FRC Team 3042 - Cobalt Catalysts

Cobalt Current keeps you plugged into Eastview Lightning Robotics — from build season progress and competition updates to community outreach and the people powering Team 3042.

Follow Eastview Lightning Robotics online to see how our students learn, lead, and make an impact through FIRST Robotics—both in the shop and in the community.

Please Like and Subscribe! EVLR Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

FRC Season Resources: 2026 Team Calendar | FIRST Robotics | Rebuilt Game & Season Info

Thank you to our incredible sponsors—AVR, Bright Fleet Services, Eastview High School, Gene Haas Foundation, General Dynamics Mission Systems, +GF+, Legacy Trailer Solutions, and Sagent Behavioral Health—for their generous support of our robotics program.

• North Star Regional at Mariucci: Your Weekend Game Plan
  As we gear up for the weekend, be sure to review the resources below for key information on the tournament schedule, carpooling plans, and a shared folder where we’ll be capturing and celebrating photos and videos from the event.
  
  2026 Cobalt Catalysts: North Star Regional Schedule
  Qualification Match Schedule (Friday 4/03 and Saturday 4/04)
  North Star Regional Webcast Links
  Student Carpool Information
  Team Photos & Videos Folder
  
  
• Duluth Recap: Lake Superior Regional
  We had an incredible showing at the Lake Superior Regional in Duluth! From the stands to the pits, the energy and support from our families and fans made a huge impact throughout the weekend. Beyond the matches, this event was filled with meaningful learning moments—problem-solving under pressure, teamwork, and growth that will carry us forward into the rest of the season.
  
  👉 Check out our photo slideshow to relive the highlights and memories!
  
  
• EVLR Banquet Volunteers Needed!
  We are looking for parent volunteers to help plan our end-of-year robotics banquet on Wednesday, May 6th. If you’re willing to lend a hand in either capacity, please let us know by emailing our boosters at eastviewroboticsboosters@gmail.com. We truly couldn’t do this without our amazing robotics families!
  

Thank You Gene Haas Foundation!
We extend our sincere thanks to the Gene Haas Foundation for their generous FIRST Robotics Sponsorship Grant supporting our team this season. We had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Riska, a Haas representative, who presented us with a commemorative check and joined us for a special photo opportunity alongside other Haas grant recipients.

The Gene Haas Foundation continues to be a tremendous supporter of FIRST Robotics, providing meaningful opportunities for both FTC and FRC teams across the country. We are incredibly grateful for their investment in our students and for helping make our program possible.

SPARK Award Recipient: Mentor Brett
A student from Team 3042 has submitted a SPARK Award nomination to recognize a mentor who truly embodies the spirit of our program.

"Brett has been a really good mentor this year. He has been helping with CAD, mechanical, fabrication and more, and has continuously been extremely helpful. He has taught me a lot of things this year and he is definitely a positive addition to this team. Without him, I’m not sure how quickly we would have been able to get the robot done."

Since competing at the Lake Superior Regional in Duluth, our team has made incredible strides in refining and improving our robot. Through thoughtful iteration, problem-solving, and teamwork, each sub-team has contributed to meaningful upgrades that have strengthened both performance and reliability. We’re excited to showcase these improvements as we head into the North Star Regional this weekend!

Business Operations (BizOps)
Our BizOps team has been preparing for competition both behind the scenes and in the spotlight. They created custom buttons and stickers for pit giveaways to help share team spirit with others. The team also put the finishing touches on our Impact Award presentation and worked closely with Leadership Award nominees to strengthen their interview and communication skills—ensuring they represent Team 3042 with confidence and professionalism.

Control Systems
The Control Systems team has been dialing in reliability and durability. They improved wiring connections by adding ferrules to the CAN bus and repositioned a key limit switch to increase intake consistency. Hardware adjustments—like rotating the CANivore and reinforcing the control panel—helped improve connection stability and overall robustness. And yes… strategic use of pink tape on critical USB connections may or may not be our secret weapon for success.

Mechanical
The Mechanical team has been hard at work refining the robot’s physical systems for maximum efficiency. They reconfigured the shooter and intake system to improve alignment and consistency, including repositioning components and fine-tuning motor performance. To address feeding issues, they introduced weather stripping and additional compression to prevent jams and ensure smooth ball movement. They also expanded intake clearance and added a netted hopper system to better manage stored game pieces during operation.

Programming
Programming has been pushing performance to the next level. The team developed eight unique autonomous routines to handle a variety of in-match scenarios. They also implemented vision processing that allows the robot to calculate its distance from the target and automatically adjust flywheel speed for more accurate shooting. In short: the robot is shooting—and it’s doing it well.

Lettering in High School Robotics

Did you know students can earn a varsity letter through robotics? Just like traditional high school sports and activities, lettering in robotics recognizes a student’s commitment, leadership, and consistent contribution to the team throughout the season. It’s an official school honor that celebrates the time, effort, and dedication students invest in our program.

Students accumulate lettering points based on their participation in:

• Team meetings and build sessions

• Competitions and tournaments

• Outreach events and community engagement

• Additional leadership and program contributions
  
  

Don’t miss your chance to earn points and get involved! We have plenty of outreach opportunities available—sign up here for April events before spots fill up.

Students are responsible for tracking their involvement and making sure they meet the required thresholds.

All lettering requirements must be completed by May 1. We strongly encourage students and families to review the EVLR Lettering Requirements to understand the specific criteria and point breakdown. It’s a great way to set goals for the remainder of the season and ensure students are recognized for their hard work.

If you have any questions about lettering, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

We are proud to recognize GF Building Flow Solutions as a longstanding sponsor and champion of K–12 STEM in our community. Over the years, GF has gone above and beyond in supporting our students—inviting our team to participate in their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Fairs, opening their doors for behind-the-scenes manufacturing tours, and hosting engaging STEM career panels. Their commitment to student learning and real-world connection has made a lasting impact on our program. We are incredibly grateful for their continued support and advocacy for STEM education at Eastview High School and District 196.

To better understand the impact of GF’s partnership, one of our student leaders connected directly with their team to ask a few questions about their support, values, and advice for our students:

When did GF first hear about Team 3042, and why did you decide to sponsor us?
GF has been a sponsor of the team for many years—dating back to before many of us joined the company. As an Apple Valley–based manufacturing organization, supporting local STEM education programs is a natural fit. Team 3042 represents an opportunity for us to invest directly in students within our own community.

What impact or outcomes do you hope to see from your continued support of Team 3042?
As a sponsor, we always enjoy hearing updates throughout the season—whether it’s progress on the robot, competition results, or the team’s involvement in community outreach. More importantly, we value the learning that happens along the way. Hearing about both the successes and the challenges gives us insight into the growth and resilience students are developing through the program.

Beyond Team 3042, how does GF contribute to the broader community?
We are committed to supporting the communities where we live and work, including our locations in Apple Valley, Lakeville, and Hutchinson, Minnesota. Our efforts focus on STEM and skilled-trade education, clean water and environmental stewardship, affordable housing, and workforce development. We contribute through employee volunteerism, charitable giving, school partnerships, and a variety of local initiatives.

What aspects of GF might appeal most to students interested in STEM careers?
GF has a strong, collaborative workplace culture that encourages innovation and supports both personal and professional growth. We’ve been recognized with multiple Top Workplaces awards and are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment. It’s a place where individuals can build their skills, explore new ideas, and help solve meaningful, real-world challenges.

What advice would you give to students pursuing STEM—or to students in general?
Be curious. Learn from your mistakes. Keep trying. And give back.

Robots in the Rotunda
Team 3042 was proud to participate in the Robots in the Rotunda event, hosted by High Tech Kids at the Minnesota State Capitol on Tuesday, March 31st. This annual event brings together FIRST Robotics teams from across the state to highlight the impact of STEM education and the importance of strong K–12 programming.

Throughout the day, our students engaged with members of the public and connected directly with state legislators, sharing their personal experiences in robotics and the skills they’ve developed through FIRST. We are especially proud of our EVLR students, who represented our team with professionalism, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of community—building connections, spreading goodwill among fellow teams, and advocating for the future of STEM education.

Professional Guest Speaker Series: Thank You & Upcoming Session

We extend our sincere thanks to Ms. Metzger and Mr. Cushing from Sagent Behavioral Health, as well as Mr. Huff from General Mills, for taking the time to speak with our robotics students. Their insights on leadership, effective communication, and engineering technologies within the food industry provided valuable real-world perspectives that will benefit our students far beyond the robotics lab.

We’re also excited to announce that our next Guest Speaker Series session has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 14th at 5:00 PM in B124. This session will feature:

• Mr. Brian Taintor – FIRST Alumnus & Engineer, General Dynamics Mission Systems
• Mr. Karl Koehle – Assistant Professor, School of Art & Design, University of Wisconsin–Stout

Together, they will share their experiences and perspectives on careers in engineering, game design, and alternative controllers—giving students a meaningful glimpse into how their current interests can evolve into future opportunities.

Partnering with GF Building Flow Solutions
We’re excited to share two incredible outreach opportunities made possible through our valued sponsor, GF Building Flow Solutions. GF is a leading global supplier of piping systems for the safe and reliable transport of liquids and gases — and was recently recognized as a 2025 USA Today Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Winner. We’re proud to partner with an organization that not only leads in engineering innovation, but also invests in the next generation of STEM leaders.

Highland Elementary Family STEM & Engineering Night | April 22, 5:00–7:00 PM

In partnership with The Works Museum, GF has invited us to participate in Highland Elementary’s Family STEM & Engineering Night. We’re looking for student volunteers to:

• Demonstrate our FTC and FRC robots

• Engage younger students in hands-on STEM conversations

• Represent Eastview Lightning Robotics in the community

GF On-Site Visit & STEM Career Panel | April 28, 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM

GF is also hosting us for an exclusive on-site visit and STEM career panel event. Students will:

• Tour a real-world engineering and manufacturing environment

• Connect directly with industry professionals

• Learn about career pathways in engineering, manufacturing, operations, and business

• Learn about job and career opportunities after high school
  
  

We are incredibly grateful to GF Building Flow Solutions for their continued support of our program and their commitment to developing future STEM leaders.

• North Star Regional (Minneapolis, MN): April 2-4, 2026
• Apple Valley Home & Garden Expo (EVHS): April 11, 2026
  
• Professional Guest Speakers, Mr. Koehle & Mr. Taintor (EVHS): April 14, 2026
• Family STEM Engineering Night (Highland Elementary): April 22, 2026
• GF STEM and Skilled Trades Career Visit (GF Headquarters): April 28, 2026
• EVLR End-of-Year Banquet (EVHS): May 6, 2026
• Dakota County Adopt-A-Highway (CR-66 and Cty Rd 52) : May 17, 2026

Behind every successful season is a network of incredible parent volunteers who step in, show up, and support our team in countless ways—and we are so grateful for each of you.

From coordinating transportation and organizing Saturday lunches, to providing food and equipment donations, hosting FTC events, and showing up as an enthusiastic cheering section, your support creates an environment where our students feel encouraged, valued, and celebrated.

These contributions may happen behind the scenes, but their impact is felt everywhere. You help create a positive, energized team culture and ensure our students can focus on learning, growing, and competing at their best.

Because of you, this program is more than just robotics—it’s a community.

Thank you for your time, your generosity, and your unwavering support throughout the season.

Eastview Lightning Robotics is proud to be affiliated with Eastview High School and Independent School District 196. We extend our sincere gratitude to our school administration—especially Dr. Rob Franchino and Principal Bruce Miller—for their unwavering support of our robotics program and students. Their commitment to innovation, student opportunity, and hands-on learning continues to make a meaningful impact on our team’s success.