Name: Occam VI: Concentrated Entropy
Status: Operational
Features:

• High traction six wheel drive geared to 5.7ft/s
• Turreted shooter
• Adjustable shooting angle
• Human player loadable
• Can load from the floor

Description: In 2006 points could scored by scoring small foam basketballs into either a goal nine feet above the field or a low goal by the floor. Additional points could be scored by having your robot on a ramp at the end of the game. Our robot was design to do every function in the game: load from the floor, load from the human player, shoot into the high goal, score in the low goal, climb the ramp, and play tough defense. Unfortunately, our device for adjusting our shooting angle was too small and did not affect the ball's trajectory enough to score in the high goal. The robot also arrived at competition fifteen pounds overweight, so instead of fixing the shooter we had to remove all the aiming devices. Luckily, we managed to lose all the weight without compromising drive system; so, we were still able to play very strong defense and get on top of the ramp. Our defensive capabilities and our skill at the ramp ended up getting us picked to become part of the 7th seed alliance (the game was played in alliances of three teams) at the NASA/VCU Regional which went on to defeat the 2nd seed in the quarter-finals before being defeated in the semi-finals by the eventual champions.