Rubber Bandits #17288
FTC Team #17288

Rubber
Bandits

Building robots, solving challenges, and inspiring the next generation of innovators through creativity and teamwork.

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Hanging monkey
Monkey on branch
Behind the Bandits

About Our Team

Driven by curiosity, united by passion for robotics and innovation.

Our Mission

We are FTC Team #17288, the Rubber Bandits — a dedicated FIRST Tech Challenge team fueled by curiosity, creativity, and hands-on problem solving. We design, build, and program innovative robots, always pushing the boundaries of technology and teamwork.

Beyond competitions, we strive to inspire others, share our passion for STEM, and empower the next generation of innovators to explore, learn, and create.

Our mission extends beyond building a competitive robot. We aim to create an environment where team members learn practical engineering skills, develop problem-solving confidence, and collaborate effectively under real constraints. Through outreach, mentorship, and community engagement, we work to make STEM more accessible and encourage others to pursue curiosity-driven learning.

Gracious Professionalism® Innovation Teamwork Community Impact

Quick Facts

📍
Location Orlando, Florida
🚀
Founded 2019
👥
Team Size 11 Dedicated Members

The Bandits

Three core pillars driving our team: Software, Mechanical, and Outreach.

Software

Autonomy, vision, controls, and tooling.

Varun Dasari
Software Lead
Leads software development using Java and Android Studio, specializing in autonomous programming, computer vision, and overall system architecture.
Sathwik Dasari
Develops autonomous routines and fine-tunes control parameters to optimize consistency, accuracy, and robot performance.
Anushka Sinha
Focuses on driver-controlled programming, sensor integration and telemetry dashboards.

Mechanical

Design, CAD, fabrication, and build.

Darian Jones
Mechanical Lead
Leads overall robot design, coordinates subsystem integration, and manages iteration based on testing, reliability, and competition feedback.
Shriyansh Matha
Designs detailed CAD models and fabricates robot components, translating concepts into functional mechanisms through hands-on building.
Jennifer Chen
Focuses on hands-on assembly, mechanism construction, and physical iteration to ensure durability and performance.
Abigail He
Supports fabrication and assembly, assists with testing, and refines mechanisms through practical, hands-on problem solving.

Outreach

Brand, community, sponsors, and events.

Lakshmi Kataru
Outreach Lead
Leads community outreach and partnership development, organizes STEM events for local schools, and coordinates award submissions.
Misha Goli
Researches grant opportunities, prepares funding applications, and manages documentation to support long-term financial sustainability.
Aarush Kondabala
Manages team media, social platforms, photography, and digital content to document team progress and competition highlights.
Aayan Patel
Develops and maintains sponsor relationships, handles outreach to partners, and supports fundraising efforts.
Mentorship

Our Coaches

Guiding, supporting, and challenging us throughout the season.

Stephen Whitfield
Head Coach
Serves as the head coach for seven FTC teams at Orlando Science High School, including Rubber Bandits, providing overarching leadership, structure, and guidance throughout the season. He works closely with teams to discuss design ideas, evaluate mechanical and software approaches, and help students think through effective solutions.
Giovanni Silvestri
Assistant Coach
Supports the team by working alongside the head coach, observing team progress, and providing guidance as needed. He helps reinforce organization, offers feedback during build and planning sessions, and assists teams in staying focused and prepared throughout the season.
Engineering

Our Robot

Thwackey ©

Designed, built, and iterated throughout the season.

FTC 17288 Robot
Our robot represents the third iteration of our design process, building on lessons learned from earlier prototypes to maximize speed and reliability. It features a spindexer capable of fast cycling, with the added potential for color sorting to support advanced game strategy. Designed for versatility, the robot can burst shoot accurately from both close and long range, adapting to different field positions. Staying true to our name, the Rubber Bandits, the robot uses a rubber band–powered intake that is simple, effective, and consistent.
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Get In Touch

Questions, partnerships, or just want to say hello? We'd love to hear from you.

Reach Out

Have questions about our robot or interested in partnership opportunities? Connect with us through any of our platforms.

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Support Our Team

Your sponsorship helps us compete and inspire future STEM leaders. In return, we showcase your logo on our robot, portfolio, and pit displays for hundreds to see.

Become a Sponsor