Tinkering Teen Repairs SWAT Robot for Police

Dallas-area high school student Adrian Mayberry fixes broken police department robot in his spare time.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 9:10am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a police search and rescue robot, its internal components illuminated by neon cyan and magenta lights, conveying a sense of technical sophistication and readiness for emergency response.A high-tech police robot, repaired by a talented young tinkerer, stands ready to assist in emergency situations.Duncanville Today

Adrian Mayberry, a high school junior in Duncanville, Texas, recently repaired a broken search and rescue robot for his local police department. The robot, used for situations involving bomb threats or suspicious devices, had arrived at the department already malfunctioning. After the police couldn't get it working, they turned to Adrian's engineering class at school, and the teen took on the project, spending hours troubleshooting and repairing the robot's issues with the controller and wheels.

Why it matters

This story highlights the value of hands-on tinkering and technical skills, especially among young people. Adrian's ability to diagnose and fix the complex police robot showcases the potential of STEM education to empower the next generation of problem-solvers. It also demonstrates the important role that community partnerships can play in leveraging local talent to support public services.

The details

After the Duncanville Police Department's new search and rescue robot arrived already broken, they tried unsuccessfully to get it working on their own. They then turned to the local high school's engineering class for help. Adrian Mayberry, a junior at the school, took a special interest in the project. He says he took the robot's manuals home, read them cover-to-cover, and then started troubleshooting. He found that the Xbox-style controller wasn't communicating properly with the computer, and the robot was also having trouble with its wheels. After checking every component, Adrian was able to get the robot functioning again through his repairs. It took about a month, but he then trained the police department on how to operate the device.

  • Adrian started working on the robot in early March 2026.
  • It took him about a month to fully repair and test the robot.
  • The repaired robot was returned to the Duncanville Police Department in early April 2026.

The players

Adrian Mayberry

A 16-year-old high school junior in Duncanville, Texas who has a passion for tinkering and repairing robots.

Duncanville Police Department

The local police department in Duncanville, Texas that acquired a new search and rescue robot but was unable to get it working until they turned to the high school engineering class for help.

Duncanville Independent School District

The school district that includes the high school where Adrian Mayberry is a student, and whose engineering class was involved in repairing the police department's robot.

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What they’re saying

“Adrian says he took the manuals home. It took him a few hours, but he read them cover to cover. Then he started troubleshooting. Turns out the controller–which happens to belong to an Xbox system–wasn't communicating with the computer. That had to be fixed. The robot was also having trouble turning, so wheels needed to be replaced. Adrian says he checked over every inch of the device to make sure no wires or contacts were loose, and after taking it on some test runs in the hallways at the high school, the robot was ready to be returned to the police department.”

— Duncanville Independent School District News

“To get something to work. To take something that's broken and bring it back to life. That's what I live for.”

— Adrian Mayberry

What’s next

The Duncanville Police Department plans to continue working with Adrian Mayberry and the high school engineering class to maintain and potentially upgrade the repaired search and rescue robot.

The takeaway

This story highlights the value of hands-on STEM education and the potential for young people to apply their technical skills to solve real-world problems in their local communities. Adrian's ability to diagnose and repair the police department's complex robot demonstrates how nurturing tinkering and problem-solving abilities can empower the next generation of innovators.