The competition at Revere High School was one the DevilBotz won’t forget anytime soon. The team arrived Friday evening for the usual unload and setup, ran a round of successful tests, and headed home feeling ready for Saturday’s matches. But early the next morning, the mood shifted. Once the match schedule was released, it became clear that the team was in for a tough weekend when the statistics predicted we would finish last in qualification rounds.
Despite the daunting outlook, the DevilBotz pushed forward. Throughout the weekend, the team worked tirelessly to keep the robot performing at its best. During one match the intake broke, but the pit crew jumped into action, replacing the damaged part in time for the next round. Meanwhile, the drive team stayed composed under pressure, executing clean cycles and scoring consistently for our alliances. By the end of qualifications, the team had climbed to 31st place.
With alliance selection approaching, the team began preparing for the possibility of packing up and heading home. As the final picks were announced, it seemed almost certain we would not be selected. Then came the surprise when the number one alliance with TJ² and the Nutrons called the DevilBotz to join them.
The afternoon that followed was a thrill. Being part of such a strong alliance was both an honor and an opportunity to compete at the highest level. Together, the alliance won each of its playoff matches, securing a spot in the finals. With only two matches left to win, the alliance took the first victory, but the opposing alliance fought back hard. At the same time, the DevilBotz robot began experiencing issues with its Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), the sensor responsible for tracking the robot’s position on the field. Unfortunately it all ended in a disappointing loss. While the team was disappointed we regrouped to get ready for our next competition at the New England FIRST District Championship in West Springfield MA, it the Big E.
