Local high school robotics team Octobots Robotics will offer a free open house event, 6-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 at its new “practice field” location, 5677 Calle Real in Goleta’s Calle Real Shopping Center.

Octobots Robotics team members move equipment into their new digs at Goleta's Calle Real Shopping Center. (Octobots Robotics photo)
Octobots Robotics team members move equipment into their new digs at Goleta’s Calle Real Shopping Center. (Octobots Robotics photo)

The new location is sponsored for the season by The Towbes Group. Light refreshments will be provided by Octobots Robotics.

The event offers families, prospective students, local business leaders, sponsors, and STEM enthusiasts a behind-the-scenes look at how student engineers design, build, program, and compete with 115-pound industrial-scale robots.
 
“Robotics is so much more than just building a machine; it’s about teamwork, problem-solving, and inspiring the next generation of innovators right here in our hometown,” said Uma Vulliez, team captain and a senior at Dos Pueblos High School.

“We are thrilled to open our doors and show the community what our team can do,” Vulliez said.

Last season Octobots Robotics earned a ticket to the FIRST Robotics World Championship Competition after placing second at the Southern California State Championships in Anaheim, California.

Only the top 16% of the more than 3,700 teams from around the world earn the right to compete at this level, according to FIRST Robotics. Octobots finished the season among the top 9% of teams in the world.

Octobots Robotics Team 9084 was established by a small group of high school students and volunteer mentors in 2023 as the only FIRST FRC Robotics team for grades 9 through 12 in the Goleta and Santa Barbara area.

Octobots Robotics is an all-volunteer, all-inclusive team of 30 to 40 high school students based out of Dos Pueblos High School.

The program is dedicated to inspiring students to become science and technology leaders and innovators by engaging in mentor-based programs and competitions that build engineering and technology skills.

Team members also promote STEM education in the community, and volunteer at local science nights, community fairs, and through a summer camp for students entering grades 5 through 9. Visit www.teamoctobots.org for more.

Learn about FIRST Robotics at www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc.