The Triple Tortuga is Contest born.

[Joe Johnson]

Follow my logic and read below for more.

Assertion #1:

This year, perhaps more than any other year, there are going to be untested robot on the field. You know this is true. Making all the defenses is beyond all but a tiny fraction of the teams out there. I am not saying this to be mean or to be hatin' on FIRST. It's just a reality.

Assertion #2:

Given the above, you can easily predict that for many teams (most?) the first time they try to cross many defenses will be in a match.

Assertion #3:

From which it follows that we'll see a TON of stuck robots during the early weeks of the competition.

Assertion #4

There will be matches (especially during those early weeks but some times in later ones as well) where all three teams on an alliance are stuck on their opponent defenses.

When this happens, I propose we call this situation "The Triple Tortuga."


Now for the Triple Tortuga Contest.

First of all, I know it will fall on deaf ears, but here is some free advice: Do your best to avoid being part of the Triple Tortuga Club.

• Test your robot before you get out on the field in a match.
• Spend the time to build practice defenses, beg borrow or steal other team's defenses, go to Week Zero events, etc.
• Do whatever you have to to design & build a robot that can actually go over defenses without getting stuck
• and failing that, at least know what your robot/drivers are capable of (or incapable of) before you get out there in a real match.

Second, I will send a $10 gift card to Starbucks (or equiv.) to the first 5 CD users that post a reply to this post with links to a video showing a Triple Tortuga in official FIRST match.

Third, I will send a $50 gift card to the first person to post a link to a match with a Double Triple Tortuga. I hope it doesn't happen but if it does, I want to see it.

May your all opponent's towers be captured and their defenses breached! And, if ever your robot is the last not stuck on a defense, may your drivers think twice before risking another crossing...

Hold Strong,
Dr. Joe J.