TECHNO MANIACS

FTC #16021 - ACTON, MA

We are a robotics team of 16 middle and high schoolers based in Acton, MA. Each year, we participate in the worldwide FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition, where we have consistently ranked among some of the most competitive teams in Massachusetts. As the name suggests, we are crazy about technology, and we build and compete in the pursuit of knowledge.

The main mission of the Techno Maniacs is to encourage self-motivated learning in every person that comes into contact with the Techno Maniacs in any capacity, member or not.

(August 28, 2023) This image was taken at one of the many presentations and workshops we have offered to young children to expand knowledge about FIRST and STEAM. At the local Sargent Memorial Library, we presented a short slideshow and engaged in a creative drawing and marshmallow-pasta tower workshop with about 30 elementary school-aged children.

Each robot that we build takes thousands of hours to put together, all culminating in the qualifier and state tournaments we attend. In 2024, we were champions in three different tournaments, including the New England and Husky Robotics invitational.

In 2024, we were ranked #1 in New England, #26 in the United States, and 49th in the world (based on offensive power ranking before Worlds).

Our 2024 robot had a primary focus on modularity, where most parts could be taken off the robot by undoing four or fewer screws. It won three Innovate Awards. Watch our Robot Reveal video here!

Our top match in Center Stage: 287 points! This is the second-highest score of any match in New England.

A CAD image of our Power Play (2022-23) robot.

FIRST is an organization dedicated to promoting STEAM education for young people through robotics programs. Their programs, in the form of robotics competitions, inspire students to think like engineers and work with others. Techno Maniacs competes in FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), which involves an annual challenge that teams solve by building robots to achieve certain goals. Visit firstinspires.org to learn how to register students for FIRST programs.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS (2024):

2024: CT Husky Robotics Invitational Winning Alliance 1st Pick
2024: New England Invitational Winning Alliance 1st Pick
2024: New England Invitational Innovate Award
2024: MA State Championship Finalist Alliance 2nd Pick
2024: MA State Championship Innovate Award 2nd Place
2024: MA Who Let The Bots Out Innovate Award
2024: MA Ryken Robobowl Innovate Award
2024: MA Ryken Robobowl Winning Alliance Captain

20

STEAM events hosted or attended

400+

local youth and parents impacted

12+

industry professionals consulted

Outreach is important to us especially because it lets us create an impact on the world. By setting others up for success in ever-growing STEAM industries, we learn priceless ideas for our own futures.

(August 11, 2023) This image was taken at the Acton Memorial Library, where we held a 3-week Python class teaching young children how to code.

We're incredibly proud to have some amazing sponsors!
We greatly appreciate these companies for supporting our ambition:

Interested in working with us, or just want to contact a team member? You can reach us at the following:

Email: Team Captain Rick Gnanasusairaj or Team Email

YouTube: Techno Maniacs YouTube

We hope to work with you soon!