What We Do

Dover Shockwave Robotics operates year-round in three intentional phases. Each phase builds on the one before it, and knowledge transfers continuously from one generation of students to the next.

Pre-Season (September – December)

Our primary skill development phase. Newer members begin foundational training in computer aided design (CAD), embedded programming, advanced manufacturing, and robot systems, while returning students take on advanced projects and step into mentoring roles, teaching newer students the same skills they were taught the year before. This is where leadership develops.

The team also competes in off-season events such as BattleCry @ WPI , the NH Governor’s Cup , Battle of the Bay , Mayhem at Merrimack, and Girls Behind the Glass . Outreach events include the Thunder Over NH Airshow , events supporting Bring Back the Trades , and the Dover Apple Harvest Day , our largest annual community outreach event with upwards of 60,000 attendees.

Build Season (January – April)

Begins each January when FIRST reveals a new game challenge. Every team in the world receives the same information, the same rules, and the same clock. Our students have approximately ten weeks to analyze the challenge, design a solution, build and program a competition robot, and compete in the FIRST New England District alongside more than 180 teams from six states. The students own this process — design, fabrication, programming, and competition strategy all belong to them. Our mentors guide, ask the right questions, and help students turn their ideas into reality.

Post-Season (May – August)

Returning students refine what they built through off-season events such as BattleCry @ WPI , and the newest members get their introduction to the program. Outreach also continues: students bring robots and explain engineering to the public at Makerfest at the Children’s Museum of NH and at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard STEM Day.