Our Crowdfunding Groups
NORM Robotics was founded in 2023 by a group of students that are passionate about the world of competitive robotics. Many of our members have competed at the highest level of competition, the world championship, for their respective high school robotics programs: FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge, and VEX Robotics Competition. NORM Robotics was founded to give these high school robotics alumni a place to continue pursuing their robotics passion while also providing a place to share our love of robotics with our university's community.
Through our members' previous experience in STEM, we have witnessed and experienced the lack of diversity in STEM. As a result, diversity and inclusion are core values of our organization. Our mission is to break the norms in STEM, one robot at a time. We welcome members of all skill levels, majors, and backgrounds to come together to explore the world of robotics.
Teams First Outreach EventWhile our club is new to campus we already have over 60 students interested from a variety of underrepresented groups. Some of these include the LGBTQ+ Community, members of different racial and cultural backgrounds, women, and majors which range from finance to mechanical engineering to gender studies.
With our diverse group, we are determined to show the world that everyone has a place in STEM. We are determined to work hard to achieve our goal of winning worlds.
Our club participates in VEX U, an international robotics competition with over 200 university-level teams participating annually. Every year we are given a new game and must design, build, and program robots to solve the unique set of challenges.
VEX U teams build two robots (18" x 18" x 18" or approximately the size of a microwave) and at competition will play on a 12' x 12' field against another team of two robots. Teams work to complete tasks in a 45-second autonomous period where robots work off of pre-programmed instructions and then a following 75-second driver-controlled period where students will drive the robots with controllers.
2023-24 VEX U Game Match performance will be tracked throughout the day and a ranking list will be generated. At the end of the competition, a championship bracket will be played based on the rankings. Teams compete to win the bracket and winning teams will be able to advance to the next level of competition.
VEX World ChampionshipThe World Championship for VEX U takes place in Dallas, Texas in April of each year. Advancement slots are determined by previous performance in the robot game and judged awards. At the world championship, the top teams from across the globe come together to compete against each other and put their robots' performance to the test.
Our members are prepared for the real world by having the opportunity to learn industry-applicable skills. Through building robots we gain hands-on experience with CAD design, C++ programming, fabrication with 3D printers and CNC machines, technical writing, project management, and leadership skills, all of which will directly lead to successful careers after college. By supporting NORM Robotics you are investing in the future of the STEM industry.
Basic Robot CAD Model
In order to achieve our goals we need your help! We are seeking donations to cover costs for our robot materials, machine shop tools, event registration fees, and travel expenses. Your support will directly contribute to a diverse group of students working to leave a lasting impact on the world.
Our goal to start our first season of the VEX U Competition is ~$10,000.
Examples of how we will spend the funds:
$1,899 - VEX V5 Competition Super Kit
$699 - VEX V5 Electronics System Bundle
$299 - V5 Pneumatics Kit
$599 - Game Field Set
$300 - Qualifying Event Registration
$1,200 - World Championship Registration
Any donation helps and we thank you in advance!
You can double or triple the impact of your gift if your employer participates in a matching gift program. To see if your employer has a matching gift program, click here. If your company matches, complete your matching gift form and submit it to UNC Charlotte via mail (UNC Charlotte Foundation, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223), fax (704-687-7259) or email (mwinslow@uncc.edu).
To keep up to date with NORM Robotics follow our social media!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norm_robotics/
