2008 Season: Overdrive

MARS 2008 Team Highlights

A good deal of work is done over the summer and prior to kick-off. Every year we revise our team structure with help from member and mentor comments and feedback. Off season we focus on bringing new members up to speed with such activities as a vex competition. Last year we participated in the record attendance event ROBOFEST held at the Florida Science Museum. We revise our team rules. Monthly activities focusing on community outreach and service are developed and executed. Team promotions such as the robot mounted T-Shirt launcher and a myriad of activities and demonstrations at local middle and elementary schools. Experienced team members are encouraged to demonstrate leadership via taking charge of the teams sub-teams. New members are encouraged to join in and participate along with the old.

A big thanks to our 2008 supporters. They helped make this season succeed!

2008: FIRST Overdrive
2008 Overdrive Play Field

FIRST Overdrive is a game played on the track. Two Alliances, one red and one blue, composed of three teams each, compete in each match. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent by making counter-clockwise laps with your robot around the track while moving large trackballs over and/or under the overpass that bisects the track.

Match Format:

A match is 2 minutes and 15 seconds long. The first 15 seconds of a match is called the hybrid period (explained later) and the remaining 2 minutes of the match is teleoperated (also explained later).
A hybrid period starts each match in which the robots are controlled by either pre-programmed instructions or transmitted information from the Robo-Coach.
The 15 second hybrid period is followed by the teleoperated period during which the drivers take control of the robot.
There may be a short pause between the hybrid period and the start of the teleoperated period as the player’s controls are activated.
The robots continue to play the game until the end of the teleoperated period.