Squat is an autonomous squash robot being built by 13 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.
On August 4 we took Squat to SquashBusters in Boston — a nonprofit that mentors underprivileged youth in both squash and academics. Ishaan Mehra ’27, Daniel Peregudov ’27, Milo DuBois ’28, Kanishk Venna ’29, and Ariyana Mehra ’30 made the trip.
We walked their players through how the robot actually works. Two high-speed cameras record at over 100fps, and a neural network finds the ball in every frame. We triangulate its position into real 3D court coordinates, then run that through a physics model tuned for squash — drag on the ball, and how it comes off the wall and the floor. What comes out is a prediction of where the ball is headed before it gets there. Mecanum wheels let Squat drive in any direction without turning, so it can slide into position and play the return. All of it runs onboard.
Afterward we set the robot up courtside and recorded their session, capturing rallies from Squat’s own point of view. That footage becomes training data for our ball-tracking models: real players, real pace, real lighting — exactly what the system needs to learn from. Every rally sharpens the next version.
Thanks to SquashBusters for having us. We’ll be back as Squat keeps developing.
Squat positions in the service box, intercepts the player’s straight drive, and returns a dropshot — running the drill continuously.
This is the drill we designed the robot around. Because Squat moves on court with the player instead of firing from a fixed point, it makes for more continuous, demanding practice than a stationary ball machine can offer.
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 Hand-drawn engineering blueprints of the finished Squat — the full component layout alongside the design concept.
Component blueprint — frame, shooter, hopper & drive 
Design concept — finished form 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 13-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 assembly in progress.
April 17, 2026 drive test — mecanum motion: forward and back, strafing, and rotation at 40% speed. Squat can also move diagonally (not shown).
May 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.