The Lunacy of a FIRST Robotics Competion

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) has announced their 2009 season game, Lunacy.

FRC is starting out the 2009 season with a new controller, the CompactRIO from National Instruments. The cRIO appears to be an upgrade from past controllers. It remains to be seen if the teams can overcome the learning curve to use the new features. You can listen to Dean Kamen talk about the new control system here: http://first.wpi.edu/FRC/frccon325.html

The game this year is a bit different in that the goals are towed on trailers behind each robot. The goal is to get as many balls into your opponents goals as possible. This can be done by designated human players throwing the balls at the trailers, or robots shooting or dumping the balls in the goal.

Like previous years, alliances of three teams each will compete on a 27×54 foot field. This year the field will be known as the crater and is covered with a slick polymer material called "regolith". Special wheels further reduce the friction and simulate the low gravity of the moon. The low traction playing field will pose a significant challenge to the teams this year. I expect we will see a lot of collisions. Fortunately FRC has lifted the collision penalty for this season.

I’m planning on attending at least one day of the Dallas Regional event and hope to see some of you there! Good Luck and may the best alliance win!

More links:
US First
NASA TV Webcasts
Chief Delphi