It’s been a while since the last competition season, and we were eager to take last year’s robot out for one last spin. The 13th annual Brunswick Eruption gave us the perfect opportunity to do just that. Earlier in the week, we Daleks had worked on the robot a little, fixing some code, wiring, and mechanics, just to make sure the bot was still in fighting shape.

BE is a one-day event, so there were only five qualification matches before the elimination matches. We decided to rotate drivers so more people could gain valuable experience, and the results weren’t too shabby—by lunch, we were 3-2, and in 20th place out of 41 overall.  The morning wasn’t without its frustrations (how on Earth do you break a roller off of a Mecanum wheel if you aren’t actively trying?!), but we faced our setbacks calmly and ended up quickly fixing all our issues.

We were then selected as the 4th team on the 5th-seeded alliance. Along with our partners (Team 25, Team 56, and Team 1302), we advanced through the quarterfinals only to be defeated in the semis. We’d like to extend our hearty congratulations to the winners, and we hope to be back for next year’s BE!

Not only did we have fun at Brunswick Eruption, but we also accomplished many goals. Between the driver rotation, the hands-on work leading up to the event, and scouting, our newer members got a lot of exposure and their first taste of robotic action. By sharing experiences and simulating the environment of a competition, we’ve become better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

And I’d be lying if I said we haven’t caught a little case of competition fever.

Pictures can be cycled faster by clicking on them.

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