More Than Robots
Our FTC history is not as long as our FRC or FLL but still as interesting and amazing to look back on.
Our first FTC team began competing in 2018 in the Rover Rukus challenge and managed to score some great awards and begin an amazing journey for the club to continue.
Into The Deep – 2024
The ocean is more than what you can see on the horizon. Beneath the surface lies our planet’s most complex ecosystems, full of life and potential for exploration and learning, where each inhabitant has a role to play in building a thriving environment. During this season teams will use their STEM and collaboration skills to explore life beneath the surface of the ocean. Along the way, we’ll uncover the potential in each of us to strengthen our community and innovate for a better world with healthy oceans.
During the first 30 seconds of the match the robots operate autonomously. Without guidance from their drivers, the robots score samples in their baskets or nets, or specimens on the chambers. They can collect additional samples to score in baskets or make into specimens and park before the end of the period.
During the remaining 2 minutes of the match, human drivers take control of their robot. Robots collect and sort samples from under the submersable in the center of the field. The yellow samples are scored in the baskets and the aliance specific (i.e., elements owned or associated with a specific alliance) red and blue samples are returned to the observation zone for the human players to collect. Human players can pick up samples delivered to the observation zone and add a hanging clip to create a specimen. Specimens can then be returned to the observation zone on the field where robots can pick them back up and score them on the chambers located on the submersible.
As time runs out, robots can either park in the obersvation zone or race back to climb the rungs on the submersible so they can ascend out of the deep.
The alliance that earns the most points wins the match!
Pepsea (Team 19377) was our young team this season with many of the students having never competed before. They got to learn a lot this season from start to finish.
The team decided to build their robot modular so that each component could be worked on simultaniously, E.G. the arm, scissorlift, gripper, intake, and climbing mechanism.
Pepsea’s strategy included placing a preloaded sample into the net, parking in the observation zone, placing specimens on the chamber, and finally going for a seconf level ascent.
The team competed amazingly for a very new team receiving the Motivate Award 2nd place.
Pobblebonk (Team 26878) had the best time this season designing, building and competing with a fully 3d printed robot (it may have fallen over a few times). They were a small but mighty team with 4 of the most experienced FTC members with a great goal in mind.
The Pobblebonk’s strategy for this season’s challenge was repeatedly scoring samples in the high basket, as well as parking at end game.
With their fully 3D printed robot they recieved the Design Award.
Sushi Rollers (Team 15210) who were in the
winning alliance at the SA Regionals and went on to compete at Nationals in Sydney.
The Sushi Rollers’ strategy had a few steps, firstly they wanted to score a preloaded specimen onto the high chamber, bring back samples to their human player to convert to more specimens, and lastly climbing the first level using a viper slide.
The team competed really well at Nationals even when their claw fell off during their first match, they worked to get it fixed ready to get back onto the field for their second.
CenterStage – 2023
This season we had 2 teams competing, Team 19377 Pez 2.0 and Team 15210 BBQ Shapes. Both teams worked hard over the season to design and build their robots ready to compete in the SA Regional and hopefully go on to the Australian National Championships.
This years theme was CentreStage with a focus on showing art through STEM. Teams had to work together through alliances.
Matches had two distinct periods of play: a 30-second Autonomous period followed by a two-minute Driver- Controlled period. The last thirty seconds of the Driver- Controlled period is called the End Game which adds new scoring opportunities for the Robots to achieve.
At the SA Regionals Pez 2.0 received the Inspire Award Winner and continued on to the Nationals in Sydney while BBQ Shape won the Control Award Winner and the Connect Award runner up however unfortunately they didn’t make it to the Nationals.
Team 19377 Pez 2.0 went on to compete at the FTC Australian National Championships in Sydney with the team being praised highly for their kindness towards those around them. It was an incredible experience for a fairly young team and even though they didn’t receive any awards we are still so proud of them.
Power Play – 2022 (Waffle)
This years theme was Power Play which involved team robots to traverse around the field to access Cones
located against the front or back field wall. Cones may also be placed by the Human Player into the Substation for Robots to access and score on the Junctions. Cones are placed on Ground, Low, Medium, and High Junctions to score different amounts of points based on the height of the Junction.
This season we competed with 2 teams, Team 19377 (Wizz Fizz) and Team 15210 (Wafflers).
In this season, robots must travel around the field to put cones onto Junctions (posts). The cones are Alliance-specific for scoring with 30 red and 30 blue.
Team 15210 competed at the Regional in Adelaide where they recieved the Inspire Award, 1st Runner Up for the Think and Connect Awards. They went on to compete at the Australian Nationals and were finalists in the Think Award, and were picked as 4th finals alliance.
Power Play – 2022 (Wizz Fizz)
This years theme was Power Play which involved team robots to traverse around the field to access Cones
located against the front or back field wall. Cones may also be placed by the Human Player into the Substation for Robots to access and score on the Junctions. Cones are placed on Ground, Low, Medium, and High Junctions to score different amounts of points based on the height of the Junction.
This season we competed with 2 teams, Team 19377 (Wizz Fizz) and Team 15210 (Wafflers).
Team 19377 with Wizz Fizz also competed at the Regional in Adelaide where they received the Innovate Award, and 2nd runner up for the Connect Award.
Unfortunately, Team 19377 didn’t go on to compete at the Australian Nationals however they did amazing and enjoyed themselves immensely.
Freight Frenzy – 2021 (Roo)
In this season, Freight Frenzy, we had two teams competing within the competition.
Team 19377 Joey RoboRoos and their robot, Roo, had to compete in alliances where they had to move Freight and Cargo (boxes). The robot had to traverse over barriers to access Freight in the Warehouse. Two Alliance Shipping Hubs are located toward the centre of the field, and one Shared Shipping Hub toward the back of the field. There are 4 barcodes, 2 for the redalliance and 2 for the blue alliance. The Carousels are located in the corners of the field towards the audience, and in front of the alliance stations. The Carousels are used to introduce Ducks onto the field and into play.
The Joey RoboRoos competed at the Regionals in Adelaide where they received the Inspire Award, and were in the Winning Alliance with Violet Crumble. They went on to compete in the Australian Nationals in Sydney. There the team received the 2nd place Connect Award.
Freight Frenzy – 2021 (Violet Crumble)
Our second team, 15210, with their robot Violet Crumble also competed this season in Freight Frenzy.
Violet Crumble had to compete in alliances where they had to move Freight and Cargo (boxes). The robot had to traverse over barriers to access Freight in the Warehouse.
They competed at the SA Regionals in Adelaide where they were awarded the Think Award, Control Award, and were in the Winning Alliance with Roo. They then went on to compete in the Nationals held in Sydney (they competed virtually) and won the Control Award.
Ultimate Goal – 2020
This season the team competed in the Ultimate Goal where they had to shoot rings across the field into different zones to score points. Our team competed with their robot, Donut Factory, virtually in the Nationals in Sydney where they received 1st place Control Award, 3rd place Think Award, and 3rd place Connect Award.
This was a great and challenging experience for the team competing virtually due to COVID and the restrictions but they were champions about it and gave it their all.
Skystone – 2019
This season teams compete head to head with their robots to build towers to astounding heights, while racing against the clock to achieve the highest score possible.
With their robot Coconut Ice the team competed in regionals in Adelaide getting the 1st Pick of Winning Alliance and 2nd Place Inspire Award.
They went on to compete in the Australian Nationals in Sydney were they received the Control Award, 3rd Place Inspire Award, and picked for Finals Alliance however, were defeated in the Semi-Final.
Rover Ruckus – 2018
This Season had students blasting off to uncharted planets in honour of 50 years since the Moon landing in the game Rover Ruckus!
This was our FTC teams Rookie Season, but they smashed expectations with their robot Giroose, wining the competition at the ADL scrimmage and the ‘THINK AWARD’ at the Australian Nationals!
