Summit Robotics’ Chaos Theory Team heads to World Championships after historic season
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Just a season ago, Summit Robotics didn’t qualify for Districts. This year, the team didn’t just make it to Districts—they’re heading to the FIRST Robotics World Championships in Houston, Texas, for the first time in seven years.
“It’s really exciting just to go to Worlds, see teams from all over the world, and really just experience that,” said one team member. “It’s a whole new setting. It’s a whole new atmosphere. And I’m really excited to see it.”
The team, known as Chaos Theory, is made up of more than 20 dedicated students and mentors who built a competition robot they named Triton. With relentless teamwork and innovation, Triton helped them secure two second-place finishes, one first-place win and a spot on the global stage.
“So just being able to see that boost in confidence in everyone—and in myself—of being on a team where, statistically, you know you’re a good team. I think we’re currently ranked in the top 50 in the world. Before, we were in the bottom 80%. That’s a huge shift.”
Their robot Triton was designed to perform a variety of technical tasks on the field, including manipulating objects with precision.
“As you can see here, this is one of the reefs behind me where we have to place these corals. They’re basically PVC tubes on each of these different nodes,” explained another team member.
But technical skill isn’t the only thing powering Chaos Theory—it’s also reliability.
“Liability is availability, and availability wins. And we are 100% reliable. We’ve never missed a match. We’ve never broken down in a match. We’re always there to play.”
For Chaos Theory, making it this far is already a victory, and every experience the team has had along the way is priceless.
“What’s amazing about the FIRST Robotics program, and a big reason I’m still here - I’ve learned more in my three years on the team than any classroom has ever taught me, and you're able to do these things that are not an option anywhere else.”
As the team prepares for the global competition, the focus isn’t just on winning—but on everything else that comes with it.
“At Worlds, yeah, I think a joint goal is really to win. But also, you know, it’s the friends you make along the way.”
The World Championships begin this Wednesday, and getting to this point hasn’t been easy—or cheap.
To power their journey to Houston, the Summit Robotics team has invested over $100,000 this season alone. That funding has supported everything from parts and equipment to travel and competition fees.
While the team is backed by 30 generous sponsors, they’re still seeking additional support to make the most of this incredible opportunity.
If you’d like to help Summit Robotics on their road to Worlds, donations can be made at summitrobotics.com.
