1. The name is a clever wordplay connecting Croatia and robotics, CRObotics! The name came naturally since we are the only robotics team competing in FIRST robotics competition in Croatia. 

2. In 2017, Borna Massari, a student of Andrija Mohorovičić Gymnasium in Rijeka, had a great idea- to form a team that would give students an opportunity to explore and develop new skills in the field of robotics that wasn’t very popular in Croatia. What inspired him was FIRST robotics competitions. Lacking financial support and materials, he turned to the help of Prof. Patricija Nikolaus and Prof. Goran Boneta. That’s how Borna and six other students founded the Crobotics team. Since its establishment, the team has welcomed numerous students. From 2018 to the present, we have participated in various competitions and achieving excellent results. In 2020, the competition took place in Istanbul, where the team secured the 22nd position in Europe. Due to the epidemiological situation, the FRC event in 2021 was held online, and we secured the 19th position in our group. Last year, we participated in a competition in Istanbul, where the team achieved its best-ever 5th position. 

3. Interesting story- In 2023. We participated in the competition in Istanbul. Everything was going smoothly until our robot arm stopped working. The bearing fell apart, and we could no longer maneuver it. It was a scary moment because the task required pushing objects and moving them around with the arm. We decided our only option was to permanently fix it, so it doesn’t move around, and we just continued pushing objects just with the robot itself. Still, we managed to get to 5th place, and we learned that sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.
   In 2018. we had an urgent problem with the intake mechanism, and we couldn’t get quick access to parts we needed, so we went to a store and bought horse combs that helped us replace the original parts. It may be unconventional, but it worked perfectly!

4. 2018 was our debut year. The 2018 FRC competition in New York brought us two awards. We were the only international team (together with only one team from Turkey) the required finances and resources were far bigger than the other teams coming mostly from Long Island. The judges recognized our hard work, dedication to the challenge and rewarded us with The 2018 Rookie Inspiration Award and the 2018 Highest Rookie Seed Award. We also managed to achieve the Award for our Safety Captain that made sure that we all used necessary safety measures when it came to handling our tools. 

5. As cheesy as it may sound, never give up. We often find ourselves questioning the point of even trying to compete when there are so many bigger teams with better financial support and workspaces. But at the end of the day, what keeps us going is the desire to prove the impossible and make change in our local community. Our dedication to our work, team spirit and great times we have along the way make it easier. We love doing this and we hope we inspire more young people to join us.

6.  We are from Croatia, the only team in our country that is lucky enough to be able to participate in this competition. 

7. Team motto- Fast and curious :) 

Our team's name, Mega Harpy, is inspired by the revered symbol found in many native Brazilian communities. The Harpy, known for its adaptability, strength, and protective qualities, embodies a connection with nature and a harmonious integration with technology. We like to refer to it as the "Knowledge Harpy," embodying our commitment to promoting education and STEAM wherever our journey takes us.

Mega Harpy was founded in September 2022, during the Charged Up season of FRC (2022-2023). Since then, we have remained united by a single goal: to cultivate new STEM leaders for the future. To achieve this, we have developed numerous projects that transcend international barriers, reaching over 500,000 people worldwide. With the support of partners who have joined our cause, we aim to promote the values of FIRST and STEAM disciplines. We also align with other FRC teams in a collective effort to pursue our goals and support them in their initiatives, creating an active network of assistance among teams. In our first year in the competition alone, we won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Brazil Regional and the Rookie All-Star Award at the Greater Kansas City Regional.

Our team's standout projects, known collectively as the 'STEAM Initiative,' encompass various efforts aimed at spreading STEAM concepts. These include the Automation Fair, a diverse STEAM event; STEAM DAY, a series of educational videos; the STEAM Book, offering intuitive activities; and the Mega Solar kit, introducing robotics and clean energy. Evaluated by national and international institutions, Mega Solar has been implemented in over 1000 schools in Brazil and in some locations in the USA, Mexico, and Japan, through the support of other FRC teams and partners. Currently expanding to a school and a university in Mozambique, we aim to extend its reach globally.

Prioritize the development of original projects that effectively disseminate STEM concepts and uphold FIRST values. Demonstrating a diverse array of methods to impact both your local and global communities is key to standing out in the competition. Furthermore, practicing the Core Values within your team is essential for upholding the foundational principles that FIRST expects from every team.

Our initiatives transcend our local community. We're dedicated to delivering scientific education to those without access or exposure, opening doors to a world of possibilities through STEAM, while upholding the FIRST Core Values in our actions and as a team. As we often emphasize: 'we create for the world!'