On July 24, Trial & Error Robotics had the pleasure of welcoming fellow FTC team Spare Parts for a tour of the Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC). As hosts, we were excited to share not just our space, but also the incredible opportunities our facility has to offer.

When Spare Parts arrived, our team members greeted them at the door with a warm welcome and a brief introduction. After getting to know each other, we led them to one of our classroom spaces, where Mrs. Tracy Gordon gave an inspiring overview of ERDC and its mission. Mrs. Gordon also shared information about future internship opportunities available to high school students, encouraging the visiting team to consider how their experience in robotics can open doors to STEM careers.

Next, we took the group on a tour of the Future Workforce Development Center, which is home not only to our team but also to several other FIRST teams, and hosts a majority of ERDC’s summer camps. We enjoyed sharing our experiences and resources from working alongside the other teams with our guests. The tour was short, but we did our best to make the most of it.

The tour wrapped up in Team 456’s FRC workshop, where Chuck Dickerson, of our local FIRST Robotics Competition team, introduced their robot and discussed what it’s like to build and compete at the FRC level. Spare Parts got a behind-the-scenes look at how these larger bots are designed, programmed, and driven—along with stories from past seasons.