Squat is an autonomous squash robot being built by 12 students at Concord Academy, Massachusetts. The robot detects the ball using onboard cameras, moves to position on the court, and returns shots. When complete, it will be deployed at SquashBusters — a Boston nonprofit that runs squash programs for underserved youth.
Built at Concord Academy over 14 months. No kit, no template. Every subsystem — the mecanum drive, the stereo vision rig, the flywheel shooter — was designed from scratch by the team.
Squat on court — SquashBotics, 2026 Complete design drawings of the finished Squat — drive base, stereo vision rig, and flywheel ball-shooter — will be published here.
Squat is the first prototype from SquashBotics. Our goal for this model is a smart ball machine — one that acts as an advanced coach: it both drills players and analyzes their performance.
DrillsSquat moves on the court with the player, making it a more effective tool than a stationary ball machine. In the drop-drive drill, for example, the robot positions itself in the service box, intercepts the player's straight drive, and returns a dropshot — creating more continuous, demanding practice than a regular machine.
Player analysisUsing the two onboard cameras, Squat will analyze a player's gameplay: technique, footwork, strategy, and shot quality. These metrics will be translated into coaching feedback. A companion app to surface this data is planned for a future phase.
Lab build — SquashBotics
Software team — Concord Academy, 2026This project started with one person researching an idea and has grown into a 12-person team with three dedicated sub-teams, two rounds of funding, and a near-complete first prototype.
The Engineering team has built the frame, designed all components, and has a near-final robot build — the ball-shooter is still in production. The Software team has a working ball tracking model. The Media team has video content ready for deployment.
SquashBusters brings squash to underserved youth across Boston — providing courts, coaching, and equipment to kids who otherwise wouldn't have access to the sport.
By using a robotic aid, we reduce the cost of 1:1 training — the robot can run drills for hours on end without pay, extending practice time well beyond what any coaching schedule can cover. Several SquashBotics team members already volunteer there.
Current build — shooter in progressMay 2026. The frame, drive, and vision system are complete. The ball-shooter is the remaining piece before full integration.
Want the full breakdown — every subsystem, what's done and what's still in production? See the technology page →
We received a $2,000 school grant and raised another $600 in-school — all spent on initial parts. The ball-shooter is still in production. We're raising $10,000 to get Squat onto a real court at SquashBusters.