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Engineering and Robotics

TMSA Triangle's Engineering and Robotics Department provides students with real-world, hands-on learning through design, coding, and robotics. By building, programming, and problem-solving as a team, students develop creativity, critical thinking, and engineering skills that prepare them for future careers in technology and innovation.

Meet Our Faculty

  • Swainson McKenley
    Leads the Engineering and Robotics team and facilitates PLTW Engineering courses, mentor FIRST Robotics Competition FRC Teams 10121 - The MechaTigers

Engineering and Robotics Program

Our program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to succeed in STEM-related fields. We offer students a uniquely engaging and empowering experience:

  • A fully hands-on environment where students design, prototype, build, and test real engineering solutions.

  • Strong student leadership, with team members taking full responsibility for robot construction, coding, and competition strategy.

  • A program culture grounded in collaboration, creativity, and accountability.

  • Rapid growth in student participation and team success, especially impressive for a first-year program.

  • Community-driven initiatives like STEAM Night that expand outreach and highlight student talent.

Our department is also managing PLTW (Project Lead the Way) Engineering Program.

Engineering and Robotics Courses

In line with The PLTW Engineering Pathway, we provides a progressive sequence of engineering coursework, ensuring a strong foundation for students exploring STEM careers:

  • Engineering Essentials: An introductory course exposing students to the engineering design process and fundamental problem-solving strategies.
  • Introduction to Engineering Design (IED): Focuses on 3D modeling, design principles, and engineering documentation with a strong emphasis on industry-standard CAD skills.
  • Principles of Engineering (POE): Explores major engineering disciplines through hands-on activities involving mechanics, electronics, thermodynamics, and automation.
  • Digital Electronics (DE): Students dive into circuit design, logic systems, and programming using engineering tools and technologies.

Additionally, our department includes leadership and participation opportunities through:

  • FIRST Robotics Competition Team 10121 – The MechaTigers: A competitive robotics team where students design, build, and program fully functional robots from the ground up.

Engineering and Robotics in Action

We are proud to stand at the forefront of engineering competitions at both the state and national levels, demonstrating our students’ exceptional talent, innovation, and commitment to excellence.

  • FRC Rookie Success: In their very first competitive season, the MechaTigers earned an impressive ranking of 58 out of 110 teams — a remarkable accomplishment for a brand-new squad.
  • Robotics Engineering Excellence: Students have designed and built three fully functional robots from scratch, showcasing advanced engineering and problem-solving skills.
  • STEAM Night Debut: The robotics team delivered our first-ever STEAM Night, an entirely student-led event that drew strong community participation. Its success has established it as an annual tradition celebrating creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning.

Looking Ahead

We are committed to continual growth, innovation, and excellence. Upcoming goals include:

  • Course Expansion: Introducing additional engineering courses to give students broader pathways and more advanced technical learning opportunities.
  • Student Certification: Offering SolidWorks CAD certification, providing students with valuable, industry-recognized credentials.
  • Industry Partnerships: Building collaborations with engineering firms and industry professionals to enhance mentorship, project opportunities, and real-world exposure.
  • Parent Engineering Support Group: Launching a parent-led support group focused on fundraising, event coordination, and community partnerships to strengthen long-term program sustainability.