2010 Indianapolis Robotics Invitational

As 2010 World Champions, BCR was invited to attend the Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) competition. This is an important all-star event, the most prestigious off-season FRC event of the year, so naturally the team decided to go. We challenged the students to do sufficient fundraising with a deadline and they stepped up to the challenge. We made reservations, shipped the robot, and had a great competition in Indianapolis.

We were seeded 16^th of 78 world-class teams in random three-team alliances for the qualifying matches. We were picked in the first round by the number six seed, team 1519, Mechanical Mayhem, from New Hampshire. Joining us on the alliance was team 1732, Hilltoppers, from Wisconsin. At the alliance strategy meeting, the student alliance captain was very businesslike, with excellent leadership and decision making, requiring no assistance from the observing mentors. Students from all three teams participated in the strategy decision making.

We finished the qualifying rounds with a record of 6-2. We finished the weekend with a record of 7-4-1. We took the quarter-final to four games in a best-of-three contest, but lost the last match on a technicality and thus did not advance. In the fourth match of the quarter finals we actually had a higher score then our opponents, but our alliance received its second yellow card disqualifying our score.Our first pick (team 67, Heroes of Tomorrow, from Michigan) on our world championship alliance was the number five seed and they lost in the semi-final.

We accomplished all of our our objectives in attending IRI for the first time:

Networking with other world-class teams
Establishing a name for ourselves at this level, leading to greater likelihood of success in future years
Demonstrating that we were a major player and contributor to our victory at championships

The IRI is well organized and efficiently run. We had no significant problems, and the participants all demonstrated gracious professionalism throughout.

Welcome to IRI, the event program booklet.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Lead technical mentor Andrew Keisic and his parents who came from Michigan to watch the competition.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

The Lawrence North High School field house was used for the pit area.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Student team member Chris.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

The gymnasium accomodated the playing field and audience.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Northrop Grumman mentor Dave Ansari.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Students Alex and Ryan work on the robot in our pit while mentors Peter and Ken observe.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Students Alex and Ryan work on the robot in our pit.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Action on the field was continuous both days.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Student co-driver Niles waves at the camera as the drive team prepares to take to the field.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Ryan and Alex carry McTwist (our robot's name) onto the field.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Student scouting team member Abby enters match data into her laptop.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

McTwist in autonomous mode, having kicked the first ball, approaches the second of three.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Northrop Grumman mentor Ken Sterk.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Ryan and Alex set up again while volunteer students monitor the video feeds for the Webcast.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

The drive team in Breakaway (the name of this year's game) action.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

After a long day Saturday, the team has dinner on-site.
Photo by Brad Johnson.

Northrop Grumman mentor Peter Johnson with his parents who came to see the competition.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Peter and Brad watch the action.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Northrop Grumman mentor Rick Wagner with Andrew.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Student scouting team lead Matt confers with Mechanical Mayhem alliance partner scout.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Two of our student scouts in action: Matt and Daniel.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Scouting team students Fintan and Matt confer with mentor Ken.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Abby and Forrest with their Mom Patricia.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

Student team member Wiley.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

The students hold a strategy meeting with the alliance partners.
Photo by Joyce Golden.

A group photo outside of Applebee's after our celebratory dinner.
Photo by Joyce Golden.