Problem Statement

Design a robot that will be capable of picking up major aircraft components, assembling as many as two aircrafts per Division, and then transporting the completed aircraft assembly to the Delivery Center within a three-minute time limit. In the Delivery Center, there are 3 different Flight Levels of 3 different altitudes. Any subassemblies that are damaged will not be feasible to use and any incomplete aircrafts in the Delivery Center or on the Flight Levels will result to disqualification.

Constraints

• The robot must be built by students with no outside help from teachers or instructors.
• The robot must fit in a 24x24x24 inches starting area.
• The robot cannot exceed 24 pounds.
• The robot may only be constructed from parts provided by BEST Robotics. The only exception is an additional list of optional materials.
• There will be Foreign Object Debris (FOD) pieces, made of wood, randomly oriented 6 inches in front of and behind the Warehouse doors.
• The robot can only enter the Warehouse if the lights are on.
• The penalty for opening the door before the lights are lit is a 20 second "suspension" where no robot movement will be allowed. The robot may continue after the penalty but must activate the tie-breaker switch before it can enter the Warehouse. Continuation of this violation will result to disqualification with loss of score for that match.
• The robot may assemble the aircraft in either the Warehouse or the Assembly Area.
• Incomplete aircrafts or subassemblies in the Delivery Center will result to disqualification.
• Using a mechanism that penetrates the game piece´s surface, for example "stabbing", is considered damaged game components.
• Game pieces cannot be forcibly launched through the air.

Basic Functions the Robot Needs to Perform

• The robot must activate a tie-breaker switch making the Warehouse lights turn on. It must swing the lever 90 degrees horizontally counter-clockwise. The switch is approximately 12 inches off the fields´ surface. Only once the light is turned on is the Warehouse Manager (spotter) allowed to open the Warehouse doors.
• Avoid completely, push aside, or reposition the FOD pieces to their designated Waste Disposal Area.
• The robot must assemble aircraft components and transport the completed assembly to the Delivery Center and assist it onto a Flight Level.