FRC Orlando 2026: how it went
We're home again — and what a trip it has been. After months of preparation, it was off to Orlando, Florida, to compete in the First Robotics Competition alongside teams from all over the world. Here's the recap of how it went.
The trip there
Departure was early on a Monday morning from Erik Dahlbergsgymnasiet, by bus to Landvetter and onward via Amsterdam to Orlando. After a long travel day, the team landed in the middle of the night and was met the very next day by our American host team "Exploding Bacon," who opened their garage for the final days of robot building before the competition. We also connected with Cyber Colts, a team from Panama, sharing both workshop space and experiences during the build days.
The final hours before the competition venue closed its doors for the last time were about tough priorities — among other things, an entire system had to be removed so the team could get the robot's climbing and automation ready in time for the start.
The competition
The practice matches quickly revealed what needed fixing: a loose climbing arm, a ball intake that worked in one direction but not the other, and a robot that got stuck on top of its own balls. Exactly the kind of problems practice matches exist to catch — and the team worked through the fixes in short order.
It paid off. During the qualification matches, the robot climbed as it should, collected balls, and delivered to its "human shooter" match after match. The team climbed the rankings at the same time — reaching as high as 24th place out of 58 teams — after several wins in a row. It turned into a real rollercoaster of technical setbacks and strong comebacks, but the team spirit stayed high throughout the competition.
Once the qualification matches were done, the alliance selection followed, where the eight highest-ranked teams invite other teams to join their alliances for the playoffs. Despite a strong finish, ED Robotics landed just outside the cutoff and wasn't picked this time — a well-earned result nonetheless, and a clear sign of what the team is capable of going forward.
Off the field
In between all the competing, there was also time for the things that make a trip like this unforgettable. On the free day, the group split between Kennedy Space Center and Universal Studios — some got to see a Starlink rocket launch and land live, others spent the day on theme park rides. There was also a bus tour along the coast, a visit to the beach at sunset, and a lot of very good food (though the local trash collection and lack of recycling sparked a fair bit of surprise).
The trip home and a big thank you
After a long journey home via Amsterdam and Landvetter, the whole team was back at Erik Dahlbergsgymnasiet on Tuesday afternoon — more tired, wiser, and with memories for a lifetime.
This trip simply wouldn't have been possible without everyone who pitched in: guardians who helped with everything from sponsorship and media outreach to baking, driving the bus, and last-minute permits; our mentors Andrew, Johanna, Susanne, and Kelvin who held the team together around the clock; and all the sponsors and support organizations who made the trip financially possible.
A huge thank you to all of you – this is exactly the kind of community ED Robotics wants to keep building. Next season is already just around the corner.