Frank

Unlike FIRST, Botball requires robots to autonomously complete missions. We designed Frank to locate and lift one frisbee up a hill, and lower another frisbee down the opposite side (see video below). I used IR and distance sensors in a feedback loop to enable him to follow lines, track distance, and successfully navigate the field. My teammate and I built Frank over 3 months.

• Proudest moment: Frank reoriented himself after an enemy robot deliberately rammed into him. The judges recognized Frank’s consistent performance with a KISS award. Our team got 2nd place overall for the New England region.
• Key lesson learned: Extensive testing over hundreds of runs is needed to ensure robust performance, even though it’s tedious.