2020: INFINITE RECHARGE

Although the 2020 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, our team and our robot made its mark on the season, both in-person and virtually. After some tough decision making during kickoff weekend, we designed and manufactured Miss Daisy XIX to be a tough competitor. Our robot can shoot in the outer and inner power ports, climb the generator switch at any of its positions, and manipulate the control wheel in both rotation control and position control—all while fitting beneath the trench. We found ourselves in a slump at the Hatboro-Horsham District Competition, where we were constantly chasing down problem after problem during our qualification matches. During alliance selection, we found ourselves on the #1 seed alliance, and made an impressive comeback as a formidable defensive robot. At the end of our elimination matches, we became the competition’s champions alongside our alliance partners. We left the event proud of our progress, and eager to improve our robot.

Shortly thereafter, the entire season came to a grinding halt. We found ourselves adjusting to a virtual world, and searching for projects to dedicate ourselves for the remainder of our season. We tackled Onshape’s “Robots to the Rescue” CAD competition, where we were tasked with creating a robot to solve a problem of our choosing. Our team designed a robot that could clean zoo habitats without contact between zookeepers and animals in the face of the pandemic. We won third place out of over 100 teams worldwide, sealing off a season of unknowns with a win.