The 2012 season is now in progress! The Hitchhikers spent January 7th in Raleigh at kickoff brainstorming with other teams about this year’s challenge, Rebound Rumble.

This year’s game is called Rebound Rumble, and is based on basketball. The robots can score in hoops positioned at three different heights for 1, 2 and 3 points respectively, and opposing teams must attempt to block the ball before it goes in. During the last thirty seconds of the round, each team has the choice to either continue making baskets or try to balance on a tilting bridge located in the center of the playing field. To promote FIRST’s value of “coopertition”, teams have the chance to earn extra points by balancing their robot on the center bridge with an opposing team’s robot. FIRST’s animation introducing the game can be found here.

We’re looking forward to another exciting season! To all other FIRST teams out there, good luck!