Game Overview
FIRST STEAMWORKS is the 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition Game. STEAMWORKS invites two adventure clubs from an era in which technology relied on steam power to prepare their airships for the ultimate long-distance race. Each three-team alliance scores points and prepares to take flight by building steam pressure, gathering materials to start the rotors, and boarding robots onto their airships. The adventurer club with the highest score at the end of the match is the best prepared for the race and wins. More information can be found on the FIRST website or watch the game animation.
Our Robot
Our 2017 robot includes autonomous gear scoring, floor and human player loading, and high boiler fuel scoring through a hopper or human player. It features a fast and reliable climbing mechanism with a 1.5” × 14.5” drum, rope-catching hooks, and a CIM motor with a 35:1 reduction for optimal performance.
Fuel is delivered to the shooter by a BAG motor-powered agitator and vertical elevator. The shooter transitioned from a single-wheel prototype to a pinned polyurethane roller, driven by dual 775 Pro motors controlled by a beam break sensor.
The gear mechanism, originally polycarbonate, was upgraded for ball exclusion and floor pickup efficiency after the season. The robust 6-wheel drivetrain has custom one-speed gearboxes and 4” Colson wheels, with all structural parts made in-house for early testing. The low-profile gearboxes save costs, simplify spare parts, and include encoders for accurate autonomous control.
This year, our robot was named Tremor. Please check back soon for detailed pages on our subsystems!
Competitions
In 2017 we attended the the Iowa Regional where we were chosen as a Dean’s list finalist, Minnesota North Star Regional where we won the Chairman’s award, and the FIRST Championship in Houston after qualifying from the Chairman’s Award.
Chairman’s
The Team
Students
Hugo A, Obi A, Aravind B, James B, Makenzee B, Riley B, Andres C, Moriah C, Luke D, Nicole E, Nitzan F, Steve F, Helen H, Michael H, Woo Young J, Rucha K, Hallie L, Hana L, Erik N, Joel N, Logan P, Nathan P, Jacob P, Benjamin S, Rebekah S, Simeon S, Sayre S, Evan W, Preston W, Tianxin X, Abdullah A
Mentors
Evan D, Mark D, Nick H, Erin M, Tony M, Jeanne P, Michael O, David R, Rose S, Brian and Stacia S, Taylor T, Sarah P
Sponsors
We would like to thank our sponsors who sponsored us during the season for their contribution to the team.
Diamond: Bayer Fund | Danfoss | John Deere
Platinum: CIT Signature Transportation | Interstate Batteries | Quality Manufacturing Corporation
Gold: City of Ames Electric
Silver: Emerson Process Management | Iowa 4-H Foundation
Honorable Mention: Accurate Perforating Company | Jimmy John’s | Meier Bernstein Arts in STEM Foundation | Thrivent Financial
Wrap Up
Additional Season Content
- Pit Binder
- Strategy
- Annual
- Scouting Cards docx or pdf
- Entrepreneurship Award
