2017 - FIRST Steamworks
In “FIRST STEAMWORKS”, robots had to shoot wiffleballs representing 'fuel' into a simulated boiler which transferred 'steam' into an 'airship' in the middle of the field. Each alliance had one airship, which they pressurized with steam from the boiler and loaded with plastic gears from the field in order to spin up rotors and 'take flight.' At the end of the match, robots climbed and hung on ropes attached to the airship for additional points.
Awards:
- Los Angeles Regional - Industrial Design Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Winners
- Arizona West Regional - Innovation in Control Award
- Arizona West Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Newton Division Finalists
2016 - FIRST Stronghold
In “FIRST STRONGHOLD”, robots attacked opponent alliance’s castles by ‘breaching’ various ‘defenses’ and shooting ‘boulders’ into their towers to weaken them so they could be captured. Our alliance was fortunate on the Einstein Championship field and battled some great teams all the way through the finals to win the Championship.
Awards:
- Los Angeles Regional - Industrial Design Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Finalists
- Ventura Regional - Innovation in Control Award
- Ventura Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Carver Division Winners
- World Championship - Winners
2015 - Recycle Rush
In “Recycle Rush” we stacked ‘totes’ five and six high and then set recycle bins on top of them with extra points awarded for pool noodles stuck in the top. Our robot was unique in its ability to put three recycle bins at a time on top of two stacks of totes.
Awards:
- Los Angeles Regional - Industrial Design Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Winners
- Ventura Regional - Excellence in Engineering Award
- Ventura Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Galileo Division Winners
- World Championship - Einstein Quarter-Finalists
2014 - Aerial Assist
During “Aerial Assist,” each robot on an alliance had to pass the 24″ ball to their alliance partners to complete an “assist” which added points to the score when the ball was then shot into the 6 foot high goal above the driver’s stations. Our team was a regional winner at the San Diego Regional, finalists at the Los Angeles regional, and competed at the Championships making an appearance in the quarter finals of the Newton Division.
Awards:
- Los Angeles Regional - Innovation in Control Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Finalists
- San Diego Regional - Industrial Design Award
- San Diego Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Newton Division Quarter-Finalists
- Indiana Robotics Invitational - Finalists
2013 - Ultimate Ascent
For the game “Ultimate Ascent,” robots scored goals by shooting Frisbees into one of three goals over each set of driver’s stations. Additionally, robots were also given points for hanging from, or climbing, a pyramid in the center of each alliance’s zone. Our team competed at the Los Angeles and Las Vegas Regional. During the summer, our students ran our first week-long LEGO robotics camp for 20 elementary school kids.
Awards:
- Los Angeles Regional - Participants
- Las Vegas Regional - Participants
2012 - Rebound Rumble
For “Rebound Rumble,” robots from each alliance could score points by shooting foam basketballs into hoops at a variety of heights. At the end of the match, robots had to balance with alliance partners on a teeter-totter style “bridge.” Robots could also balance with robots on the opposing alliance for special “coopertition” points during qualification matches.
Awards:
- Los Angeles Regional - Engineering Excellence Award
- Central Valley Regional - Engineering Excellence Award
- Central Valley Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Newton Division Finalists
2011 - Logo Motion
This year featured “Logo Motion.” Robots played with inner tubes shaped like each component of the FIRST logo. For points, robots hung inner tubes on racks to create the FIRST logo. Additionally, at the end of a match, robots could deploy minibots to climb a pole and score extra points.
Awards:
- Arizona Regional - Industrial Design Award
- Arizona Regional - Winners
- Los Angeles Regional - Industrial Design Award
- World Championship - Archimedes Division Finalists
2010 - Breakaway
During “Breakaway,” robots could score points by making goals with balls, similar to soccer. At the end of the match, robots could score additional points by hanging from a tower in the center of each alliance’s zone.
Awards:
- Arizona Regional - Engineering Excellence Award
- Arizona Regional - Winners
- Los Angeles Regional - Industrial Design Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Archimedes Division Semi-Finalists
- Indiana Robotics Invitational - Winners
2009 - Lunacy
The game “Lunacy” featured a special low-traction field surface to mimic what it would be like to drive robots on the moon. To score points, robots on one alliance had to place balls into trailers towed by robots on the opposing alliance.
Awards:
- Las Vegas Regional - Judges's Award
- Las Vegas Regional - Finalists
- Los Angeles Regional - Judges's Award
2008 - Overdrive
This year featured “Overdrive,” which required robots to race around a track-style game field with large 40 inch diameter “trackballs.” Points were scored by crossing certain lines with a trackball, or by causing a trackball to go over a centerfield overpass.
Awards:
- San Diego Regional - Finalists
- Los Angeles Regional - Industrial Design Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Galileo Division Semi-Finalists
- Indiana Robotics Invitational - Winners
2007 - Rack 'n' Roll
For the game “Rack & Roll,” teams scored goals by arranging inner tubes in rows or columns on a cylindrical rack in the center of the field. At the end of each match, robots could deploy ramps to elevate other robots off the floor for extra points.
Awards:
- San Diego Regional - Industrial Design Award
- San Diego Regional - Winners
- Los Angeles Regional - Quality Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Industrial Design Award
- World Championship - Curie Division Winners
- World Championship - Einstein Semi-Finalists
2006 - Aim High
In the game “Aim High”, small “poof” balls were used as the game pieces. We built a “high shooter” and frequently would score points in the high goal as well as scoring at the end of the match by finishing on the alliance platform.
Awards:
- Arizona Regional - Creativity Award
- Arizona Regional - Semi-Finalists
- Los Angeles Regional - Creativity Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Finalists
2005 - Triple Play
In “Triple Play,” small tetrahedrons were stacked upon nine large tetrahedron goals to score points. The number of tetrahedrons stacked on the goals and arranged by the in a tic-tac-toe pattern determined the winning alliance.
Awards:
- Sacramento Regional - Woodie Flower's Finalist Award (Matt Driggs)
- Sacramento Regional - Quarter-Finalists
- Los Angeles Regional - Industrial Design Award
- Los Angeles Regional - Winners
- World Championship - Newton Division Winner
- World Championship - Winners
- Indiana Robotics Invitational - Finalists
