On December 6th and 7th, we held another edition of Cents and Bots in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, an OffSeason tournament organized by veteran teams (5800 - 9047) and hosted by Techmaker 9047. This event was designed to provide a simulated Build Season, uniting veteran and rookie teams in an environment of learning, collaboration, and competition.
We gathered over 150 participants, including competitors, visitors, and organizers, proving that the passion for robotics is more alive than ever! The participating teams were:
- 5800
- 9047
- 9611
- 10190
- 10200
Each team brought their dedication, energy, and creativity to the event, creating a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere.
Event Format
Challenge Launch 
The game structure and rules were released on October 25th, 2024, giving teams ample time to prepare. During this preparation period, veteran teams hosted a series of live sessions and virtual meetings to share knowledge and mentor rookie teams, covering topics such as design, programming, and construction strategies.
Collaborative Build Season 
One of the highlights was the collaboration between veteran and rookie teams:
- Veteran teams provided ready-to-use chassis to rookies (e.g., 5800 → 10200 and 9047 → 10190), allowing the newcomers to focus on implementing mechanisms and fine-tuning their programming.
- Inspired by the BunnyBots tournament, we adopted a simple and cost-effective approach, encouraging creative solutions with limited resources.
The Game 
The game was carefully designed to balance challenge and fun, using the 2024 general robot rules with mechanics inspired by the shooting challenge of the 2022 game:
- Scoring points by shooting into the high basket in tower or delivering to the low basket.
- Bonus points in the autonomous period for robots that successfully exited a step positioned in front of each DriverStation.
- Additional endgame points for robots that managed to climb back onto the step.
Our bold goal? To predict elements of the 2025 game! Soon, we’ll find out if we hit the mark. 
Impact and Learnings
Cents and Bots was much more than just a tournament. It represented a unique experience of mentorship, collaboration, and learning:
- Active mentorship: The interaction between veteran and rookie teams was one of the event’s key highlights. Rookie teams left the event with a solid foundation to face future challenges.
- Technical and strategic development: Each team had the chance to test ideas, experiment with solutions, and refine their robots in a low-pressure, highly collaborative environment.
- Organizational experience: For us, the organizers, it was the first time building a complete arena—a complex challenge that provided valuable insights for hosting even larger events in the future.
Beyond results or scores, the real achievement was seeing the growth of each team, the exchange of experiences, and the strengthening of our robotics community. This unity will undoubtedly make a difference in the upcoming 2025 Build Season!
Special Thanks
We would like to thank all participating teams, organizers, and volunteers who helped make Cents and Bots an unforgettable experience. Seeing everyone’s passion for robotics, teamwork, and creativity was, without a doubt, the greatest reward.
This event was entirely inspired by BunnyBots, and we hope to continue building on this legacy.
If you want to learn more, share your experiences, or ask questions, we’re open to continuing the discussion here on the forum. Together, we’ll keep strengthening robotics and inspiring future generations!