FTC 23400 Unsinkable

UFORCE #23400 is a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team based in the UAE. One of the largest robotics competitions in the world, FTC spans over 35,000 teams across 40+ countries, challenging students aged 12–18 to design, build, and program full robots from scratch each season - with an entirely new game introduced every year.

This season, UFORCE is competing at the highest level we have ever reached.

Our robot, Falcon, is currently ranked in the 99th percentile in OPR, with a 2nd place global ranking in endgame performance out of over 35,000 competing teams. Our recent achievements include:

• Winning Alliance (Overall Champions) at the FTC Vietnam Championship

• Securing all Top 5 highest match scores at the event alongside our alliance partner

• Winning Alliance Captain at the Dubai Scrimmage

• Setting an event high score of 218 points in a solo finals match

• Invited to Multinational Tech Invitational(MTI) the most competitive invite only FTC competition where 44 of the best teams in the world are invited to compete

We have also qualified for the Michiana Premier Event and Multinational Tech Invitational

We are currently building our new and improved robot – Unsinkable. A robot that is built around a set of deeply considered engineering decisions:

The bot utilizes a belt-driven drivetrain system to improve efficiency during high-speed operation and custom encoder caps to minimize space consumption. 

Our intake system is a custom silicone-molded compliant mechanism, engineered for consistent object handling. 

This system ensures reliable multi-object intake, reduced jamming in edge-case scenarios and smooth transition into our servo-driven indexing mechanism (“Spindex”). A rotating internal magazine that holds and positions game elements before feeding them into the shooter. It allows us to control the order and timing of each shot instead of relying on passive feeding.

It utilizes color sensors and magnetic limit switches to enable controlled object sequencing into the shooter based on the match motif.

Our shooter is built around a high-speed weighted flywheel system:

Operates at approximately 6000 RPM

Uses a 96 mm Rhino wheel augmented with steel mass

This results in reduced velocity fluctuations during launch, significantly improved shot consistency and an effective doubling of inertia relative to weight increase.

The robot also incorporates a high-performance auto-tracking turret:

Designed for dynamic target alignment, reducing reliance on driver precision

Improves scoring accuracy during motion

Mechanical design features 1:1 gear ratio and bevel gears enable efficient 90-degree power transfer. 

This system integrates seamlessly with the robot’s mass distribution strategy, ensuring stable turret operation even during aggressive acceleration and defense scenarios.

Additionally we also have:

A dedicated servo controls an adjustable hood mechanism enables real-time tuning of projectile exit angle, allowing precision scoring from varying distances

We also designed a power take-off (PTO)-driven lift system:

Uses MGN linear rails for high precision

Powered by drivetrain back wheels via a PTO mechanism, eliminating the need for additional motors

Integrated ratchet and pawl locking system ensures passive load holding in case of post match power-off.

Every one of these systems places specific demands on the structural plates that hold them together. These custom CNC-machined carbon fiber plates form the load-bearing core of Unsinkable, supporting the drivetrain chassis and primary mechanism mounts under extreme operational stress. Designed in Fusion 360 to precise tolerances, they are engineered to maximize structural rigidity while minimizing weight. Without this level of material performance and manufacturing precision, the robot would be prone to flex, misalignment, and potential structural failure. 

UFORCE’s influence extends well beyond competition performance:

· Active contributors to the UAE’s FIRST Robotics ecosystem through outreach, mentorship, and team development

· Founders of firstrobotics.ae and @firstrobotics.ae, building a centralized hub for robotics in the UAE

· Collaboration with sister team 2FORCE, amplifying competitive and community reach

· Launch of FTCnews.ae, in partnership with an international FTC media network, expanding visibility across regional and global audiences

UFORCE has been one of the most active forces in growing FTC within the UAE and beyond. Through direct mentorship, UFORCE has mentored 22 FIRST teams, assisted 14, and helped start 9 new teams. After FTC went dormant in the UAE for six years, UFORCE brought it back in collaboration with Unique World Robotics, this season alone engaging over 600 students across outreach events, scrimmages, and intraschool robotics competitions.

UFORCE's reach extends well beyond the UAE - from representing the region at the 2025 Global Innovation Summit and co-organizing the Dubai First off-season with First Kazakhstan, to establishing a robotics lab in India through the RAIL Project and running workshops for over 300 children with special needs at the Rashid Centre. UFORCE's impact goes far beyond competition, making STEM accessible to all.

Any partnership with UFORCE provides exposure across international FTC competitions, a rapidly growing UAE STEM community, and digital platforms reaching students, mentors, and engineering enthusiasts.

We would highly value a partnership with PCBWay, not only as a sponsor but as a strategic enabler of robotics innovation in the UAE.

By supporting UFORCE and the broader FIRST Robotics UAE initiative, PCBWay would play a pivotal role in:

· Empowering teams with access to custom machining and advanced manufacturing technologies

· Elevating the engineering quality and competitiveness of UAE-based robotics teams

· Inspiring the next generation of engineers through real-world exposure

Our goal is not just to compete, but to scale the entire robotics ecosystem of UAE and beyond, and PCBWay’s involvement would directly accelerate that mission.

In return, PCBWay will receive logo placement on our competition robot and team jerseys, formal recognition in our engineering documentation, and dedicated media content showcasing the partnership in a real high-stakes competition environment.

We are truly excited to collaborate with PCBWay and bring Unsinkable to its highest competitive form yet, and we believe this partnership will be as rewarding for PCBWay as it is for us.

Unsinkable Technical Details

Our robot, Unsinkable, is designed specifically to prioritize efficiency and reliability. Our five defining features include:

1. Compact Drivetrain

Unsinkable uses a four-wheel goBilda mecanum drivetrain designed to achieve both compact packaging and precise omnidirectional movement. The distance between the inner and outer CNC-machined drivetrain plates is 56 mm, preserving internal space for the spindexer while requiring an extremely space-efficient drivetrain layout. 

Drive Units: The drivetrain is powered by four Yellow Jacket planetary gear motors, with power transmitted through a timing-belt torque-addition reduction system. This configuration allows for efficient power transfer while maintaining a compact footprint.

Traction Control: The mecanum drive enables accurate strafing and alignment, which is critical for efficient artifact intake and rapid positioning during both autonomous and driver-controlled periods

Localization: A combination of odometry and motor encoder feedback provides precise positional data, improving motion control, path-following accuracy, and driver assistance.

2. Active Centering Artifact Intake

The intake system focuses on rapid cycle times from a large area. The entire assembly is mounted on an extruding 3D printed frame. 

Horizontal Roller - Provides high-grip traction to pull Artifacts into the bot. - Blue Compliant Wheels (20A durometer for maximum grip)

Centering Omnis - Angled rollers that funnel artifacts toward the center. - PLA core + Slicone (20A durometer for maximum grip)

3. Triple-Pocket Spindexer

The Spindexer serves as the robot's primary indexing and sorting hub. It is a rotating platform with three dedicated pockets.

Indexing Logic: The carousel rotates each artifact into the transfer zone, where it can be advanced into the shooter or turret assembly in a controlled and repeatable manner.

Sorting Capability: Integrated color sensors identify artifact motifs, allowing the robot to distinguish between different scoring conditions and support optimized autonomous and TeleOp scoring decisions.

Structural Integration: The intake-to-transfer pathway is consolidated into a single integrated 3D-printed assembly, reducing part count, simplifying alignment, and improving overall mechanical consistency.

4. PTO (Power Take-Off) Park System

One of the robot’s most advanced engineering features is the PTO Park System. This mechanism diverts power from the drivetrain motors to power up the vertical lift columns for the endgame park. By using a PTO, we stay within the limit for the number of servos and motors used while also minimizing weight. 

Engagement Mechanism: A servo-actuated sliding gear assembly switches the drivetrain motor output from the wheel axles to the vertical lift spools.

Lift Columns: Dual-stage linear sliders are used to raise vertical height to 18 inches.

5. Dual-Axis Turreted Shooter 

The turret provides 360-degree yaw rotation and pitch adjustment, allowing the robot to score Artifacts into the high goals from both far and near side of the field.

Yaw Control: The shooter is a single 3D printed part that is mounted on a pulley which uses HTD 5mm belt to connect with the pinion pulley which is actuated with 2 axon maxs to rotate the turret accurately and quickly. 

Variable Hood (Pitch): A secondary axon mini adjusts the launch angle, using a spur gear system enabling both far and near side shooting.

Flywheel Assembly: A single-flywheel design with a high-inertia aluminium rim minimizes RPM drop between shots.