On Saturday, November 7th, Menchville robotics, team 2363 – Triple Helix, along with the assistance of team 1610 – B.O.T. Builders of Tomorrow, hosted the second annual FIRST FRC robotics competition, Rumble in the Roads. Based on the infamous Battle of Hampton Roads between the ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Merrimack (CSS Virginia) in March 1862, the Rumble in the Roads is an off-season competition hosted after the main competition season of the year is finished. It is a chance for nearby teams to show off what they have to offer by means of design innovation, strategy, and operating skill. The 26 teams registered to participate in the Rumble came from all over Virginia and even Maryland and North Carolina.

• 122 – NASA Knights – Hampton, VA
• 339 – Kilroy Robotics – Stafford, VA
• 346 – RoboHawks – Chesterfield, VA
• 384 – Sparky – Richmond, VA
• 540 – TALON 540 Godwin Robotics – Henrico, VA
• 836 – The RoboBees – Leonardtown, MD
• 888 – Robotiators – Glenelg, MD
• 900 – Zebracorns – Durnham, NC
• 1137 – Rocket Sauce – Mathews, VA
• 1262 – STAGS – Martinsville, VA
• 1389 – The Body Electric – Bethesda, MD
• 1599 – Atlee CircuiTree – Mechanicsville, VA
• 1610 – B.O.T. – Builders of Tomorrow – Franklin, VA
• 1629 – Garrett Coalition – Accident, MD
• 1793 – The Pilots – Norfolk, VA
• 1885 – ILITE Robotics – Haymarket, VA
• 2028 – Phantom Mentalists – Hampton, VA
• 2363 – Triple Helix – Newport News, VA
• 3359 – Royal Robotics – Portsmouth, VA
• 3389 – RoboSpectrum – Salisbury, MD
• 4969 – Iron FeNix – Virginia Beach, VA
• 5520 – Duck and Cover – Henrico, VA
• 5546 – A.R.T. – Petersburg, VA
• Pre-Rookie – Atomic Disco Robotic Engineers (partnering with Team 888 – Robotiators) – Concord, VA
• Pre-Rookie – Heritage Governor’s STEM Academy (partnering with Team 1908 – ShoreBots) – Newport News, VA
• Pre-Rookie – Tunstall High School (partnering with Team 1829 – Carbonauts) – Dryfork, VA

The competition ran smoothly and all teams had a blast competing and cheering. A mentor from team 384 – Sparky said, “SPARKY 384 had a great time at the Second annual Rumble in the Roads. The expanded event was fantastic… We would like to thank Nate, Matt & Kyle – 2363 & 1610 volunteers and staff for all the hard work that went into an awesome event – we will be back next year.”

In competition, teams receive awards from the judges based on other traits of their teams and robots, such as unique robot design, sturdy robot design, accepting your team’s role as captain of an alliance, and more. Congratulations to these teams  on their performances:

• Event Winners: 122 – NASA Knights and 346 – RoboHawks
• Event Finalists: 1389 – The Body Electric, 1262 – STAGS, and 5546 – A.R.T.
• USS Monitor Award sponsored by Canon: 2363 – Triple Helix
  • Celebrates innovation in robot components, design, or strategy of play.
• Shipbuilder Award sponsored by Newport News Shipbuilding: 122 – NASA Knights
  • Celebrates form and function in an efficiently designed machine that effectively achieves the game challenge.
• Ironclad Award sponsored by InSource: 1137 – Rocket Sauce
  • Presented to a team whose robot has shown true resilience in combat.
• Christopher Newport University Captain Award: 339 – Kilroy
  • Presented to a team whose members gain the pride and respect of not only their school and sponsors, but also their competitors.

On the FRC level, teams acquire sponsors on many different levels, from corporate businesses to local organizations. Triple Helix would like to thank the sponsors of the Rumble in the Roads for their generosity.

• Newport News Public Schools
• FIRST Chesapeake
• Christopher Newport University
• Jefferson Lab
• R&L Machine Shop
• InSource Solutions
• Newport News Shipbuilding
• Q-FREE Open Roads
• Canon

For more information on this event, you can visit the official website at http://www.rumbleintheroads.com