Projects
Projects are a key training activity for Team 401 and help us prepare for the robotics build and competition seasons. If you have questions about any of our projects please contact us!
Combined Electronics
Developed for the 2025 FRC season this combined electrical enclosure is a 3D printed housing for a roboRIO, a CANivore, a Pigeon 2.0 IMU, and a REV Mini Power Module. The combined electrical package provides two layers of swarf protection for all unused IO ports, converts all used ports into latching polarized Molex SL connections, and provides 15 cable tie slots for strain relieving IO wires. Each corner features modular, indexable cable tie attachment inserts.
2023 Offseason Robot
Built in the fall of 2023 as a training exercise our offseason robot launched inflated cubes into three different scoring locations. This robot was used to test new wheel options for our swerve drives and new gearing options. The offseaon bot competed at the 2023 Blue Ridge Brawl and the 2023 Rumble in the Roads offseason events and let Team 401 students experience more competition roles.
Grasshopper Nuts
Grasshopper Nuts were developed by FRC Team 95: The Grasshoppers as an improvement to using Nordlock washers on FRC battery connections. Grasshopper nuts make battery terminal connections a single tool operation and help ensure the best possible mechanical and electrical battery connection. In our testing we have found that batteries will break before Grasshopper Nuts ever loosen. Team 401 organized, updated, and published the CAD models for the Grasshopper Nuts and the forming tools that are used by teams around the world.
Driver Station
Our custom driver station design is a combination of CNC cut aluminum box tubing and lightweight ABS and HDPE plastic sheets. The driver station features a detachable heads up display for helping operators, LEDs for signaling, and uses a USB hub to manage all computer peripherals.
Battery Cart
Our battery cart project used a purchased hand truck that we heavily modified. This project let team members build experience in plasma cutting, sheet metal forming on a brake, and MIG welding. This battery cart design allows any team member to easily and safely transport over 200 pounds of batteries and chargers and minimizes floor space used at competition.
Mk4i Swerve Cover
Our Mk4i swerve module cover protects our swerve modules from the ingress of any swarf or debries and ensures that grease stays contained in our swerve modules. The design features retention snaps that engage with the bottom of the Mk4i top plate making installation and removal fully toolless. The design also features a wire routing channel was to improve cable management and protect wiring, and CAN ID labels that can be printed into each module using our multi-material capable Bambu 3D printers.
Configurable Wiring Clip
This configurable wiring clip was a small project developed for our 2023 robot to constrain wires in a reusable manner. Each clip is embossed with its internal size and the design can be rapidly updated to accomodate other wire sizes. We've used magnets, dual lock, and VHB to affix these wiring clips to our robots.







