Goals for 2012

[Alpha Beta]

Our rookie year (2007) just building a functional robot was a stretch goal. We got crushed at the St. Louis regional and while we didn't see the field Saturday afternoon nor have our number called for any awards we were inspired by our pit neighbors 829 who shared with us the meaning of FIRST as well as some traction material for our ramps. We also got a first hand peek at some world class team like 45, 148, 217, 525, 1625, etc at what in hind sight was a fairly stacked event.

2008 goal -- Build something simple and robust that would be a good 3rd pick. We didn't want to miss Saturday afternoon ever again. Result: A super fast lapbot that seeded 4th and 2nd in the two regionals we competed in.

2009 goal -- Find a way to qualify for the championship event. This led to our first Chairman's submission. And while the niche robot did see play on Saturday afternoons it was the Chairman's Award earned in Minnesota that punched our ticket to Atlanta. The robot did not get picked for elimination play in Atlanta.

2010 goal -- Goal A, Win a regional. Goal B, play in the championship elimination rounds. To do this we knew we needed a robot that played well with other great robots but could also win a game on its own should our partners prove less capable. We couldn't just be good in a secondary game aspect like in 2008, we had to tackle the primary objective. Result: #1 pick by 71 in Minnesota and regional champions. #3 alliance captain in the Curie division and division finalist.

2011 goals -- Goal A, win a regional as an undefeated #1 seed. Goal B, play on Einstein. Goal A was accomplished at the Colorado regional. We missed goal B and have it back on the list for 2012.

2012 goals -- We are seeing a lot more rookies at the tournaments we are attending this year and one of our goals is to be that inspirational resource like 829 was for us when our journey first started. We've never won our home regional (KC) and that is certainly on the list as well.