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During build season our team is subdivided into groups called "subteams". These subteams focus on specific aspects of the construction process. Members are allotted based on their degree of specialization in certain tasks.

Depending on their strengths members are put into one of four subteams: Design, Mechanical, Electrical, and Programming. Each subteam is led by a subteam leader - a member who oversees the work of the specific subteam and ensures that it stays on task. Subteam leaders report their progress to one of two captains. This hierarchy augmented by levels of specialization allows for a smooth construction procedure.

Designing the robot is the most crucial step in building the robot. One week is usually allotted to create the design. Failure to effectively analyze the problem and produce a solution within this time can severely impede the subsequent steps of the manufacturing procedure. Teams consider the almost infinite number of variables during this short time.

Difficult questions are also brought up. How much will this cost? Is this mechanism feasible? Does this design meet safety regulations? What is our strategy for this event? With so many variables and so little certainty, there is little doubt why brainstorming is essential to a winning team. 

Once a design is selected, blueprints are laid out. Physics is routinely used during blueprinting to determine proportions that maximize the functionality of the robot. Mentors and students work together to make the right decisions. Such guidance is invaluable to success.

Preliminary blueprints are usually done on paper. However, designs that are more intricate require the use of CAD and animation software. These programs enable teams to create detailed, three-dimensional designs.

The Mechanical subteam is responsible for the manufacturing of the robots framework. The mechanical subteam is often the largest of the four subteams, also requiring the most man-power. After the design is created it is the mechanical subteam's job to order parts and to construct the robot according to the set measurements and drawings. Members of the mechanical subteam spend are experienced in using various tools and are expected to have an understanding of the manipulation of metals and wood. Members of this subteam also spend much time with our mechanical engineers. The bulk of the mechanical subteam usually works from week two of Build Season to week four or five.

While the mechanical subteam works on the framework of the robot, the Electrical subteam is busy working on the internals. In order for the robot to function, electricity must be distributed to every sector of the robot. It is the job of the electrical subteam to make the robot one by bridging gaps between different components. The Electrical subteam works hand in hand with the Mechanical subteam. Components such as motors and sensors that are placed by the Mechanical subteam are wired by the Electrical subteam. It is this collaboration that brings the the design to life.

Although many would say the robot is complete and ready to compete, this is not the case. The robot is yet to be programmed. Until there is software the robot is simply a piece of machinery not capable of any motion. It is the programmers job to bring life into the inanimate to allow for the communication between man and machine. Programming is usually the final step in the design process. Although the program is usually written while the robot is being built, the intensive testing process can only commence with the functional model. The programmer has to worry about two phases: an autonomous period where the robot must "think" for itself, and a tele-operated period where the robot must respond to human interactions through joysticks. Both tasks require much testing if perfection is to be achieved.