2012 Zephyr

Zephyr, our 2012 FIRST Robot, aims to be both mobile and accurate when it comes to shooting the ball in REBOUND RUMBLE. The four-tread design gives Zephyr the ability to cross over the bump in the middle of the field, as well as a turn on a dime. The robot also has super-shifters, allowing for greater control which will aid in balancing alone or in tandem on the bridge. In addition, Zephyr has a street-sweeper-like ball collector in the front. We use flat, rubber stars to bring the balls into the conveyor belt system. The conveyor belt system brings the balls though the middle of the robot and up to its turntable-mounted ball shooter. With the rotating shooter on the top of the robot, Zephyr is able to aim and make shots from anywhere on the field. In tests, the shooter consistently hits its target from distances of 30+ feet! With all of these elements combined, it will make a great competition robot!

Game:

Rebound Rumble℠ is played by two competing Alliances on a flat, 27 x 54 foot field. Each Alliance consists of three robots. They compete to score as many basketballs into their hoops as they can during a 2 minute and 15-second match. The higher the hoop in which the basketball is scored, the more points the Alliance receives. The match begins with a 15-second Hybrid Period in which robots operate independently of driver inputs. During this Hybrid Period, one robot on each Alliance may be controlled using a Microsoft Kinect. Baskets scored during this period are worth extra points. For the remainder of the match, drivers control robots and try to maximize their alliance score by scoring as many baskets as possible.