Bobcat Robotics

Based in Connecticut — the state where FIRST was born and where Dean Kamen's vision first took shape — Team 177 has been a cornerstone of New England robotics for decades. Bobcat Robotics operates in the cradle of FIRST, and they carry that legacy with a sense of responsibility that extends well beyond competition results.

The team has won multiple Chairman's Awards, making them one of the most honored programs in FIRST history. The Chairman's Award is not about building the best robot — it recognizes the team that best embodies the mission of FIRST and has the greatest positive impact on its community. For Bobcat Robotics, that means running youth STEM programs, mentoring rookie teams, advocating for science education funding, and serving as ambassadors for the FIRST mission across Connecticut and beyond.

Bobcat Robotics benefits from a deep bench of engineering mentors drawn from Connecticut's aerospace and defense industries. Companies like Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, and the defense contractors that dot the Connecticut landscape provide mentors who bring world-class engineering expertise to South Windsor High School. Students learn from people who design jet engines and military systems — the kind of mentorship that translates directly into engineering careers.

The New England FRC district is one of the most competitive in the country, and Bobcat Robotics has been a consistent force within it for over two decades. Their longevity, their community impact, and their competitive results make them one of the most complete programs in FRC — a team that excels not just at building robots, but at building the kind of engineers and citizens that Dean Kamen envisioned when he started FIRST.