On January 4th, 2020, we kicked off our build season by watching the live twitch video released by FIRST that explains this year’s game, Infinite Recharge. The main objective is to score as many points as we can. The basics of the game include alliances starting on opposite sides of the field, with the objective of making goals with yellow balls, called power cells, and using a control panel, which is a colored wheel, to reach stage three. Stage one is completed when nine power cells have been scored, which can be completed as part of the 15 second autonomous period. The autonomous period is when neither side’s operators or drivers are allowed to control the robot. Instead, the robot relies upon a pre-programmed code, created by the students of each team. Additionally, points scored during the autonomous period are worth twice as much as points scored during the teleoperated period (teleop). During teleop drivers and operators on both sides are then allowed to control their robots. Then stage two is completed once an additional 20 power cells have been scored, and when rotation control has been completed. Rotation control is completed when the control panel is rotated three to five times. Stage three is completed after another 20 power cells have been scored, and position control has been finished. In order to complete position control, alliances are assigned to a color on the control panel and they must match the control panel to that color. In the last 30 seconds of the match, regardless of what stage alliances are at, end game starts. Teams will make our way to the center of the shield generator. When there, robots will use a mechanism to grip the bar over it and pull itself completely off the ground. For more information about the game, click the link at the bottom of the page.
Following the video, our team split up into groups and went through the game manual looking for restrictions, measurements, and game rules. After we had recorded all of this information, we discussed as a full team our wants and needs for the robot, and the fastest way to score points after looking at the size of the field. After kick-off, some of our members shared their thoughts about this year’s game.
RJ McLaughlin, a junior, says that he thinks a big obstacle this year would be potentially a robot falling during the end game climb because it’s “basically a hanger, it can be swinging and along with the mechanism, your robot is also swinging”. Eager to overcome this new challenge, Anthony Sabbatini, a junior, says this year’s game will be fun. “I really enjoy the way you shoot the balls, and how you can score into three different goals”. He also says that there are many different ways you can make the robot for this game, making this year’s competition super unique and “it will really let us see teams’ true talents”. Needless to say, we are super excited to be apart of this year’s game.