Well AIR Strikers, the 2010 FRC challenge BREAKAWAY has been announced.  Our kickoff this past Saturday was a great success.  50 students, mentors, and family members gathered at Building 80 to view the kickoff live from Manchester, NH.  After viewing the game animation, students broke into groups to analyze the game and understand its’ rules and constraints.

At our meeting today, students recapped our kickoff meeting for members not in attendance on Saturday.  We discussed the many ways to play this game and our top priorities for design.  Students then broke up into mechanical, electrical, programming, and strategy sub-groups.

Summary:
Two alliances of three teams each compete on a 27′ x 54′ field with bumps attempting to earn points by collecting soccer balls in their goals. Additional bonus points are earned for each robot not touching the field at the end of the match.

Robots:
• Dimensions at start of game 28″ x 38″ x 60″
• Max. dimensions during last 20 seconds of game not to exceed 7′ in diameter or 90″ in height.
•Weight not to exceed 120 lbs., excluding batteries and bumpers.

Simplified Game Play Rules:
• Robots may not possess more than one ball at a time, but they may herd and kick multiple balls at a time. Balls must remain in contact with the floor while in robot’s possession.
• Alliances must return scored balls to the field quickly.
• Only one robot at a time is permitted to play defense in front of the opponent’s goals.

Link to the game animation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex90Aw4PdAI&feature=player_embedded
Link to rules: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=452

Our meeting schedule this week is Monday through Thursday, 6:00 pm to 8:45 pm at Building 2 on the Naval Station.  Saturday we will be meeting from 12-4 at Building 2 and then go over to Building 80 for a game night!  The game night is for our FRC team members to get to know each other.  More details later this week.  ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE READING THE RULES! Especially section 7 about the game.

If families or students have any questions, please reply to this email.

Great kickoff everyone!