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VAMPIRE
ROBOTICS
Pushing the boundaries of competitive robotics through technical precision and innovative engineering. National qualifiers and Italian Championship Finalist Alliance Captain
"We rise when the sun goes down!"
THE TEAM
Based at the "Tudor Vladimirescu" National College, Vampire Robotics #26075 is a multidisciplinary student-led team competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge DECODE 2025–2026 season. We bring together engineers, programmers, and promoters united by a shared drive for technology, innovation, and discovery.
Guided by Gracious Professionalism, our motto "We rise when the sun goes down" reflects our spirit of perseverance and determination. We build more than competitive robots — we build capable, responsible people ready to make a difference on the field and in the wider community.
Members
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Roland Munteanu
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David Marcu
Mentors & Alumni
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Razvan
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Popa
ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS
Mechanical excellence meets algorithmic precision — DECODE 2025–2026
Mecanum Drivetrain
Omnidirectional chassis built on aluminum profiles with lightened side plates. Four goBILDA motors drive mecanum wheels via HTD 5M belt transmission (1:1.33 ratio), enabling instant strafing, rapid field traversal, and precise autonomous alignment.
- 4× goBILDA 435 RPM Motors
- HTD 5M Belt Drive (1:1.33)
- 3-Wheel Dead-Wheel Odometry
- 13.7:1 Planetary Gearboxes
Dual-Shaft Intake & Spindexer
Single-motor belt-driven intake with synchronized upper and lower shafts. The lower shaft uses 3D-printed mecanum wheels for lateral artifact centering; the upper shaft uses Gecko wheels for controlled ramp transfer into a polycarbonate helical Spindexer.
- 6000 RPM Brushed Motor (5.2:1 PG)
- 15× Gecko GripForce Wheels
- 4× 3D-Printed Mecanum Intake Wheels
- Polycarbonate Helical Spindexer Rotor
Rotational Turret & Shooter
Turret-based shooting system that aims independently of the chassis. A 35 kg·cm DS servo drives a bevel gear into a 140-tooth Lazy Susan for smooth rotation. High-speed Rhino flywheel wheels launch artifacts with PIDF velocity control and Limelight vision targeting.
- 35 kg·cm High-Torque DS Servo
- Bevel Gear + Lazy Susan (140T)
- PIDF Flywheel Velocity Control
- Limelight Vision Targeting
DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE
Strategic milestones and progress
Team Formation
Vampire Robotics #26075 established at 'Tudor Vladimirescu' National College. Departments formed: Hardware, Software, and Promoting divisions with dedicated leads.
Mechanical Prototyping
Mecanum drivetrain assembled with belt transmission system. First intake prototype tested. Spindexer rotor machined from polycarbonate. Autonomous odometry system integrated.
Competitive Debut
First regional competition appearance. Turret-based shooter with Limelight vision targeting validated in match conditions. Software PIDF tuning refined from match data.
National Qualifiers
Successfully qualified for the National Championship after a strong performance at the Regional stage — a key milestone in the DECODE 2025–2026 season.
Italy International Championship
Invited to compete at the FIRST Tech Challenge Italy Championship in Cesenatico — representing Vampire Robotics on an international stage.
SEASON MILESTONES
DECODE 2025-2026 Progress
National Qualifiers
Regionals → Nationals
Successfully qualified for the National Championship after a strong performance at the Regional stage — a defining achievement of the DECODE 2025–2026 season.
Italy International Championship
Cesenatico, Italy
Invited to compete at the FIRST Tech Challenge Italy Championship, representing Vampire Robotics on an international stage with our full turret-shooter robot.
Vision-Assisted Turret System
Technical Achievement
Developed a Limelight-powered targeting system enabling autonomous turret aiming with P-control on vision error — significantly improving scoring consistency under match pressure.
Pedro Pathing Autonomous
Software Milestone
Migrated autonomous routines to Pedro Pathing with finite state machines, achieving structured, repeatable trajectory execution and reliable multi-element autonomous sequences.
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Supporting the next generation of engineers
