R5D5 (Robot Five, District Five) proved to be an interesting year. The game produced by F.I.R.S.T. to challenge the competing teams that year was Overdrive. District Five robotic compaction team strived for a new, revolutionizing technique in their designs. They strived for simplicity. For the fist time in three years, the robot was running before shipping date. This has not happened since the days of Bob.
A quick over look on Overdrive Two teams of three started on opposing sides on each others left side of the field. At the beginning there is a time for programmed only movement of the robot. The robots could score 4 points for every quarter line they crossed or 10 points for knocking down a ball. During the time of human control, robots score 2 points for going over their finish line, and score 8 points for getting the ball over the middle ladder bar and 2 additional points for pushing it under the middle ladder bar. Teams get 16 bonus points for each additional ball they have on the top of the middle ladder bar at the end of the round.
The goal of the year was to create a simple robot, since D5 has a tendency of over complicating into a destructive downfall that does not do the job it was intended for. We are proud of our over complication needless to say. Our robot was a green flat board with two retractable arms that start in the vertical stance, that then came down as needed. The arms where not effective and thus where jammed so they would not move. With the low risk robot, came in low scoring. Constant yet low, like CDs or other investments. (bad joke) R5D5 ended in second to last place. Yet our engineering provided us with publicity over other teams. Our chassis was a thick, sturdy plastic known as UHMW. All the parts could be removed and replaced if needed. To add further attraction, we had a set of Omni-Wheels. That allowed us to turn without changing the direction of the robot.
In the end, 2008 season was a punch in the face. A flailing, hard to control robot and another year of mechanical issues led us to a less than ideal finish at Palmetto. Facing incredible problems and issues, we bound together for a reformat of the team and ideals after the competition. We are eagerly awaiting what this year has in store for us with our newfound leadership and direction.