Killer Bees: Notre Dame Prep FIRST Robotics

Since 1996, the Killer Bees have built an industrial size robot to play on a 54’x27’ field focusing on gracious professionalism, “coopertition” and 21st century skills such as flexibility, leadership, initiative, productivity , and social skills.

The team of 20 high school students is mentored by 10 adult volunteers. With the help of these industry professionals, students develop sophisticated machines using a refined engineering process to implement complex strategies. Students learn and use metalworking techniques, CAD, laser and additive 3D printers, powder coating booths, and a variety of tools to design, fabricate, assemble, program and integrate subsystems to create an award-winning robot.

The group is known as a world-class, elite team annually ranked in the top 1 percent of more than 3,500 teams. The Killer Bees travel to local, state and international competitions.

About FIRST

FIRST Robotics is a high school level competition and is the largest sport of its kind in the world. More than 90,000 students, making up more than 3,500 teams compete in the annual FIRST Robotics Competition. FIRST Robotics makes engineering into a varsity sport.

With strict fabrication rules, limited time and resources, FRC teams have seven weeks to design and build a new robot to compete in the annual challenge. Competitions take place at the local, state and international level.

FIRST Robotics competitions are multiple-day, high-energy environments with rounds of qualification matches and high-stakes playoff rounds to determine a champion along with interviews with industry professionals to earn judged awards.