Well, I never did add more details yesterday morning. Slept a little late, then when downtown to shoot the flooding on the Mississippi (like this, for example). The outfit that sponsors the competition is called FIRST, which is an acronym for something-or-other whose last two words are science and technology. I can't find it on their web site. I also can't find an explanation of this competition, although there was a good one in the program book at the event.
As best I can gather, there are two sides, each with three robots. Each robot is from a different team so these "alliances" have to cooperate. The gizmos have to race around, pick up these inflatable shapes and hang them on rods on their own end. They may try to prevent an opponent from doing so. There are extra points for hanging the donuts in certain combinations on certain rods. It the last 15 seconds, the machines try to line up at four discs in the center with a tall metal pole rising from it. They release a mini robot onto the disc, which then climbs the pole in a second or two. The whole match takes just over 3 minutes. Confusing but exciting.
As best I can gather, there are two sides, each with three robots. Each robot is from a different team so these "alliances" have to cooperate. The gizmos have to race around, pick up these inflatable shapes and hang them on rods on their own end. They may try to prevent an opponent from doing so. There are extra points for hanging the donuts in certain combinations on certain rods. It the last 15 seconds, the machines try to line up at four discs in the center with a tall metal pole rising from it. They release a mini robot onto the disc, which then climbs the pole in a second or two. The whole match takes just over 3 minutes. Confusing but exciting.
