Events

Așa cum orice robot are nevoie de o sursă de energie, și mintea are nevoie de reîncărcare. 💙

Anul acesta, odată cu luna internațională dedicată sănătății mintale, programul FIRST a lansat inițiativa Safety FIRST, încurajând echipele din întreaga lume să vorbească deschis despre grija față de propria stare de bine.

Prin conferința „Mind Recharge Summit”, echipa ByteForce a creat un spațiu de reflecție despre echilibru, reziliență și sănătate emoțională: teme esențiale pentru toți cei care trăiesc intens ritmul competițiilor, al școlii și al vieții de zi cu zi. ⚙🌱

Mulțumim Doru Căstăian și Andrada Ilisan, pentru inspirație și pentru gândurile care ne-au ajutat să privim mai profund: înainte de orice reușită, e nevoie de minte limpede și inimă prezentă. 💭🤍

Puteți urmări înregistrarea conferinței accesând linkul de mai jos!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwKUm4bvNnI

Pe 26 septembrie 2025, echipa ByteForce a participat la Noaptea Cercetătorilor ReCoNnect, un eveniment dedicat conectării publicului larg cu universul STEM. Activitatea s-a desfășurat la Facultatea de Automatică, Calculatoare, Inginerie Electrică și Electronică din Galați, unde vizitatorii au putut descoperi îndeaproape ceea ce facem în cadrul echipei și modul în care tehnologia prinde viață prin proiectele noastre.

Unul dintre cele mai apreciate momente ale serii a fost prezentarea robotului din sezonul trecut, Buldozerul, pe care participanții au avut ocazia să îl controleze și să îi testeze funcționalitățile. Totodată, am oferit informații despre noul sezon, DECODE, explicând mecanica jocului și direcțiile tehnice pe care le explorăm.

Evenimentul a reprezentat și o confirmare a progresului echipei noastre. Voluntarii s-au implicat natural în toate activitățile specifice unui eveniment în comunitate: interacțiunea cu vizitatorii la stand, prezentarea robotului, realizarea conținutului pentru social media, captarea momentelor prin fotografie și atragerea publicului către activitățile noastre.

On September 20, we organized the Robotics Show event, in collaboration with Shopping City Galați. The event was an excellent opportunity to bring the fascinating world of robotics closer to the public and familiarize passersby with the concept of the FIRST Tech Challenge.

Together with the teams Thobor, RoSophia, and Republic of Danube, we held demonstration matches and interactive activities that gave participants a clear introduction to the atmosphere and specifics of a robotics competition. At the same time, the activity was an opportunity to strengthen relationships with our volunteers and interact with the other teams present.

On September 6, we took part in KICKOFF, the long-awaited moment when the theme for the new season was revealed: “DECODE”. We’re beyond excited to discover the challenges that await us in the coming months and can’t wait to start working on our robot - from design to building and programming.

This will be a year full of innovation, teamwork, and creativity, where we aim to overcome every obstacle, learn as much as possible, and grow both as aspiring engineers and programmers, and as a strong, united team.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who supports us on this journey: sponsors, collaborators, mentors, volunteers, parents, and teachers. Thank you for providing the guidance we need and believing in our potential – you are the driving force that keeps us moving forward.

The third edition of the Zero2Byte Summer School took place between August 26 and 30. The program is aimed at students in grades 8–10 at the Vasile Alecsandri National College who are interested in technology and exploring the field of robotics.

During the five days, 19 participants took part in activities held in Building J of the Faculty of Automation, Computers, Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Workshops on mechanics, programming, design, and 3D printing were organized, as well as sessions dedicated to communication, promotion, and internal organization, all inspired by the experience gained in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) competition.

The first day featured an introduction to the team, how it operates, and the benefits of joining a robotics club. The following days were dedicated to the practical side: students learned the principles behind robot construction, designed 3D parts, and created a custom object in Fusion 360. The programming workshop allowed them to familiarize themselves with the way programmers think and apply algorithms to solve problems.

On the last day, the focus was on non-technical aspects. Participants discovered the importance of promotion, branding, and communication for a robotics team and applied these concepts through an interactive exercise, creating a social media account for a character of their choice.

The program ended with an awards ceremony, where students received diplomas, made new friends, and left motivated to continue exploring robotics, both technically and non-technically.

From July 24 to 29, 2025, the gates of the Vasile Alecsandri National College opened warmly to new students, parents, and guests curious to discover the unique atmosphere of the high school.

For those who are now stepping into the CNVA universe, four years full of challenges, laughter, unexpected friendships, and unforgettable moments lie ahead. They will discover inspiring teachers, colleagues who become family, and numerous opportunities to shine.

At CNVA, excellence and performance manifest themselves in various forms and define the school's identity. These are built together with teachers, during class hours, but also beyond textbooks, through clubs, teams, and initiatives that give voice to students' creativity and courage.

Whether it's academic competitions, volunteering, robotics, debates, or theater, every student has the opportunity to make their voice heard and contribute to something greater than they could ever imagine.

On July 18, we had the pleasure of participating, alongside RoSophia 21455 and Republic Of Danube 23158, in an event organized in the Public Garden by the Galați County Council and the “V.A. Urechia” County Library. The event was dedicated to children and aimed to promote STEM education in an interactive and engaging way.

We told the kids about what FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) is and how a robotics club works, from building robots to competitions and teamwork. 🤖

The highlight of the day was when the young participants had the chance to drive the robot themselves. Their excitement reminded us once again how important it is to support tech education and inspire future generations. 🩵

“Girls building the future byte by byte.”

On January 30, 2025 we officially launched Romanian Girls in STEM, powered by ByteForce - a campaign meant to support, inspire, and encourage girls to pursue science and technology.

The central event of the project is the annual GIRLS IN STEM GALA, held on February 11 to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This year, the five girls from our team shared their FTC experiences and how STEM has shaped their personal and academic growth. They were joined by five professors from the Faculty of Automation, Computers, Electrical and Electronic Engineering in Galați, offering valuable insight into STEM careers.

To further connect students with professionals, we also launched Her STEM Story, a podcast series on our YouTube channel featuring inspiring voices from the world of science and engineering.

To ensure the continuous development of our team’s members, we launched the Industry Insights project, connecting with over 50 specialists from various STEM fields. Through company visits, conferences and panel discussions, we gained valuable knowledge and perspectives, which we then integrated into our team’s activities. This initiative allowed us to better understand real-world applications of science and technology, inspiring us to innovate and improve our performance both on and off the field.

On January 29–31, 2025, we launched the ByteForce Caravan, a project aimed at introducing middle and high school students to robotics and sparking their interest in joining our team in the future.

In just three days, we visited one kindergarten, six middle schools, and one high school, reaching over 450 students. We presented our competition journey, explained how the robot is built, and talked about the importance of branding and the values promoted by FIRST.

Each session ended with a hands-on moment where students got to drive our robot, Perseus II, and ask questions about the FTC experience—transforming curiosity into genuine enthusiasm for robotics.

FTC XChange is one of our favorite off-season initiatives, designed to strengthen collaboration between FTC teams and create a space where we can learn from each other. Organized during the summer, FTC XChange brings together multiple teams to share ideas, challenges, and solutions in a relaxed, open environment.

The main goal is to encourage knowledge exchange—not just about building robots, but also about team structure, outreach, fundraising, and all the behind-the-scenes work that makes a successful FTC season. Each participating team presents something unique: a technical innovation, an outreach strategy, or even a branding concept that worked well for them.

By hearing different perspectives and discussing real experiences, we all leave the event with fresh ideas and stronger connections. FTC XChange reminds us that although we may compete, we grow best when we learn together.

The ambition to share the FIRST Tech Challenge experience led us last season to the Republic of Moldova, where we supported the formation and development of the first 12 FTC teams through the Inspire Moldova project. Everything started with a caravan that traveled to Hîncești and Chișinău, in collaboration with FabLab, Innovate Moldova and Clasa Viitorului.

We held a training session for 50 potential mentors, followed by three in-person meetings in Chișinău. In addition, we organized several online meetings, providing constant support, advice, and helpful materials.

On May 9, we held the first training bootcamp, during which, in just 24 hours, we taught the teams how to design, assemble, and program their first robot, specially created by us to be beginner-friendly.

On May 10, we organized a testing competition where the teams had the opportunity to test their robots in their first FTC-style matches, evaluated by us.

After two months of improving their robots, on July 11–12, we held another competition to observe the evolution of the teams’ work and to teach them how to organize their own FTC scrimmage.

Zero2Byte Robotics Summer School is an annual program we proudly organize to introduce middle school and 9th-grade students to the world of FTC.

Every year, around 30 participants join us to explore what it truly means to be part of a robotics team. Over the course of five interactive days, we guide them through all five of our departments - mechanics, programming, 3D design, PR & Outreach and Graphic Design - offering a complete and engaging experience.

Through hands-on activities and real teamwork, we help them take their first steps into robotics and discover the passion that drives us forward.

On March 2, 2025, we organized the second edition of Better Finance Workshop, an event created to help FTC teams, especially rookies, better understand how to secure sustainable funding. With 8 teams and other students from our high school in attendance, we brought together experienced speakers to offer practical advice.

Adina Dogaru, entrepreneur and finance expert, shared insights from over two decades in business. Iuliana Tănase from the Regional Directorate of Public Finances Galați explained the importance of legal compliance and funding strategies. ByteForce alumnus David Theodor reflected on his FTC journey and how it connects to his current studies in business and analytics at IE University.

We also presented our own fundraising experiences from this season. The event ended with a funding challenge, where Team RoboKey 20963 won a 300 EUR prize sponsored by RoVal Print.

În urma inundațiilor devastatoare care au lovit județul Galați în data de 14 septembrie 2024, comunitățile din Pechea, Măcișeni, Cuca, Cudalbi și Cuza Vodă au fost grav afectate. Apa, ajungând în unele zone la peste 1,5 metri, a distrus gospodării, drumuri și bunuri de o viață, lăsând în urmă sute de oameni vulnerabili.

Pentru a sprijini aceste familii, ByteForce a inițiat campania CNVAjută!, desfășurată în cadrul Colegiului Național „Vasile Alecsandri”, mobilizând elevi, părinți, profesori și voluntari. În doar cinci zile, am colectat peste 200 de pachete conținând alimente neperisabile, haine, pături și produse de igienă, oferind sprijin direct pentru peste 150 de copii, adulți și vârstnici 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦.

Campania a avut două etape:
1️⃣ Colectarea resurselor în incinta CNVA, realizată de elevi, diriginți, părinți și membrii ByteForce.
2️⃣ Distribuirea donațiilor în zonele afectate, prin implicarea voluntară a membrilor ByteForce, profesorilor și părinților care au asigurat transportul către comunitățile din Galați 🚚💨.

Pentru a mobiliza cât mai mulți susținători, departamentul PR a promovat constant campania pe Instagram și Facebook, iar mesajul nostru a ajuns inclusiv la alte echipe FTC, precum Velocity 21087 (Brăila), care s-au alăturat inițiativei și au trimis resurse suplimentare. La final, pe 22 septembrie, am publicat o postare de încheiere cu imagini din teren – dovezi ale dezastrului, dar și ale solidarității care ne-a unit în fața unei crize majore 📸❤️.

CNVAjută! a reprezentat nu doar o acțiune umanitară, ci și o lecție despre empatie, colaborare și responsabilitate socială, arătând că atunci când oamenii se unesc, pot schimba destine 🙌✨.