Titanium Robotics launched its 2026 season on January 10 as students from San Marino High School and Arcadia High School gathered to watch the official reveal of the FIRST Robotics Competition’s new game, REBUILT.
The kickoff event brought team members together to preview this year’s challenge, which centers on reimagining the past through engineering and problem-solving. In REBUILT, teams are tasked with designing and building robots capable of collecting and shooting “fuel” balls into scoring hubs while navigating a series of on-field obstacles. Robots must also maneuver under trenches, drive over bumps, and climb a tower to earn additional points.
Following the game reveal, Titanium Robotics began early planning discussions focused on strategy, robot design, and collaboration—key components as the team prepares for a competitive season ahead.
Mechanical Captain Nathan Ho, an 11th grader, said the simplified game elements allow the team to focus on precision and performance. “I’m really excited to build a shooter with the team that could possibly give us the winning shot in our upcoming competitions,” Ho said. “I’m also glad that FRC has simplified the number of game pieces this year so that we can focus on really fine-tuning the individual skills of our robot.”
The team will compete in two district events this season, beginning with the Ventura District competition scheduled for March 13–15. Titanium Robotics will then head to the San Gabriel Valley District from March 27–29.
Business President Emeritus Sean Trisnadi, a 12th grader, noted that navigating the field’s physical challenges may be one of the season’s biggest hurdles. “I think the most challenging aspect would be figuring out how to go over the bumps to access most of the fuel,” he said. “Efficiency is very important because even if you can go over the bump, going too fast or encountering too many obstacles can cause problems.”
Engineering President Brandon Chuang, also a senior, believes lessons from previous competitions will play a key role in the team’s preparation. “Our experience last year has left us with a lot more knowledge in certain parts of building the robot,” Chuang said. “We’re going to try to streamline our design and prototyping process and have experienced members help train newer students.”
Titanium Robotics plans to share additional details as competition dates approach. Photos from the kickoff event highlight the team’s collaborative planning process and mark the start of another season of hands-on learning, innovation, and teamwork.
