Relativity, Sangam Chettinand Indian Restaurants, Spreetail, Stoplight, Tecra Systems, Texas Instruments, TSMC, Wellaware, WP Engine
Meetings with Company Directors & Executives
IBM, HP, Petrotech Industrial Automation, Nokia, TSMC
International Curriculum and Workshops
Philippines Coding Webinars, Slovenia Digital Classes
Our outreach in the community
Hosted AML Championships
Hosted FIT Austin District EventReferee/Inspector Training for FTC Events
Hosted 4 Scrimmages for AML
Provided referees, inspectors, judges, scorekeepers, FTA’s, CSA’s, queuers, and field reset for FTC and FRC events
Rookie Camp (52 attendees)
Mentored 16 FTC teams
Mentored 3 FLL teams
STEAM Night Presentations
Canyon Ridge MS, Four Point MS, Four Points ES, Laura Busch, Naumann, River Ridge, Steiner Ranch, The Goddard School, The Keppler STEM School
STEM Presentations at Conferences
National Advocacy Conference
2021 Texas Women and Girls in STEM Summit
Austin Women in Technology
Conquering STEM
Gateway at Four Points MS & Canyon Ridge MS
We are Girls Conference
University of Texas at Austin Girl’s Day Conference
Momentum STEM Showcase
Girlstart Starry Nights Event
OUR SPONSORS
Diamond Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Public Notification of Nondiscrimination in Career & Technical Education Programs
It is the policy of Leander ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its Career and Technology Education Programs, services, or activities.
Leander ISD will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs.
Es norma de Leander ISD de no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo o impedimento, en sus programas, servicios o actividades vocacionales. Leander ISD tomará las medidas necesarias para asegurar que la falta de habilidad en el uso de la lengua inglés no sea un obstáculo para la admisión o participación en todos
los programas educativos y vocacionales.