The robot's strategy is to score the two closest balls to the starting location in as little time as possible. Once these balls are scored, a total of 3 points will be guaranteed. Then, the robot's goal is to travel to the middle of the table and to block both of the goals.

This strategy was chosen since we believed that the entire routine (scoring both balls and blocking both goals) could be accomplished in less than 10 seconds. We did not believe that any robot could score more than 2 balls reliably in less than that amount of time. If this is the case, then this strategy would guarantee a win (or a double-win) in all cases.

In addition, we believed that the first two balls could be scored in less than 5 seconds. In that amount of time, it is highly unlikely that the opponent would be able to block the goal closest to our robot. Therefore, 3 points would always be guaranteed.

At the start of the match, robot is placed in a random orientation. It then needs to orient itself such that it is facing the trough. Once the random starting orientation is determined by the photo-transistor sensors aimed at the table, the drive wheels are oriented such that they are approximately 45o from their starting position. The front free-spinning wheel is also turned 90o from its starting position. As a result, all wheels are oriented tangent to a circle centered at the center of the robot. This is accomplished easily since the robot uses a synchro-drive system for mobility. Once the wheels have been oriented in this fashion, the robot is able to turn around its center. Then a turn controlled using shaft encoders on the drive wheels is made such that the front of the robot is facing the trough.

Once the robot is oriented properly, it travels in the reverse direction towards the ball opposite the trough. On the back of the robot, there is a mechanism that enables pickup and internalization of one ball. The robot drives into the ball pushing it up against the wall. This forces the ball onto a ramp that is then lifted to allow the ball to roll to the front of the robot. In the front, there is an opening that the ball rests in before it is deposited into the goal. The opening allows the ball to drop through the robot. However, when entire robot is on the table, the ball rests on the table but it guided by the walls of the opening.

Once the first ball has been picked up and internalized, the robot changes directions and drives straight towards the trough. Before hitting the ridge, it pushes the second ball into the goal. The lower portion of the front of the robot is shaped like a ski allowing half of the robot to slide over the ridge as it hits it. There is a notch in the bottom of the robot that prevents the entire robot from going over the ridge. The notch is shaped such that it fits around the ridge once the front half of the robot is over the trough. At this point, the internal ball drops out of the robot and into the goal. We have 3 points!

When half of the robot is suspended over the trough, the robot is only being supported by the drive wheels and the ridge. For this reason, the robot was designed such that the center of gravity is very far back, near the drive wheels. This is also necessary for the drive wheels to have a sufficient amount of traction on the table since the robot needs to travel along the ridge. To accomplish this, the notch that "catches" the ridge has a free spinning wheel at the top. This allows the weight of the robot to be supported on the free spinning wheel while the walls of the notch capture the ridge on either side. This mechanism enables the robot to travel sideways along the ridge using the ridge itself as a track. Since the robot uses a synchro-drive system, this is easily accomplished by turning the drive wheels parallel to the trough.

Once the robot has traveled to the middle of the board along the ridge, it is in the optimal position to block both goals. On both sides of the robot, there are ramps that lead down to both goals. Thus, the robot simply needs to release two goal-blocking devices at this point and allow gravity to carry them to the goal. There are two goal-blocking carts held in place at the front of the robot. These carts are essentially free spinning wheels connected to the robot by a Lego tether. Once at the middle of the table, a release mechanism is triggered and the carts roll down two inclines whiles still on the robot. This gives the carts the necessary velocity and momentum to continue rolling down the ramps at a respectable speed. Once at the bottom of the ramps, each cart falls into a goal and any future scoring is prevented. Total time of execution: < 10 seconds.