Thunder
Busters
Rookie Team → 🏆 2026 PA State Championship
Ranked #18 out of the 164 teams across Pennsylvania
In our very first season, we competed in 3 qualifiers, advanced every time to the playoffs, and earned our spot at the FTC Pennsylvania State Championship.
Not only we made it to the FTC's Pennsylvania State Robotics Championship competition but we also made some noise there. We were ranked #18 among the 40 elite teams that competed at the Championship event, and also among the 164 teams from across Pennsylvania that participated in this season.
We also won the prestigous Judges Award at the Championship competition. Our rookie season was beyond anything we can call it a SUCCESS!.
Top 18 in PA
Ranked #18 out of 164 teams in Pennsylvania
Playoffs Every Time
Made it to playoffs in all 3 qualifiers
Rookie Team
1st season → State Championship Event
Judges Award
2 Judges Awards in 2025-26 season
262 pts
Highest scrimmage events score
223 pts
Highest qualifier events score
Rookie Season. State-Level Results.
Thunder Busters was founded by a passionate group of middle and high school students in Mechanicsburg, PA. With no prior FTC experience, we designed and built our robot from scratch, developed our own code, and competed against established teams — many in their 4th or 5th season.
We didn't just show up. We made the playoffs at every single qualifier we entered, won the Judges' Choice Award at our very first event, and posted a highest qualifier score of 223 pts and a scrimmage high of 262 pts.
Now, as a first-year rookie team, we've earned our invitation to the 2026 FTC Pennsylvania State Championship — proudly supported by Harley-Davidson, who sponsors us to spread awareness of STEM among our local communities.
Our Qualifier Journey
Strong tele-op performance secured our first advancement — and we won the Judges Choice Award. Overcame a bunch of hurdles, including a disabled robot from our parner team.
Defense strategy and driver precision earned us another top finish. Had a robot issue that we scrambled to fix on the spot and managed to pull off a clutch win in the last few matches to advance again.
Locked in our spot at the PA State Championship — as rookies. Had a deep run in the playoffs, narrowly missing the finals but leaving a strong impression on judges and competitors alike.
Pennsylvania State Championship
Got ranked #18 out of 40 teams at the Championship and won the Judges Award for our inspiring rookie season story, strong performance, and potential for growth. 🎉⚡️🌟
See Photos & Video from StateThunder Bolt — Our 2025–26 Robot
Designed, built, and programmed entirely by students — every bolt, every line of code, every strategy.
Thunder Bolt — Team #31623
2025–26 Competition Robot
Rear Left
Rear Right
Side Right
Top Angle
Front Angle
Robot Capabilities
Headlock Anti-Defense
Our Headlock mechanism lets us shoot consistently even while under defense — neutralizing opponent disruptions and protecting our alliance.
AprilTag Auto-Aim
Vision-assisted shooting with PID control tracks targets in real time. The robot auto-aims and fires with enhanced accuracy from close and far.
Pedro-Pathing Navigation
Bezier line path planning with odometry pinpoint gives our autonomous sub-centimeter accuracy across the entire field.
Smart Dynamic Deflector
The deflector plate automatically adjusts its angle based on field position and flywheel RPM — precise every single shot.
3-Stack Vertical Buffer
Our stomach system holds and transfers up to 3 artifacts at once, keeping the intake moving at full speed during tele-op.
Shoot From Close & Far
Thunder Bolt can score 9 artifacts per match from both close range and distance — and can open the gate once or twice.
Ready to Build
Something Amazing?
We're looking for curious, driven students in grades 5–12 who want to learn real engineering, write real code, and compete on a real stage. No experience required — just bring your enthusiasm.
Parents: Thunder Busters offers a safe, structured, and inspiring environment where your child will develop technical skills, leadership, and confidence — guided by experienced coaches and industry mentors.