EXTRA
Our robot has 2 things running on pneumatics, the ball kicker and raising the telescoping arm.  The kicker has a window motor attached to it to run a ball “magnet,” giving any ball that gets caught in our ball “magnet,” which is on the kicker, a backward spin, which allows us to control one ball, as the rules only allow us one ball.  The telescoping arm is how we plan to score some bonus points.  After in it’s up position, the telescoping arm extends using the power of a motor and string.  The arm brings a hook to the top of the tower, where it will hook on and stay in place.  Our robot then drives away, which activates the winch.  The winch is in a down position, which prevents the spur gears attached, from meshing, until the hook is at the top of the tower.  Once at the top, the rope attached to the hook will pull the winch, which will allow the gears to mesh and activate the winch.  The winch will pull the rope as the 'Midnight Mobile' drives away, and pulls the robot up, up, and away…or at least to the top of the tower, where it will hang for some points.  A side note is that our shelf is low, to maximize our storage of electronics, the battery, and other things that make our Buddy do its job. 

"Through FIRST, I have been able to build friendships that I am sure will last my entire life."
KATRINA WONG, Midnight Mechanic

Katrina Wong (right) entered the magical world of the Midnight Mechanics as a freshmen in high school. She began her FIRST career as a member of the Community Partnerships department, organizing and facilitating community events. At the Los Angeles Regional, her first regional, she was excited to meet students, like Monica Fernandez (left), who were just as crazy about FIRST as she was. Today, although Monica is off at Purdue University, she still maintains contact with her fellow Midnight Mechanic.

A PROUD MEMBER OF