Robot in 3 Days
Robot in 3 Days
Overview
Robot in 3 Days (Ri3D) is a rapid prototyping and build event created by the founders of iR3 Creative Engineering and inspired by the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Every year after kickoff, FIRST alumni and college students participate. Unlike high school students who compete in FRC, we design, build and program our robots in 3 days instead of 6 weeks.
Our mission in completing Ri3D is to not only build a functional, (mostly) FRC-legal robot, but to give back to the FIRST community by sharing as much of our team’s collective knowledge with the community as possible. Much of our Ri3D team (and general membership) is made up of FIRST alumni, and as a result, a large amount of our Ri3D members also serve as mentors and volunteers for FIRST.
Why Join?
If you're into fast-paced design, build, and strategy, or just want to stay involved with FIRST, you'll love Ri3D! You'll receive experience in:
Rapid prototyping and iteration
Game analysis and strategy
Mechanical, design, fabrication, and strategy
Programming, controls, and system integration
What you'll work on
Breaking down FRC game and designing for scoring opportunities
CAD, fabrication, wiring, assembly
Prototyping unique game mechanisms
Programming controls and testing functionality
Documenting and sharing design process to help the broader FIRST community
How it Works
With only 72 hours to complete a robot, Ri3D is highly collaborative! Roles shift based on progress and what is needed most
Small groups form around specific mechanisms or tasks
Decisions are made quickly and iterated on
Team collaborates with local FRC teams for game pieces and field handoff (contact us to partner!)
Everyone is involved in building, testing, and improving the robot
Aaron Lam
Project Lead
Ri3D 2026 - Robot Reveal
Ri3D 2026 - Robot Walkthrough
Ready to Join?
No experience is required, we'll teach you what you need to know. New members start by joining a subteam, learning the basics, and contributing to ongoing builds.
Come to a meeting, talk to a lead, or join our communication channels to get started.