ORLANDO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOLORLANDO, FL · EST. 2023

WHERE SPARKS IGNITE INNOVATION

SHORT
CIRCUIT

We build robots. We share what we learn.
We spark the next generation of innovators.

Our impact Meet the robot
ZEUS / DECODE
Zeus, Short Circuit’s DECODE robot design, with a flywheel shooter and vector-wheel intake.
DESIGNED BY STUDENTS.BUILT FOR POSSIBILITY.
FIRST TECH CHALLENGE · TEAM 24085EXPLORE OUR CIRCUIT
650+Children helped
20+STEM events
25+Schools visited
$27K+Raised since 2023

Impact reported in the 2025–26 engineering portfolio. See the story behind the numbers ↗

01 / BEYOND THE COMPETITION

Built to compete.
Driven to give back.

A great robot is only part of the story. We use what we learn to make STEM more accessible, support our community, and help other teams grow.

A Short Circuit member teaching robotics programming in a Taiwan classroom, with a robot on the table.PROJECT TAIWAN / ROBOTICS EDUCATION
GLOBAL OUTREACH / TAIWAN

A spark that travels.

Robotics should open doors, wherever you live. Through Project Taiwan, we brought FIRST, coding lessons and hands-on robot workshops to students across Taiwan, including underserved communities.

Our team developed a complete coding curriculum, taught in person and over Zoom, and left a robot and learning materials with local university and FRC alumni partners. A winter-break return visit helped support instruction and evaluate progress.

300+children taught2025–26 portfolio
From our 2025–26 portfolio · p. 9
Students building robots at the OSS summer robotics camp.01

CAMPS & EDUCATION

The next generation starts here.

Summer robotics camp and a six-week K–8 coding camp turn curiosity into hands-on experience with FLL and FTC.

Short Circuit members mentoring a younger FIRST LEGO League student.02

FIRST TEAM MENTORSHIP

Stronger teams. Shared knowledge.

We help teams solve real challenges, from their first robot to their next autonomous routine.

Short Circuit and RISE members preparing custom 3D-printed gifts.03

COMMUNITY & CARE

Engineering with a human purpose.

3D-printed gifts, fidgets and useful everyday objects bring our workshop’s creativity into the community.

Small connections.
Lasting possibilities.

More places where Short Circuit shares knowledge and puts engineering to work.

Bring robotics to your community

02 / INSIDE THE ENGINEERING

Meet Zeus.
Every iteration matters.

DECODE / 2025–26Engineering season archive
SC–24085 / ZEUS
+
+
Zeus CAD design showing the turret, shooter, intake and custom chassis.FROM CAD TO THE COMPETITION FIELD

One robot.
A connected system.

Designed to collect, sort, aim and score. Zeus brings a vector-wheel intake, a three-slot sorting spindexer and a flywheel shooter together on a custom mecanum drivetrain.

435RPM drive motors
6,000RPM shooter motor
3sorting slots

Motor specifications and design details: portfolio pp. 10, 11 and 14.

Explore the engineering portfolio
01Custom mecanum drivetrain CAD from the DECODE engineering portfolio.

Custom mecanum drivetrain

Move with precision

A belt-driven, parallel-plate chassis enables strafing and diagonal motion. Pocketed CNC side plates save weight; low-mounted motors and polycarbonate protection support a durable design.

Design notes · p. 12
02Vector-wheel intake CAD from the DECODE engineering portfolio.

Vector-wheel intake

Make every pickup count

The intake evolved from surgical tubing and rubber bands through a compliant bar to vector wheels. Testing focused on consistent collection, smooth transfers and faster cycles.

Design notes · p. 12
03Color-sorting spindexer CAD from the DECODE engineering portfolio.

Color-sorting spindexer

Put each artifact in place

Color and distance sensors track a three-slot magazine. The system indexes game pieces automatically and reverses the intake when it detects a partial pickup or obstruction.

Design notes · p. 14
04Turret & flywheel shooter CAD from the DECODE engineering portfolio.

Turret & flywheel shooter

Aim. Stabilize. Release.

A modular bearing-stack turret aims the adjustable-hood shooter. Slip rings manage wiring, while a steel flywheel and 1:1 gearing provide the revised shooter’s momentum and torque.

Design notes · p. 13

THE CODE BEHIND THE MOTION

Reliable behavior
starts with a clear plan.

Feedback, state machines and recovery logic connect our design decisions to what happens on the field.

The road to Zeus

Earlier designs from the same DECODE season · Portfolio p. 10 ↗

V1Shock’ille O’Neal earlier DECODE robot design.

Shock’ille O’Neal

Surgical-tubing intake, a guided transfer and an adjustable shooter hood.

V2Kavikeshavan (Kevin) earlier DECODE robot design.

Kavikeshavan (Kevin)

An intermediate DECODE design, refining the collection and scoring system.

V3 / V4Ka’Wire Leonard earlier DECODE robot design.

Ka’Wire Leonard

Further iteration toward the integrated drivetrain, intake and shooter.

03 / THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SPARK

Different strengths.
One circuit.

We are a student-led FIRST Tech Challenge team at Orlando Science High School. Since 2023, we’ve combined hands-on engineering with a commitment to sharing STEM opportunities in Orlando and beyond.

Mechanical design, programming, business and outreach come together around a shared goal: build something meaningful, then help someone else do the same.

15 student membersFounded in 2023
Short Circuit’s 2025–26 team posing together with their robot.
THE 2025–26 SHORT CIRCUIT TEAM

Meet the team

2025–26 PORTFOLIO ROSTER

Mechanical

From CAD and prototypes to a competition-ready machine.

Havish UppadaTEAM LEAD
  • Gabriel Chen
  • Nasser Awadallah
  • Juan Alcala
  • Andrew Luong
  • Suraj Angadi
  • Joaquin Dulanto
  • Javier Rivera
  • Partha Balaji

Programming

Turning sensors, paths and control logic into reliable behavior.

Vaibhav PradeepTEAM LEAD
  • Sumaedh Katuru

Business & outreach

Building relationships and making STEM opportunities travel further.

Akash SalapakaTEAM LEAD
  • Dominic Lammardo
  • Yusuf Agloria
  • Daniel Meng

LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE

Our mentors

Guidance documented in the DECODE portfolio.

Mr. Whitfield

School robotics coach & PLTW instruction

Esha Ranade

Programming & sensor fusion

Mr. Kosuri

Software, navigation & sponsorship support

Ross Tierney

Systems thinking & aerospace mentorship

Team roster · p. 2 /Mentors · p. 5

04 / RECOGNITION

Progress worth
celebrating.

Official FIRST results

2nd Place

Reach Award

Florida Championship

March 2026

3rd Place

Inspire Award

Orlando Robotics League Tournament

January 2026

Winner

Control Award

Orlando Robotics League Tournament

January 2025

Awards verified against official FIRST event records. Explore the linked season pages for full competition results.

05 / POWERED BY OUR COMMUNITY

You make the
next spark possible.

Our sponsors and school help us turn ideas into robots, learning opportunities, and community programs. Thank you for investing in what students can do.

A SUSTAINABLE TEAM

Sponsorships, grants, fundraising and thoughtful reuse of parts help support future seasons. Veteran-to-rookie mentorship keeps technical knowledge growing with the team.

THE FULL STORY / 16 PAGES

Explore our engineering portfolio.

Our DECODE design process, outreach projects and team story, in our own words.

Read the portfolio Download PDF ↓

06 / LET’S MAKE A CONNECTION

Be part of
the next spark.

Plan a robot demonstration, explore a sponsorship, ask about the team, or share an idea. We’d love to hear from you.

short.circuit.oss@gmail.com

2600 Technology Drive, Orlando, FL 32804

Team email and campus address listed in our portfolio.

Bring robotics to your communityDemonstrations, camps & mentoringSupport the next seasonSponsorship & partnership inquiriesFind your place on the teamStudent & mentor inquiries

These links open your email app with a subject ready to go.