Hermes Vanguard - STEAMPunks 11841

Hermes: Our Custom-Built FTC Shooter Robot

Our project centers around Hermes, a precision-engineered shooter robot built to meet the demands of this year’s fast-paced FTC game. Hermes is designed to be fast, accurate, and mechanically reliable, with an emphasis on consistent scoring under pressure. Every subsystem — from the shooter to the drivetrain to the control software — was developed with performance, durability, and competitive adaptability in mind. Hermes represents the collective engineering skill, creativity, and problem-solving ability of our team.

Why We Built Hermes

This season’s challenge places a huge emphasis on long-range accuracy, rapid cycling, and consistency in both autonomous and tele-op. We chose a shooter-centric design because it provides a strategic advantage by allowing us to:

Score accurately from multiple positions on the field

Complete cycles quickly with minimal ball handling time

Stay reliable under driver stress with repeatable shot trajectories

Switch smoothly between offensive scoring and defensive maneuvering

Our goal was not just to build a functional robot, but to challenge ourselves as designers, programmers, and engineers. Hermes represents our team’s most refined work — a robot built with purpose, iteration, and a clear performance vision.

How Hermes Works — Subsystems

🎯 Shooter System — The Heart of Hermes

Hermes’ shooter is engineered to deliver consistent, high-speed, and accurate shots throughout an entire match. Key features include:

Dual-wheel flywheel launcher for maximum exit velocity and stable shot trajectories

Precision-machined or laser-cut hood geometry to guide balls cleanly into the flywheels

Carefully tuned RPM control to ensure every shot matches the same speed profile

A guided, anti-jam feeder channel that centers each ball before launch

The shooter was tested extensively for repeatability, shot grouping, and recovery time between shots, making Hermes both fast and deadly accurate.

🏎️ Drivetrain — High Mobility & Smooth Control

Hermes uses a mecanum drive system that allows for:

Full 360° movement and effortless strafing

Precise micro-adjustments when lining up long-range shots

High maneuverability for escaping defense or repositioning quickly

The drivetrain is reinforced for durability and tuned for smooth, predictable control to help drivers maintain alignment during scoring.

📦 Intake & Feed Mechanism — Efficient Ball Handling

Our intake and feeding system is built for speed and reliability:

High-grip rollers or belt-driven intake pulls game elements in quickly

Optimized geometry that prevents jams by centering balls as they move

Compact, low-profile ball pathing that keeps Hermes lightweight and balanced

Continuous feed capability allows the robot to collect and shoot with minimal delay

Every part of the intake is shaped to reduce friction and maintain ball speed through the entire loading process.

🧠 Programming — Intelligent, Consistent, and Driver-Friendly

Hermes’ software is what makes the hardware shine. Our programming includes:

PID-based RPM control that stabilizes flywheel speed for consistent shots

Assisted alignment tools (sensor-based if applicable) to line up scoring faster

Custom autonomous routines optimized for early-match scoring and field control

Driver-optimized controls with smooth acceleration curves and responsive turning

Reliability was our priority — every routine is designed to reduce mistakes and make Hermes feel predictable and precise.

🔋 Electrical System — Clean, Reliable, and Competition-Proof

The electrical layout was designed with serviceability and durability in mind:

Securely mounted REV hubs for stable connections

Clean wire routing that avoids moving parts and reduces strain

Power-balanced distribution to ensure the shooter receives consistent voltage

Easily traceable wiring paths for fast maintenance between matches

Our electrical system keeps Hermes running smoothly even under high load conditions.