Mechanical Advantage

Team 1706 has proven that you do not need to be in Michigan or California to build a top-tier robotics program. Based in North Carolina's Research Triangle — home to Duke, NC State, UNC, and one of the highest concentrations of research institutions in the country — Mechanical Advantage leverages the region's growing tech ecosystem to field increasingly competitive robots that challenge the traditional powerhouses.

The team's rise mirrors the broader growth of the tech industry in the Southeast. As companies like Epic Games, Red Hat, Cisco, and dozens of biotech startups have established operations in the Triangle, the pool of potential mentors has deepened dramatically. Students on Team 1706 work with engineers from these companies, gaining exposure to cutting-edge technology and professional engineering practices.

Mechanical Advantage represents the democratization of FRC excellence. For decades, the top of the FRC rankings was dominated by teams from Michigan, California, and the Northeast — regions with long histories of manufacturing and engineering. Team 1706 is part of a new wave of programs proving that any region can produce elite robotics teams if the community invests in them. Their success has inspired other teams across the Carolinas and the broader Southeast.

The team's community-based structure — not tied to a single school but drawing students from across the Raleigh-Durham area — gives them access to a wider talent pool and a broader base of community support. This model has become increasingly common among top FRC teams, and Mechanical Advantage is one of its best examples.