We participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition®. Each year, we are shown a game for which we must both design and build a robot to compete in. The six-week build season begins with the Kickoff in early January, where we are presented the game. During the following six weeks, we have to design, build, program, and test our robot. We must ensure it follows the strict set of rules FIRST® gives us. After the build season comes the competitions. First comes the Regional Competitions. Team 223 Xtreme Heat participates in the New Jersey and New York Regionals. After the Regionals, there is the National competition held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Click above to view an animation of the game
The 2008 Game is called FIRST® Overdrive. There are two alliances of three teams each. The game starts with the robots lined up at their home walls. There are two 40 in. trackballs per alliance which are randomly placed on the overpass. The first period of the game is hybrid mode. In this semi-autonomous mode, robots are controlled by a pre-written program. Unlike in previous games, the RoboCoach, a new posistion, can send a limited amount of commands to the robot via a TV remote. The goal in the hybrid period is to race around the track. Points are awarded for each quadrant crossed. In addition, there is a bonus for knocking the trackballs off of the overpass. Following the hybrid period is the teloperated period where humans control the robot. During this period, points are scored for each time a robot or a ball crosses the finish line. Extra points are awarded when the trackball goes over the overpass. The final task is to place the trackballs back on the overpass at the end of the game.