Robotics Team

The Gunston Gearios (FTC Robotics Team 9530)

The Gunston Gearios are our premier competitive robotics squad. Operated like a professional engineering firm, the team tasks students with designing, building, coding, and driving custom robots to compete in complex, themed field games against top-tier teams from across the mid-Atlantic.

The Gunston Gearios boast the proud distinction of being the only competitive robotics team representing Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the global FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) league. The Gearios’ championship-level success is built on an intensive, collaborative pipeline under the mentorship of Lead Advisor Dr. Ken Wilson. The program seamlessly bridges Dr. Wilson's fall robotics course with afternoon lab sessions and weekend engineering builds.

Industry Skills Our Students Master:

• Mechanical Design & CAD: Students design custom components from scratch using industry-standard software like Fusion 360 and manufacture them on-campus using advanced 3D-printing technology.
• Software Engineering: The programming team writes and refines high-level code using Java to control autonomous navigation, computer vision, and complex motor tracking.
• Project Documentation: Students compile a comprehensive, professional Engineering Portfolio used to map out their design process, data analysis, and technical iterations for panels of expert judges.
• Strategic Collaboration: Tournament matches are played in alternating "2 vs. 2" alliances, requiring our students to master rapid troubleshooting, public speaking, and inter-team strategy negotiation.

Our robotics program has a highly decorated history of regional success, frequently taking home prestigious league honors including the Innovate Award for Robot Design, the Think Award for masterful engineering documentation, and the Judges’ Choice Award.