IHOT Robotics ignites the impending season with an impressive debut at GRITS

Over fall break, the IHOT Robotics team completed their first competition of the school year, featuring an exciting new rebuild of last year’s robot. IHOT, also known as the International House of Technology or Team 1414, competes in a program called the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), where teams from around the world design, build, and program a brand-new robot each year to complete a unique set of challenges that score points and determine match winners. Each competition includes two main phases: the qualification rounds, where teams are ranked based on performance, and the playoffs, where alliances of three robots compete head-to-head in a double elimination bracket.

1414 IHOT, 6023 DISCBOTS, 6829 Ignite Robotics, and 8100 Grayson Robotics

At the Georgia Robotics Invitational Tournament and Showcase (GRITS), IHOT advanced to the semi-finals and secured 4th place overall as the captain of the 6th alliance, working alongside Teams 6829 Ignite Robotics, 6023 DISCBOTS, and 8100 Grayson Robotics. Despite their strong finish, GRITS was not without its trials, from the robot’s elevator breaking mid-competition to the team bus stalling in a Walmart parking lot, the group faced many challenges.

Still, IHOT’s resilience, teamwork, and engineering skill shone through. Their ability to adapt under pressure and collaborate effectively with alliance partners demonstrated the spirit of innovation, perseverance, and gracious professionalism. With GRITS marking a successful start to the season, Team 1414 is already hard at work preparing for the upcoming 2026 FRC season, ready to take on new challenges and reach even greater heights.