First day of competition - April 18 - part 1

Well, on this first day of competition, they have cranked up the volume and the competition. Today makes yesterday look like a lazy day!

We've finished 2 matches so far, with 3 left to go today. The first match was an incredible win – high score for the day, with everything going our way. In auton mode, we managed a high in points, lapping the field twice and knocking two balls off the overhead track. The drive team performed flawlessly again.

The second match didn't have such a happy result – we again performed well in auton mode, and then the power to our station went out … literally. The drive team was stunned to find there was no power coming to the controls at all, and our bot was left sitting in a corner while the other two teams on the alliance tried to make up the points – to no avail. After the match, the team tested the bot and there was nothing wrong. What appears to have happened is that the control booth accidentally cut off power to our drive station – as I write this Peter Randall is waiting for the judges to come to the pits to adjudicate.

Three more matches today – at 1:36, 3:06 and 4:54, then a team picture and FIRST outing to the aquarium. I will try to post the results of the afternoon matches as early as I can, but may not make it to a computer again until after 9 tonight.