2010’s FIRST Game : Breakaway!

Breakaway, similar to soccer, is this year’s new game. The game is played on a 27′ x 54′ field, with two foot-high ridges across the field. In addition to the ridges, there are two towers on the field.  Two alliances, each with three teams and therefore three robots, compete with each other to earn points by collecting soccer balls in their goals. Additional bonus points are earned for each robot not touching the field at the end of the match. Bonus points are also awarded for any robot that can hang onto the tower and tunnel. Extra points are awarded if another robot can hang onto a robot that is hanging onto the tower and tunnel. Good luck teams!

2009’s FIRST Game : Lunacy!

Lunacy is played on a 27′ by 54′ field covered by carpet, called the crater. On top of the crater lays the Regolith, a layer of Glasliner FRP (a gel-coated, fiberglass-reinforced, polymer material). In honor of the 40th anniversary of man landing on the moon, low friction wheels are used on the robot to simulate driving as a rover. Two 3-team alliances, one red and one blue, compete in each match. Robots start on launch pads, positioned around the perimeter of the arena. The object of the game is to score more points than your opponent by scoring moon rocks into the opponent’s trailers. The robot is programmed to move around the field, and has a camera to track other robots on the field.trailer. Each game piece scored during the autonomous period is worth two points.

In the 2009 season, Team 1829 was awarded the Xerox Creativity Award for their unique carbon-fiber design and the Regional Engineering Inspiration Award for effectively inspiring students and exposing them to professional engineers and engineering principles.  The Engineering Inspiration Award is the second highest in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and allowed the team to compete in the FIRST Robotics Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.