[patrickrd]

This is the second time Cornell will compete in the American Open. Last year, we were not expecting to compete (but rather just do a demonstration). When our team showed up, we were on the competition schedule! The team was not at all prepared, but managed to get second place.

This year, we expect the competition to be a bit more competitive. There are more teams, and the American Open is quickly becoming the competition for teams in North America (many of which do not compete internationally) to try and win a title.

Our team will be unveiling our brand new 2004 robots for the first time this weekend. The robots were JUST finished this past week, and the system remains largly untested. It is not our goal to win the American Open, but rather to get some experience with our new system and our new robots. We have made extensive changes and improvements to our system on mechanical, electrical, and strategical/AI levels. I will try to elaborate on some of these changes once I get to New Orleans.

The rest of my team is already down in New Orleans setting up; I have to catch my flight shortly. Again I'll try and post updates and some pictures from the competition of interesting things I see. It should be a great event!! If you live in the New Orleans area be sure to check it out.

Patrick