Robotics at Serra

Robotics at Serra combines software, electronics, mechanical engineering, power tool use, game strategy, marketing and community relations to form a well-rounded, competitive team, the Gear Gremlins. Students gain practical, hands-on experience in STEM fields while developing teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills that serve them well beyond high school.

In addition, Serra offers Robotics Engineering and Honors Robotics Engineering courses. These are project-based classes are centered around the annual FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) challenge. The curriculum covers CAD, electrical and mechanical design, machining, fabrication and Java programming, alongside workplace skills like leadership and project management.

Classes meet after school in the Serra Robotics shop and offer flexible hours to accommodate student schedules.

Meet the Gear Gremlins — Team 3045

Serra's robotics team, known as the Gear Gremlins, competes as Team 3045 in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Each year, student teams receive a unique game challenge. With limited time and resources, they design, build and program robots to compete against other teams. The FRC emphasizes not only technical skills, but also teamwork, problem solving and professionalism.

See them in action here.

The Pereira Center for Robotics and Engineering

The robotics team works out of the Pereira Center for Robotics and Engineering, a dedicated robotics and engineering lab. The facility includes movable workspaces for construction and testing, power tools, advanced computer and design software, and dual work areas that allow for simultaneous design and building.

About Dr. Kevin Shaw

The robotics team is moderated by Dr. Kevin Shaw, who holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, a master's degree in Management from Stanford University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UC San Diego. Dr. Shaw is also an adjunct faculty member at Singularity University, where he lectures on MEMS, sensors and technology, and serves as co-founder and CTO of Algorithmic Intuition, a health technology company. Learn more about Dr. Shaw here.

Get Involved

The robotics team is open to all Serra students. Contact Dr. Shaw via email (kshaw@serrahs.com) for more information.