2007 season
On January 6, 2007 students, mentors and sponsors from around the world gathered in various locations to watch the 2007 FIRST Kick off. On this day, "Rack 'n' Roll" was release to the world.
For the fourth year teams are split into two teams of 3, one red team and a blue team often called alliances. Again, teams play on a rectangular playing field, but this year dead center in the middle of the field, is what is called "The Rack". The rack is made up of 3 spiders, each with 8 legs where 32" inner tubes can be scored.
During the 15 second autonomous (a period where the robot can only operate by preprogrammed instructions) period, each robot is able to score 1 "keeper". It is called a keeper because it can not be canceled or removed.
Once that mode is over, the drivers take over and have 2 minutes to score as many "ringers" as possible on to the rack to form rows, with the scoring acting in binary logic, 2 points for one ringer, 4 for two and so on up to 256 for 8 ringers in a row. The other team can not remove a ringer, but they can cancel it out by placing a "spoiler" on the same leg of the spider as the opponents ringer.
At the end of the match, robots must report back to their home zone, once in their home zone in order to gain bonus points, the alliance must be able to lift one or two bots either 4 inches for 15 points a robot, or 12 inches for 30 points a robot.
Our Operating team for 2007 - Rack 'n' will be