Spring semester of sophomore year in MIT Mechanical Engineering has come to mean one thing: 2.007. This is Design and Manufacturing I, a robotics competition disguised as a twelve-unit class which every mechanical engineering major must take. For anyone not familiar with the history behind it, it used to be known as 2.70 and used to be taught by none other than Professor Woodie Flowers. It should be no surprise, then, that 2.007 resembles FIRST, or, since 2.70 came first, FIRST resembles 2.007. In either case, they are very similar in concept: a different game field every year on which robots compete against each other. But they are also very different in scale and complexity. A quick comparison:
COMPARISON: 2.007 / FIRST
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Field Size: 8'x8' / 54'x36'
Format: 1v1 / 3v3
Match Duration: 45 sec. / 2 min. 10 sec.
Robot Size Limit: 16"x16"x26" / 28"x38"x60"
Robot Weight Limit (minus battery): 10 lbs. / 120 lbs.
Control: direct wiring (PIC optional) / PIC-based
Build Time: 13 weeks / 6 weeks
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So, in many ways FIRST has grown larger and more complex than it's predecesor. I have always been amazed that high school students in FIRST get the opportunity to do stuff that is on-par with (and sometimes above) MIT undergraduate classes.
Of course, having done FIRST is not a guarantee of success in 2.007. It is an entirely different ballgame and for the small few of us with FIRST experience, we have to make sure we don't go in overconfident. It will be an interesting experience, though, and I said that I would try to document what it's like to go through it as a FIRST alumni. So, I will update this post over the course of the semester with my progress and my thoughts for the small few who might actually be interested.
POST #1: FIRST look
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We got a look at the game table today. It's rougly 8'x8', but rounded off on one side. It has several levels separated by parallel ramps on each side, like two roads winding down a mountain. Robots start at the top and work their way down to scoring bins. Bins are worth differing amounts of points based on their difficulty of access, but as far as I know the point values haven't been assigned yet (the table is still being finalized). Their are balls of differing weights (hockey balls and bocce balls) that can be scored in these bins.
The kit of parts (which, not surprisingly, was missing several items) consists of some basic framing metal (1x1 extrusion, plywood, sheet metal, ABS sheets, PVC, aluminum rod. It also has four (small) motors with planetary gears. Power is drawn from two 14.4V drill batteries. Four ~5" plastic wheels and two small casters are provided. Other gears and hardware are available. One important difference from FIRST is that you CANNOT use outside materials with a few exceptions.
Scoring this year for the first time factors in your opponents score: yours + half theirs. (Sound familiar) Also new for this year, the option to use a PIC chip instead of directly wiring motors. This would provide some semi-autonomous (or fully autonomous) function. Usually, motors are directly driven.
Much of the game rules are still being decided and no online documentation is up yet. I will post a link it is, though. For now, though, I still have enough FIRST stuff to do that I can wait for the 2.007 stuff.
