Puff

		Hey! I'm Puff and I am the second-to-youngest robot that Team 701 has made (I would be the youngest if it was still 2007 ). Well with a new robot on the way, I always love to give my team a hand (since I am usually the one they go to for ideas for this year's robot). Last year, FIRST released a game known as Rack n' Roll. The game started with a 15-second autonomous period in which robots tried to place a "keeper" game tube on a scoring structure called the rack. The rack had dangling pipes called "spider legs" that surrounded the circumference. This is where robots could place the game tubes (which were inflatable pool rings) to score points. After autonomous, robots had two minutes to place "ringer" tubes on the rack, as well as "spoiler" tubes, which negate the effect of any ringers on the rack (however, they could not be placed on keepers!). The spoiler tubes could be moved even if they were on the rack before. At the end of the match, robots could go back to their home zone, and attempt to be lifted in the air by a teammate for extra points. Between 4 inches and 12 inches was 15 bonus points, and anything above 12 inches was 30 extra points.

Hey! I'm Puff and I am the second-to-youngest robot that Team 701 has made (I would be the youngest if it was still 2007 ). Well with a new robot on the way, I always love to give my team a hand (since I am usually the one they go to for ideas for this year's robot).

Last year, FIRST released a game known as Rack n' Roll. The game started with a 15-second autonomous period in which robots tried to place a "keeper" game tube on a scoring structure called the rack. The rack had dangling pipes called "spider legs" that surrounded the circumference. This is where robots could place the game tubes (which were inflatable pool rings) to score points. After autonomous, robots had two minutes to place "ringer" tubes on the rack, as well as "spoiler" tubes, which negate the effect of any ringers on the rack (however, they could not be placed on keepers!). The spoiler tubes could be moved even if they were on the rack before. At the end of the match, robots could go back to their home zone, and attempt to be lifted in the air by a teammate for extra points. Between 4 inches and 12 inches was 15 bonus points, and anything above 12 inches was 30 extra points.

The match was scored by powers of two; adding an extra power of two for each ringer placed next to another ringer on the rack (2 ringers next to each other is 2^2 = 4; 5 next to each other is 2^5 = 32; 8 next to each other is 2^8 = 256, etc.)

After much designing and planning, my team decided to model me after my 2005 buddy, Thor IV. I was driven with four CIM motors, two drove each side. My arm was driven with two Window motors and was raised and lowered using a forklift powered by two Drill motors. I also worked with carbon fiber. My ramps were made out of that sturdy and light material. They were dropped at the end of the match and raised using a pulley system which was powered by our Bane Bot transmissions (provided by our FIRST kit of parts )

My best features were my arm and ramps. My arm featured a combination of a bayonet and claw to efficiently grab and place the tubes. My ramps were so unique, they won the Delphi "Driving Tomorrow’s Technology" award at the Davis-Sacramento Regional last year. They were constructed with the process of compositing, using fiberglass and carbon graphite, and held together with epoxy (resin and a hardener) for strength. They were raised using a system called a block and tackle. This system allows a lot of weight to be hauled with lesser force. Perfect for the small motors powering it.

I attended the Bayou Regional and Davis-Sacramento Regional with my team Daniel Aceron, Marc Cardinal, Ian Dickerson, Daniel Doriety, Nolan Gigante, Amber Kimpel, Sarah Kimpel, Adam Korynta, Samantha Murphy, Cory Park, Allan Raquidan, Priya Rangan, Danielle Salvador, Michael Sanchez, Elena Schweitzer, Travis Siapno, Steven Sigley, Eric Smith, Anthony Stralla, Timothy Trujillo, Courtney Vidt, Adam Ward, James Weaver, and Ki-Tae Wolf. We were Semifinalists at the Bayou Regional and Finalists at the Davis-Sacramento Regional. I also made my debut at the Cal Games last October, where I helped my team become finalists as well.

Profile Information provided by: Eric Smith

As written: Priya Rangan, January 2008