FRC Team 980 competed in its first 2013 regional competition in San Diego on March 7 – 9.

The robot operated in every match, with our team compiling a record of 4 wins and 6 losses against a strong field. Our team captain, Emma, shown driving the robot here, sang the national anthem for the crowd on Saturday morning. We had a great time and learned a lot at our first event.

We took our “mobility platform” to the pre-ship scrimmage at Harvey-Mudd College on Sunday, Feb 17. Three students had the opportunity to drive the robot on a competition field with other teams. Here’s a picture of our functioning drive base with our red bumpers:

Team 980 is in the home stretch of build season with just two days until we stop work on our robot!

Team 980 members are working hard, building our 2013 competition robot!

We are meeting Mon-Thurs from 6 pm to 9 pm and Sat from 10 am to 4 pm at 907 Flower St in Glendale.

Here is a CAD image of our robot climbing up the leg of a pyramid:

Team members are prototyping a frisbee catapult, laying-out electronics and pneumatics, assembling the chassis and drive train, and designing our control system. As an example, we’re deciding how to approach the pyramid leg when ready to climb: can we use the camera or should we design mechanical guides to properly align the robot?

We plan to take our robot to the scrimmage at Harvey-Mudd on Sun. Feb 17 (just 2-1/2 weeks from now).

Team 980 greeted the 2013 FRC Season with a Kickoff Event at our new build site.

The new game is called Ultimate Ascent! Here’s the game animation:

This year’s game has some really tough challenges! Teams can score by having the robots toss frisbees into goals on the far end of the field. Teams can also score by having the robot climb a “monkey-bar” pyramid, with three levels of difficulty.

Team 980 will analyze the game, develop our strategy and brainstorm during the first week.

Go, ThunderBots!

Team 980 has relocated to a spacious facility in Glendale provided by Walt Disney Imagineering, a major sponsor of FIRST Robotics Competition teams. The facility is located within a warehouse at 907 Flower St. in Glendale (near the Glendale Power Plant).

We’re ready for FRC 2013 Season Kickoff on Sat. January 5!

Check it out  here:  FRC_2013_Kick-off_Flyer