FTC Michiana Premier Event Highlights from Studica Robotics

The inaugural FTC Michiana Premier Event 2025 in South Bend, Indiana, was nothing short of spectacular. From June 19–22, 96 top-performing FIRST^® Tech Challenge teams came together to wrap up the INTO THE DEEP℠ season with four days of competitive matches and international camaraderie.

Studica Robotics was proud to be part of this exciting new FTC Premier Event. We had a great time showcasing our latest components, talking with teams, and celebrating everything that makes the FTC community so inspiring.

FTC Michiana Premier Event Recap

This new Premier Event format proved to be a powerful addition to the FTC season, celebrating top talent in a championship-style atmosphere. In a thrilling best-of-three finals, the Thomson Alliance took the win, 2–1, over a formidable opponent.

Winning Alliance (Thomson):

17962 Ro2D2 – Ploiești, Romania
11329 I.C.E. Robotics – Bloomington, Indiana

Finalist Alliance (Clark Alliance):

19047 RavenTech_HD – Hunedoara, Romania
28596 Hypernova – Fremont, California

Congratulations to all the teams who competed. You showcased the best of FTC robotics!

What FTC Teams Loved About Studica Robotics

We were thrilled to receive valuable feedback from students, mentors, and coaches exploring how to enhance their robot builds. Here are the top highlights:

Structure with Strength

Our structure components are made from 3 millimeter thick 6061-T6 anodized aluminum, they offer the durability and safety FTC teams need.

Featuring a universal hole pattern and 16-angle mounting support, our system offers maximum flexibility and compatibility. It’s a versatile solution, perfect whether you're building a new robot or upgrading an existing one.

Slide Rails That Deliver

Studica Robotics slide rails glided with ease and earned high praise for their:

Smooth operation with ball bearings
Pre-drilled, countersunk holes for quick assembly
Lightweight aluminum design
High load capacity for robust lifts and extensions

Many teams also shared how easily our rails work with custom 3D-printed mounts, an increasingly popular approach among advanced FTC builders. For example, FTC Team 13032, the Ant Colony from Columbia, Missouri, upgraded their robot using Studica Robotics slide rails and reduced their multi-stage lift cycle time by approximately three seconds. Take a look.

Mecanum Chassis in Action

A standout moment from Michiana was watching FTC Team 10124, the Fire Wires, demo their Mecanum chassis built with the Studica Robotics FTC Drive Base Kit. Their robot showcased:

Precise, fluid movement
Durable angled rollers with steel ball bearings
A striking visual presence on the field

Thanks to the Fire Wires for bringing our chassis to life in such an exciting way. Check out the demo!

SR Drone TS7: Learning Takes Flight

The SR Drone TS7 also caught the attention of many teams and educators. This compact, durable drone is perfect for summer camps, workshops, and classroom STEM learning. With a 720p camera, altitude hold, and optical flow positioning, it is great for both indoor and outdoor use. Plus, its Scratch programming interface makes coding flight paths easy and engaging. Whether you're teaching flight mechanics or capturing creative aerial footage, the SR Drone TS7 brings STEM concepts to life.

Popular Components for FTC Motion and Power

Teams optimizing their robots’ performance during the FTC Michiana Premier Event 2025 were especially drawn to these products:

Cypher Max Encoder – High-resolution, dual-output tracking ideal for odometry and localization.
12V 3000mAh NiMH Battery – Lightweight and competition-ready.
FTC Power Block & Servo Power Block – Legal, regulated power system solutions.
Helical Bevel Gears – Smooth, compact motion transfer.
Hex and D-Shaft Motion Components - Options for drivetrains, arms, and more.

A Celebration of Global Talent

In conclusion, the FTC Michiana Premier Event was a celebration of what makes FTC great: community, creativity, and a shared drive to build something better. It was a great addition to the FIRST Championship event and an amazing opportunity to see even more FTC teams show off what they can do!

We were honored to have conversations with so many teams pushing the boundaries of design and performance. Whether you came by to visit Studica Robotics, tested a product, or just stopped to say hello, it was great to meet you. Special thanks to everyone who stopped by to speak with us and take photos, including the Fire Wires for their fantastic demo and Ant Colony for showing us their slide rail upgrade. And of course, a big thank you to GEARS and FIRST^® for organizing such a memorable event. We hope to see you next year!