1997

Archive tag	1997
Game Information
Game name	Toroid Terror
Number of teams	155
Number of official events	4
Chairman's Award winner	47
Winner	71
Finalist	47
← 1996 1998 →

The 1997 FIRST Robotics Competition season formally began on Competition season consisted of three regional events, the 1997 Motorola Midwest Regional in Chicago, Illinois, 1997 DEKA New England Regional in Manchester, New Hampshire, and the 1997 Johnson and Johnson Mid-Atlantic Regional as well as the 1997 National Championship|National Championship at the EPCOT Center at Disney World.

This year was the first year that teams were required to display their team number on their robot. Team numbers for 1997 were generated by alphabetizing the list of teams by sponsor and school and assigning them in order. More information about pre-1998 team numbers is available here.

Playing field and scoring

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  The playing field [1]

• 

  Ramp dimensions [2]

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  Speed Bump dimensions [3]

• 

  Field Goal dimensions [4]

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  Teams 157, 191 and 144 setting up their robots for a match at the New England tournament [5]

Three robots in the red, white, and blue positions play simultaneously in the seeding rounds and earlier rounds of playoffs, with two on two matches later on.

Each match lasts two minutes. The control system is automatically enabled and disabled when matches begin and end.

Game strategy

Like in 1998, human players could contribute significantly to a match's outcome. With some practice, human players could toss and score tubes on any of the three levels of the goal, and many matches were determined by human player tubes. In some matches, a single tube thrown by a human player could be the only score for the entire match. Additionally, many teams found it much easier to load tubes into their robot from the human player than picking them up from the field, particularly when the color tube they wanted was buried in one of the stacks. Some human players would toss a tube at one of the stacks to disrupt them and make it easier for a robot to pick up a particular color tube. Some robots would immediately load the human player's three tubes on a goal capper and then place them on the goal. Effective goal cappers were usually detachable and would take significant effort to remove from the top of the goal, and were designed in such a way that it would be hard for another robot to score above it. Some robots, like team 111's, could remove a goal capper or score above it.

Pushing the stacks of tubes over towards the human player station allowed the human player to pick up the tubes and more easily load them into a claw or grabber. Opponent's tubes could be held on to to prevent them from using scored, or thrown at other robots or tubes to try to prevent them from scoring.

Because the goal spun freely, one defensive maneuver was to grab the goal or run the robot's base up against one of the sides of the goal's base and then spin it around to make it harder for other robots and human players to score. Team 148 built a grabbing mechanism and drivetrain that allowed them to grab the goal and spin it at a decent speed, with their robot spinning with the goal. A much more common defensive maneuver was to deploy a goal "capper" that would block off the top of the goal and make it hard to score tubes on top of the goal. Some detachable goal cappers could be loaded with a team's tubes before being deployed, preventing more tubes from being added.

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  Teams -53 and 100 scoring back and forth at the National championship. Team -53 has a pair of flip-down stabilizers extended [6]

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  Teams 126 and 190 scoring back and forth at the National championship [7]

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  Team 141 launching a ball while 100 gets in position to score repeatedly [8]

When playoff rounds changed to the one-on-one format, defense involving the robot became a larger focus as teams did not have to worry about the third team scoring unchecked while they defended against the second. In the championship finals, team 71 and 47's robots spent much of each match sitting in front of the opposing team's human player to prevent them from throwing tubes or loading up their robot.

Robot construction

Control system

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  The transmit side of the control system, with two PC flight sticks and RNET radio [9]

• 

  The receiver box (lower middle) and relay box (upper right), with RNET radio, servos, limit switches, and two drill motor battery boxes [10]

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  The receiver and relay boxes on team 45's 1995 robot [11]

For the first time, the control system included a software-programmable microcontroller and programming software. The robot side of the control system contained a BASIC Stamp microcontroller and One EEPROM contained the default program which would output controller buttons right to PWM outputs like some previous control systems and the other could be selected and programmed with custom code. This increased the potential complexity of mechanisms and automated control and allowed for more complex driver control.

Team list

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1997 team numbers are canonical.
More information about pre-1998 team numbers is available here.

Team number	Team name	Team location	Robot	Archive link
1	1	3-Dimensional Services & Oakland Technical Center, Northeast Campus (OTC-NE) The Scorpions	Rochester Hills, MI	The Arach-Na-Bot	1997frc1
3	130	Scott B. Patterson, DDS, MS /Green County Engineers & Monroe Senior High School The Chedderheads	Monroe, WI		1997frc130
6	4	Alliant Techsystems, Inc. & Washburn High School	Hopkins, MN	VMR (Virtual Miller Robot)	1997frc4
7	5	Allied Signal & Parkville High School	Baltimore, MD		1997frc5
8	85	NASA Ames Research Center & Palo Alto High School Solar Flares	Moffett Field, CA		1997frc85
11	8	BASF & Mt. Olive High School	Flanders, NJ		1997frc8
12	9	Bath Iron Works Corporation & Bath Reg. Vocational Center	Bath, ME		1997frc9
13	13	Baxter Healthcare Corporation / Northwestern University & Johnsburg High School The Bio-Beast Team	Round Lake, IL	Bio-Beast	1997frc13
14	10	Baxter Healthcare Corporation & Lakewood High School Center for Advanced Technologies BAXCAT	St. Petersburg, FL		1997frc10
15	12	Baxter Healthcare Corporation / Municipio de Anasco & Luis Munoz Marin High School / Raul Ibarra High School The Coqui	Anasco, PR		1997frc12
16	11	Baxter Healthcare Corporation & Mountain Home High School Baxter Bomb Squad	Mountain Home, AR		1997frc11
18	29	Bedford Community & McKelvie Middle School	Bedford, NH		1997frc29
20	102	NYNEX / Rensselaer & Shenendehowa High School NYNEX Team-X-treme	Troy, NY		1997frc102
22	123	Rocketdyne Division, Boeing North American, Inc. / NMB, Inc. / Fadal Engineering / AVG Corporation / DWA Composite Specialties / California State University & Chatsworth High School RoboChancellors	Canoga Park, CA		1997frc123
23	17	Boston Edison Company / University of Massachusetts Dartmouth & Plymouth North High School	Plymouth, MA		1997frc17
24	18	Boston Scientific Corporation & Edgewood High School The Bostangs	Spencer, IN		1997frc18
25	19	Bristol-Meyers Squibb / Rutgers University & North Brunswick Township High School	North Brunswick, NJ		1997frc19
26	20	Brooks Family / Poly Vac, Inc. & Pinkerton Academy RAW CHAOS	Derry, NH		1997frc20
27	21	Budd Company, The & Oakland Science, Mathematics & Technology Academy (OSMTech) OSM Budds	Auburn Hills, MI		1997frc21
28	112	Symbol Technologies & Pierson High School Operation Harpoon	Sag Harbor, NY	Mission Impossible	1997frc112
31	22	Central & South West Services / Public Service Company of Oklahoma & Jenks High School	Jenks, OK		1997frc22
33	23	Chrysler Corporation & Avondale High School I.M. Force (Impossible Mission Force)	Auburn Hills, MI		1997frc23
34	24	Chrysler Corporation - Huntsville Electronics & Bob Jones High School	Huntsville, AL	Patriot	1997frc24
35	117	Process Control Automation & Montague High School Montague Robocats	Montague, MI		1997frc117
36	25	Codem Systems, Inc. & Derryfield School Codem CyberCats	Merrimack, NH	The Troll	1997frc25
37	143	University of Miami & MAST Academy	Coral Gables, FL	TORUS - NO BULL	1997frc143
41	26	Cordis Corporation / Johnson & Johnson & Watchung Hills Regional High School The Warriors	Warren, NJ		1997frc26
42	27	Daniel Webster College / Brookfield Rapid Solutions / Highland Tool / Lockheed-Martin Commercial Electronics / Premier Industries & Alvirne High School	Nashua, NH		1997frc27
43	28	Dart Container Corporation & Mason High School	Mason, MI	Dart Vader III	1997frc28
44	30	Deere & Company / Iowa State University & Ames High School Team AARDVARC	Ames, IA	AARDVARC I	1997frc30
45	31	Delco Electronics Corporation & Kokomo High School KHS FIRST	Kokomo, IN	MadKat	1997frc31
47	32	Delphi Interior and Lighting Systems & Pontiac Central High School Chief Delphi	Troy, MI		1997frc32
52	36	Eastman Kodak Company & Fairport High School KOD RED	Rochester, NY	R2-K2	1997frc36
74	54	Haworth, Inc. & Holland High School {{{teamNickname}}}	Holland, MI	{{{robotName}}}	1997frc54
55	39	Environmental Testing Laboratory & Austin Academy Totally Tubular Team	Garland, TX	TNT	1997frc39
56	41	Ethicon & Bound Brook High School Cruisin' Crusaders	Somerville, NJ		1997frc41
58	93	National Semiconductor & South Portland High School	Gorham, ME		1997frc93
59	42	Florida International University & Miami Coral Park Senior High School The Raging Rams	Miami, FL		1997frc42
60	43	Ford Motor Company / Mohave Generating Station & Kingman High School	Kingman, AZ	Bionic Bulldog	1997frc43
61	44	Foster Miller Corporation / EMC2 Corporation / Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. & Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School	Upton, MA	Eliminator II	1997frc44
62	45	Freudenberg - NOK & Jesse Remington High School	Manchester, NH		1997frc45
63	49	GPU Energy & McDowell Senior High School	Erie, PA		1997frc49
65	46	General Motors Powertrain Group & Pontiac North High School Huskie Brigade	Pontiac, MI		1997frc46
67	47	General Motors Proving Ground & Milford High School / Lakeland High School / Harbor High School H2OT (Hyper Hex Offender Team)	Milford, MI		1997frc47
69	101	NYNEX & Quincy Public Schools NYNEXUS	White Plains, NY		1997frc101
71	14	Beatty Machine and Manufacturing & Hammond Schools Team Hammond	Hammond, IN	The Robot Formerly Known As BeattyJuice	1997frc14
72	144	University of North Carolina, Charlotte / William States Lee College of Engineering & Harding University High School	Charlotte, NC	RAMBOT II	1997frc144
73	53	Harris RF Communications / Rochester Institute of Technology & Edison Technical School Tigerbolt	Rochester, NY		1997frc53
74	54	Haworth, Inc. & Holland High School P.E.S.T. (Pulling Engineers and Students Together)	Holland, MI		1997frc54
75	105	Ortho Diagnostic Systems & Hillsborough High School Robo Raiders	Raritan, NJ		1997frc105
76	40	AT&T; / Texas Instruments & South Brunswick High School	Monmouth Jct., NJ		1997frc40
80	56	Honeywell Space and Aviation Control & Cortez High School	Phoenix, AZ	The Phoenix	1997frc56
81	58	HoneywellÍs MICRO SWITCH Division & Freeport High School / Aquin High School	Freeport, IL	Pretzelator III: The Bulldog	1997frc58
82	61	NASA JPL & Hope Academy / Redondo Union High School / Hawthorne High School / Mira Costa High School Southern California Circuit Breakers	Frazier Park, CA		1997frc61
83	3	Alliant Techsystems - Marine Systems & Kamiak High School	Mukilteo, WA	Bad Dog	1997frc3
85	34	Drawform, Inc. & Zeeland High School AT3 (All-Terrain-Tube-Transport team)	Zeeland, MI		1997frc34
86	127	Vistakon, Inc. / Sally Industries, Inc. & Stanton College Preparatory School The Dare-Devils	Jacksonville, FL		1997frc127
87	62	Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc. & Rancocas Valley Regional High School	Mt. Holly, NJ		1997frc62
88	63	Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc. & Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School	Bridgewater, MA		1997frc63
89	145	Johnson & Johnson / University of Pittsburgh & Steel Center Vocational Technical School / Tech-Link Program of Pittsburgh The Steel Shadow	Pittsburgh, PA		1997frc145
90	64	Johnson & Johnston Associates / RDI & Salem High School	Salem, NH	HEXAGOD	1997frc64
91	65	Kemet Electronics / Greenville Tech College & JL Mann High School MANN-POWER Robotics Team	Greenville, SC		1997frc65
92	55	Honeywell, Inc. & Adlai E. Stevenson High School	Lincolnshire, IL		1997frc55
93	104	Oscar J. Boldt Construction / Lawrence University & Appleton North High School The ANTS (Appleton North Technology Students)	Appleton, WI	THOR	1997frc104
95	148	USACRREL / Creare, Inc. & Lebanon High School	Hanover, NH		1997frc148
96	67	Lego Systems & Talcott Mountain Academy / Avon High School / East Granby High School / Granby Memorial High School / Schaghticoke Middle School / John Winthrop Junior High School / Stafford Middle School / Terryville High School The Maniacs	Avon, CT	MANIAC	1997frc67
97	76	Massachusetts Institute of Technology & Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Tsunami	Cambridge, MA		1997frc76
98	68	Lennox International, Inc. / University of Texas at Dallas & St. MarkÍs School of Texas / Hockaday School The LENNOX LIONS	Dallas, TX		1997frc68
99	69	Light Machines Corporation & Memorial High School The BLITZ	Manchester, NH		1997frc69
100	86	NASA Ames Research Center & Woodside High School BORG (Bayarea Organization for Robotic Games)	Moffett Field, CA		1997frc86
101	71	LoDan Electronics / Craftsman Custom Metal Fabricators / Motorola APD & St. PatrickÍs High School STRIKER (St. Pat's Tactical Retrieval Interfaced Kombat Engaging Robot)	Chicago, IL		1997frc71
103	72	Lucent Technologies & Palisades High School	Kintnersville, PA		1997frc72
105	75	Massachusetts Electric / New England Electric & Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Charlton, MA		1997frc75
106	77	McNeil Consumer Products / Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science & Strawberry Mansion / Carver High School of Engineering / Mastbaum AVTS / Bartrum High School Philly's Phearsome Four	Ft. Washington, PA		1997frc77
107	78	Metal Flow Corporation & Holland Christian High School	Holland, MI	Tubinator XL	1997frc78
108	79	Motorola, Inc. / Florida Atlantic University & Dillard High School / Crystal Lake Middle School / William Dandy Middle School SigmaC@T	Plantation, FL		1997frc79
110	80	Motorola, Inc. & Richland High School The Plier Mechanics	Fort Worth, TX	Project Lambda	1997frc80
111	81	Motorola, Inc. & Rolling Meadows High School / Wheeling High School WILDSTANG	Schaumburg, IL		1997frc81
114	84	NASA Ames Research Center & Los Altos High School Eagles Strike	Moffett Field, CA		1997frc84
116	88	NASA Headquarters / Kiss Institute for Practical Robotics / MRJ, Inc. & South Lakes High School	Reston, VA		1997frc88
118	89	NASA Johnson Space Center & Clear Brook High School / Clear Creek High School / Clear Lake High School	Houston, TX	Integral	1997frc89
119	90	NASA Kennedy Space Center / McDonnell Douglas Aerospace / INET / EE&G; / Florida Institute of Technology & Merritt Island High School / Satellite High School Space Coast First Team	Kennedy Space Center, FL		1997frc90
120	92	NASA Lewis Research Center / TRW, Inc. / Battelle Memorial Institute / Centerior Energy & East Technical High School Scarabian Knights	Cleveland, OH		1997frc92
121	94	Naval Undersea Warfare Center & Middletown High School Islanders	Newport, RI	Aquatread	1997frc94
123	96	New Venture Gear, Inc. & Hamtramck High School Cosmo Force	Troy, MI		1997frc96
124	100	Northeast Utilities / U.S. Coast Guard Academy & Montville High School / The Williams School	Waterford, CT		1997frc100
126	103	NYPRO, Inc. & Clinton High School Gael Force	Clinton, MA		1997frc103
128	7	Ohio State University / American Electric Power & Grandview Heights High School Team TOGA	Columbus, OH	Brutus	1997frc7
129	106	Oscar Mayer Foods & Sherman High School Texas Big Dogs	Sherman, TX	Oscar II	1997frc106
130	107	Osram Sylvania, Inc. & Hillsboro-Deering High School	Hillsboro, NH		1997frc107
131	108	Osram Sylvania / Fleet Bank & Manchester Central High School C.H.A.O.S.	Manchester, NH		1997frc108
133	99	Nichols Portland & Bonny Eagle High School	Portland, ME		1997frc99
134	95	New Hampshire Technical Institute & Pembroke Academy	Pembroke, NH		1997frc95
136	124	Rutgers University & Plainfield High School	Plainfield, NJ		1997frc124
137	50	Grago, Inc. & Lake Howell High School Interactive Robotics Team	Winter Springs, FL	Orange Crusher	1997frc50
138	110	KeyBank / Parker Hannifin Pneutronics & Souhegan High School Souhegan Zoo Keepers	Amherst, NH		1997frc110
140	114	PRI Automation, Inc. / New England Prototype, Inc. & Tyngsborough High School PRIDE FIRST	Tyngsboro, MA		1997frc114
141	115	Prince & West Ottawa High School The Panther Team	Holland, MI		1997frc115
142	116	Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory & Hopewell Valley Regional High School	Princeton, NJ		1997frc116
143	118	Procter & Gamble Company / Tobyhanna Army Depot / Penn State / Keystone College / Northeastern Educational IU19 & Elk Lake HS / Lackawanna County Area Vocational Technical School / Lackawanna Trail HS / Tunkhannock Area HS / Troy Area HS	Scranton, PA		1997frc118
144	119	Procter & Gamble Company & Walnut Hills High School	Cincinnati, OH	Eagle One	1997frc119
145	120	Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals & Norwich High School	Norwich, NY		1997frc120
146	121	Public Service of New Hampshire & Manchester West High School Team Blue Lightning	Manchester, NH		1997frc121
147	122	Raytheon E-Systems & East Lake High School / Boca Ciega High School / Dixie M. Hollins High School DEEP Thunder	St. Petersburg, FL		1997frc122
148	35	Raytheon E-Systems, Inc. & Greenville High School Team Greenville	Greenville, TX	The Mad Hatter	1997frc35
150	126	Sage Products, Inc. & McHenry East High School / McHenry West High School Siege Engine	Crystal Lake, IL		1997frc126
151	128	Sanders, A Lockheed Martin Company & Nashua High School	Nashua, NH	Groovin' Toobin'	1997frc128
152	131	Silicon Systems / Cross Design & Aptos High School Riptide	Aptos, CA		1997frc131
153	125	Ortho Pharmaceutical / Rutgers University & Somerset County Vocational Technical Schools	Bridgewater, NJ		1997frc125
155	133	Stanley Works & C.M. McGee Middle School Toroid Twisters	Berlin, CT		1997frc133

• Although it appears that team 110 was registered for the 1997 championship, the seeding list implies they did not compete, and no record of them competing at a regional event exists.