On Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, nine graduating seniors from the Somerville Highlander High School Robotics Team (FRC 6201) embarked on a behind-the-scenes journey into the epicenter of climate innovation at Greentown Labs—North America’s largest incubator for climate tech startups. This visit came as part of Somernova’s sponsorship of the Greentown ACCEL program, furthering our commitment to provide access to the innovation economy to Somerville youth.
For these aspiring engineers and scientists, many of whom are preparing to pursue degrees in robotics, mechanical engineering, computer science, and other STEAM disciplines, the visit was an eye-opening introduction to the future of hardware-driven climate solutions. The visit was hosted by Greg Ralich, Greentown’s Vice President of Labs and Safety, alongside a cohort of Greentown’s talented college interns. Students were immersed in an environment where engineering meets entrepreneurship—where ideas scale from prototype to impact.
The Robotics Team kicked off the visit with a live demonstration of the autonomous systems they built during high school. With actuators whirring and code in motion, the room came alive as they showcased their end-of-season robot in action. Greentown interns and staff engaged deeply with the students, asking questions about design trade-offs, control systems, and iterative testing. The demo sparked not just conversation, but connection—bridging the world of K–12 STEM education with cutting-edge climate tech R&D.
More than just a display of technical talent, the demo underscored the role of robotics and automation in accelerating decarbonization. From intelligent waste sorting to autonomous navigation systems, the throughline was clear: the same foundational skills these students are building today are powering tomorrow’s breakthroughs in energy, infrastructure, and sustainability.
Robotics Team demonstrating the autonomous systems they built during high school.
Following the demo, Greg Ralich led a guided tour of the Greentown Labs campus, highlighting how the 100+ resident startups leverage shared prototyping spaces, precision tools, advanced fabrication labs, and entrepreneurial support to rapidly iterate and deploy climate-critical technologies.
Each stop on the tour revealed a different facet of applied innovation—from microgrid testing stations to rapid prototyping bays—providing students with a tangible understanding of how climate solutions are engineered, tested, and scaled. Greg emphasized the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in solving the world’s toughest challenges—where material science meets software, AI meets electrical engineering, and science fiction becomes engineering reality.
A standout moment came when students encountered a startup testing a truck outfitted with ground-penetrating radar (GPR). The group learned how ultra-wideband radar systems can detect the sub-layer conditions of roadways—critical data that informs the navigation and safety logic for autonomous vehicles. Watching this technology in action offered students a front-row seat to the intersection of geospatial data, robotics, and transportation innovation.
At another stop, students visited rStream, a startup deploying AI-powered robotic sorting systems for the recycling industry. Their modular Mini-MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) harnesses machine vision and mechatronics to sort waste streams more efficiently—significantly reducing contamination rates and making recycling more economically viable. It was a powerful lesson in systems thinking: how hardware, software, and sustainability converge to solve big, messy problems.
The tour concluded with presentations from two Greentown startups: the ACCEL Team and Raptor Maps. The ACCEL Team shared their mission to empower early-stage climate tech entrepreneurs through capital, mentorship, and commercialization pathways—highlighting how great engineering needs great ecosystems to succeed.
Raptor Maps delivered a compelling overview of their platform, which integrates aerial drones, AI, and advanced analytics to monitor and optimize performance across utility-scale solar farms. Their tech is helping increase energy yield, reduce downtime, and improve the financial viability of solar as a mainstream energy source—illustrating how digital tools can supercharge renewable infrastructure.
Throughout the day, students gained a multidimensional view of the climate tech ecosystem—from early-stage ideation to scalable deployment. They left with a deeper understanding of how engineering innovation directly impacts energy equity, environmental resilience, and global carbon reduction.
This experience not only reinforced the value of experiential learning and mentorship—it also ignited a sense of possibility. The Somerville High Robotics Team saw a future they could help build, one prototype at a time.
A heartfelt thank you to Greg Ralich, the Greentown interns, and the startups who generously shared their time and knowledge. Your commitment to cultivating the next generation of climate innovators made this visit truly unforgettable.
July 8, 2025