HOT Team History

The Blue Alliance
FIRSTinspires – Team 67
FIRST Hall of Fame

2023: Charged Up

CHARGED UP, presented by Haas, is an exciting and fast-paced competition that invites two competing alliances to bring energy to their community by retrieving cones and cubes and scoring them in a grid. The game features both autonomous and driver-controlled periods, during which teams can score points by retrieving and scoring game pieces, as well as docking on or engaging with their charge station. Teams will need to strategize and work together in order to emerge as the top alliance in this exciting game.

  • Photo credit: Stephen Liggett
  • Photo credit: Stephen Liggett

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Milford District – Milford, MI
    • District Winner
    • Engineering Inspiration Award Winner
  • FIM Troy District – Troy, MI
    • District Winner
    • Autonomous Award sponsored by Ford
  • FIM State Championship – Saginaw, MI
    • APTIV Semifinalist
    • Quality Award
  • FIRST Championship – Houston, TX
    • Galileo Semifinalist
    • Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors
  • Kettering Kick Off 2 – Flint, MI
    • Event Winner
  • Ferris State University Roboday – Big Rapids, MI
    • Event Winner

2022: Rapid React

The game is played by two teams of three robots. The field consists of a central hub, two Alliance Stations on opposing corners of the field, and two Hangars in the two remaining corners. Notably, unlike previous games, the Alliance Stations – where teams load cargo into their robots – are fully accessible by either team. During the fifteen-second autonomous period and extending into the main match, robots collect their teams’ color balls and launch them into either an upper or lower hub. During the endgame, robots can climb the bars of the Hangar, reaching both over and up to score higher and higher numbers of points.

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Milford District – Milford, MI
    • District Semifinalist
    • Quality Award
  • FIM Troy District – Troy, MI
    • District Winner
    • Industrial Design Award
  • FIM State Championship – Saginaw, MI
    • DTE Division Quarter finalist
  • FIRST Championship – Houston, TX
    • Roebling Division Finalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
  • Kettering Kick Off – Flint, MI
    • Finalist

Articles:

2021: Infinite Recharge at Home

The Game(s)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing lock down, and stay-at-home efforts, the FIRST 2021 season was more so an extension of the 2020 Infinite Recharge season than a season in its own right. FIRST primarily focused on three “games” for the season: Game Design Challenge, Innovation Challenge, and Infinite Recharge at Home.

The Game Design Challenge consisted of various teams trying to create a FIRST game at home, consisting of both virtual and physical objects. The Innovation Challenge consisted of teams creating solutions to world problems, then pitching said ideas to a team of judges. Infinite Recharge at Home was the closest thing to the 2020 Infinite Recharge season, with robots competing in individual challenges for various awards like the Innovation Award, Quality Award, Excellence in Engineering Award, and Industrial Design Award. 

Arduino Challenge

The HOT Team also introduced a fourth game for its own members, the Arduino Challenge. In the Arduino Challenge, each participant received an Arduino circuit board, some materials for creating circuits on that board, and materials for a robotic arm. Students learned how to build the robotic arm, wire circuits together to make the arm moveable, then code a program to make the arm controllable autonomously.

2020: Infinite Recharge

The game is played by two alliances of three robots each. The game field consists of a central hangar, known as the Shield Generator, with two Trench Runs on either side of it extending to the edges of the field. On each side of the field is a tall rocket with three hatches. Robots score points by firing small foam balls into the rocket’s hatches, with the higher hatches scoring more points. Teams may also manipulate small rotating discs in the Trench Run to score extra points. At the end of the match, teams may hang on two bars in the Shield Generator, scoring points for every robot off the ground and extra if the bar is balanced.

Photo Credit: Tara Johnson Photography

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Milford District – Milford, MI
    • District Winner
    • Innovation in Control Award
  • COVID – After the Milford event, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all FIRST robotics events were canceled. No other 2020 events were attended by the HOT Team.

2019: Destination Deep Space

The game is played by two alliances of three teams each. The robots compete on a field by placing circular hatch panels and filling rockets with spherical cargo. Open hatches must be secured with hatch panels before being filled with cargo, else the cargo will simply spill out and remain uncounted for points. At the end of the match, robots may climb onto the habitat at various levels, higher levels scoring extra points for the team.

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Milford District – Milford, MI
    • District Winner
    • Quality Award
  • FIM Lincoln District – Ypsilanti, MI
    • District Quarter finalist
    • Industrial Design Award
  • FIM East Kentwood District – Kentwood, MI
    • District Semifinalist
  • FIM State Championship – Saginaw, MI
    • DTE Division Quarter finalist
    • Innovation in Control Award
    • Dean’s List Finalist Award: Alyssa Hagan
  • FIRST Championship – Detroit, MI
    • Carson Division Semifinalist
  • Kettering Kick Off – Flint, MI

2018: Power Up

The game is played by two alliances of three teams each. Their robots compete on a field by placing milk crates which represent power cubes on large balancing scales in order to tip the scales and gain ownership. Alliances can also trade power cubes in for temporary advantages called power ups. At the end of the match, robots can climb or assist a partner in climbing the tower attached to the balancing scale, located on the center of the field, using a rung attached to the tower for additional points. 

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Southfield District – Southfield, MI
    • District Finalist
  • FIM Milford District – Milford, MI
    • District Finalist
    • Delphi Excellence in Engineering Award
  • FIM Troy District – Troy, MI
    • District Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • FIM Championship – Saginaw, MI
    • DTE Division Winner
    • Michigan State Championship Finalist
  • FIRST Championship – Detroit, MI
    • Archimedes Division Semifinalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Quarter finalist
  • Kettering Kick Off – Flint, MI
    • Semifinalists

2017: Steamworks

As in past games, two alliances of three individual teams and their robots compete on a field to score “match” point to win the game and ranking points to advance to playoff rounds. The game has a steampunk theme and teams are required to shoot wiffle balls which represent fuel into a simulated boiler which transfers the generated steam into an airship in the middle of the field. Each alliance has one airship, which they pressurize with steam from the boiler and load with plastic gears from the field. At the end of the match, robots can climb and hang on team-supplied ropes (or standard ropes supplied by FIRST) attached to the airship for additional points.

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Southfield District – Southfield, MI
    • District Semifinalist
  • FIM Waterford District – Waterford, MI
    • District Finalist
    • Motorola Quality Award
  • FIM State Championship – Saginaw, MI
    • Dow Division Finalist
    • Motorola Quality Award
  • FIRST Championship – St. Louis, MO
    • Archimedes Division Winner
    • Einstein Semifinalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN

Engineering Design

2016: Stronghold

The game was played by two alliances of up to three teams each, and involves breaching the opponents’ defenses, known as outer work as well as capturing their tower by first firing “boulders” (small foam balls) at it, and then surrounding or scaling the tower using a singular rung on the tower wall. Points were scored by crossing elements of the tower’s outer works, shooting boulders into the opposing tower’s five goals in order to lower the tower strength, and by surrounding and scaling the tower.

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Waterford District – Waterford, MI
    • District Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • FIM Howell District – Howell, MI
    • District Winner
    • Motorola Quality Award
  • FIM State Championship – Grand Rapids, MI
    • State Championship Winner
  • FIRST Championship – St. Louis, MI
    • Newton Division Semifinalist
    • General Motors Team of the Year
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Semifinalist

2015: Recycle Rush

Recycle Rush is a recycling-themed game played by two Alliances of three robots each. Robots score points by stacking totes on scoring platforms, capping those stacks with recycling containers, and properly disposing of pool noodles, representing litter.

Competitions and Awards:

  • FIM Waterford District – Waterford, MI
    • District Event Winner 
    • Motorola Quality Award
  • FIM Livonia District – Livonia, MI
    • District Event Winner
    • Delphi Excellence in Engineering Award
  • FIRST in Michigan State Championship – Grand Rapids, MI
    • Quarter-finalist
  • FIRST Championship – St. Louis, MO
    • Carson Division Finalist
  • Michigan Advanced Robotics Competition – Monroe, MI
    • Finalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN

Engineering Design

2014: Aerial Assist

Aerial Assist is played by two competing Alliances of three robots each on a flat 25’ x 54’ foot field, straddled by a truss suspended just over five feet above the floor. The objective is to score as many balls in goals as possible during a two-minute and 30-second match. The more Alliances score their ball in their goals, and the more they work together to do it, the more points their Alliance receives

Competitions and Awards:

  • Howell District – Howell, MI
    • District Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • Waterford District – Waterford, MI
    • District Finalist
    • Delphi Engineering Excellence Award
  • Lansing District – Lansing, MI
    • District Winner
    • Rockwell Innovation in Control Award
  • Michigan State Championship, Ypsilanti, MI
    • Championship Finalist
    • Delphi Engineering Excellence Award
    • Woodie Flowers Award Finalist: Lori Gleason
  • FIRST Championship – St. Louis, MI
    • Galileo Division Winner
    • Einstein Semifinalist
  • Michigan Advanced Robotics Competition – Monroe, MI
    • Finalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Semifinalist

Engineering Design

2013: Ultimate Ascent

Ultimate Ascent is played by two competing alliances on a flat, 27′ x 54′ foot field. Each Alliance consists of three robots, and they compete to score as many discs into their goals as they can during a two (2)-minute and fifteen (15)-second match. The higher the goal in which the disc is scored, the more points the Alliance receives

Competition and Awards:

  • Waterford District – Waterford, MI
    • District Quarter Finalist
    • Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism Award
  • Troy District – Troy, MI
    • District Finalist
    • Delphi Engineering Excellence Award
  • Michigan State Championship – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Championship Finalist
    • Delphi Engineering Excellence Award
  • FIRST Championship – St. Louis, MI
    • Curie Division Finalist
  • Michigan Advanced Robotics Competition – Monroe, MI
    • Quarter Finalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Finalist

Engineering Design

2012: Rebound Rumble

Rebound Rumble is played by two competing Alliances on a flat, 27 x 54 foot field. Each Alliance consists of three robots. They compete to score as many basketballs into their hoops as they can during a 2 minute and 15 second match. The higher the hoop in which the basketball is scored, the more points the Alliance receives.

Competition and Awards:

  • Waterford District – Waterford, MI
    • District Winner
    • Delphi Engineering Excellence Award
  • Northville District – Northville, MI
    • District Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • Troy District – Troy, MI
    • District Winner
    • Rockwell Innovation in Control Award
  • Michigan State Championship – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Championship Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • FIRST Championship – St. Louis, MI
    • Championship Archimedes Division Finalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Quarter Finalist

Engineering Design

2011: Logo Motion

Logo Motion is played by two competing alliances on a flat 27’ x 54’ foot field. Each alliance consists of three robots. They compete to hang as many inflated plastic shapes (triangles, circles, and squares) on their grids as they can during a 2 minute and 15 second match. The higher the teams hang their game pieces on their scoring grid, the more points their alliance receives.

Competitions and Awards:

  • Kettering District – Flint, MI
    • District Quarter-finalist
  • West Michigan District – Allendale, MI
    • District Finalist
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • Michigan State Championship – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Championship Winner
  • FIRST Championship – St. Louis, MO
    • Curie Division Semifinalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Semifinalist

Engineering Design

2010: Breakaway

In Breakaway, two alliances of three teams compete on a 27-by-54-foot field with bumps, attempting to earn points by collecting soccer balls in goals. Additional bonus points are earned for each robot suspended in air and not touching the field at the end of the match.

Competitions and Awards:

  • Kettering District – Flint, MI
    • District Winner
    • Motorola Quality Award
    • Cooperation Award
  • Detroit District – Detroit, MI
    • District Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
    • Cooperation Award
  • Michigan State Championship – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Finalist
    • WWJ – Kettering Teacher of the Year: Lori Gleason
  • FIRST Championship – Atlanta, GA
    • Newton Division Winner
    • FIRST Championship Winner
    • GM Mentor of the Year Award: Jim Meyer
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Semifinalist

Engineering Design

2009: Lunacy

In Lunacy, robots are designed to pick up 9″ game balls and score them in trailers hitched to their opponents’ robots for points during a 2 minute and 15 second match. Additional points are awarded for scoring a special game ball, the Super Cell, in the opponents’ trailers during the last 20 seconds of the match. “LUNACY” is played on a low-friction floor, which means teams must contend with the laws of physics.

Competitions and Awards:

  • Cass Tech District – Detroit, MI
    • District Winner
    • Motorola Quality Award
  • Lansing District – Lansing, MI
    • District Winner
    • Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism Award
  • Troy District – Troy, MI
    • District Winner
    • Motorola Quality Award
  • Michigan State Championship – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Championship Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • FIRST Championship – Atlanta, GA
    • Galileo Division Winner
    • FIRST Championship Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Semifinalist

Engineering Design

2008: First Overdrive

In Overdrive, students’ robots are designed to race around a track knocking down 40″ inflated Trackballs and moving them around the track, passing them either over or under a 6’6″ overpass. Extra points are scored by robots positioning the Trackballs back on the overpass before the end of the 2 minute and 15 second match.

Competition and Awards:

  • Finger Lakes Regional – Rochester, NY 
    • Regional Semifinalist
    • Delphi “Driving Tomorrow’s Technology” Award
  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Regional Winner
    • Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism Award
  • FIRST Championship – Atlanta, GA
    • Curie Division Winner
    • FIRST Championship Finalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Invitational Winner
  • Kettering Kick off – Flint, MI
    • Kick off Winner

Engineering Design

2007: Rack ‘N’ Roll

In Rack ‘N’ Roll, robots are designed to hang inflated colored tubes on pegs configured in rows and columns on a 10-foot high center “rack” structure. Extra points are scored by robots being in their home zone and lifted more than 4” off the floor by another robot before the end of the 2 minute and 15 second match.

Competition and Awards:

  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Regional Semifinalist
    • Delphi “Driving Tomorrow’s Technology” Award
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • West Michigan Regional – Allendale, MI 
    • Regional Quarterfinalist
  • FIRST Championship – Atlanta, GA
    • Curie Division Finalist
  • Indiana Robotics Invitational – Indianapolis, IN
    • Semifinalist

Engineering Design

2006: Aim High

In AIM HIGH, robots are designed to launch balls into goals while human players enter balls into play and score points by throwing/pushing balls into corner goals. Extra points are scored by robots racing back to their end zones and climbing the ramp to the platform before the end of the 2 minute and 10 second match

Competition and Awards:

  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Regional Winners
  • West Michigan Regional – Allendale, MI
    • Regional Quarterfinalist
  • FIRST Championship Galileo Division – Atlanta, GA

Engineering Design

2005: Triple Play

TRIPLE PLAY is played on a 27′ wide by 52′ long playing field with the 9 goals configured in 3 x 3 matrix, similar to
tic-tac-toe. The robots will attempt to place the red and blue game tetras in or on one or more of the nine goals to
score points and “claim ownership” of the goals

Competition and Awards:

  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Regional Winner
    • Delphi “Driving Tomorrow’s Technology” Award
  • Buckeye Regional – Cleveland, OH
    • Regional Winners
  • West Michigan Regional – Allendale, MI 
    • Regional Quarterfinalist
    • Regional Chairman’s Award
  • FIRST Championship – Atlanta, GA
    • Newton Division Winner
    • FIRST Championship Winner
    • Chairman’s Award Winner

Engineering Design

2004: FIRST Frenzy

FIRST FRENZY requires robots to collect and pass 13” balls to the human player to then shoot them into fixed and moveable
goals. There are three 30” balls on the playing field that can be placed on top of any goal by a robot, which will
double the point value in the goal. Additionally, robots may attempt to “hang” from a 10’ bar

Competition and Awards:

  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Judges’ Award
  • Buckeye Regional – Cleveland, OH
    • Regional Winner
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • West Michigan Regional – Grand Rapids, MI
    • Regional Finalist
    • Leadership in Control Award
  • FIRST Championship – Atlanta, GA
    • Newton Division Winners
    • Leadership in Control Award

Engineering Design

2003: Stack Attack

STACK ATTACK requires robots to collect and stack plastic storage containers on their side of the playing field. The location of the robots and containers and the height of the stacks at the end of the match determine each team’s score for the round

Competitions and Awards:

  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Regional Winner
  • West Michigan Regional – Grand Rapids, MI
    • Regional Semifinalist
    • Judges’ Award
  • FIRST Championship – Houston, TX
    • Newton Division Finalist

Engineering Design

2002: Zone Zeal

Four teams work together as one alliance to try to achieve as high a score as Each 2 minute match begins with the 24’ x 48’ field broken up into 5 zones and set up as follows. Four robots start on the playing field and are paired in alliances of 2. There are 2 robots at diagonally opposite corners, 10 soccer balls in each driver station area, 20 soccer balls centered along each side of the field, and 3 moveable goals weighing approximately 130 lbs each in the center zone. The strategies are endless, but the basic objectives are simple. Robots race around the playing field trying to gather balls, place them into goals, place the goals in their scoring zone, and return their robot to their starting zone before the 2 minutes have elapsed.

Competitions and Awards:

  • Buckeye Regional – Cleveland, OH
    • Regional Finalist
    • First Seed Award
    • General Motors Industrial Design Award
  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI
    • Regional Winner
    • Engineering Inspiration Award
  • Western Michigan Regional – Grand Rapids, MI
    • Regional Semifinalist
    • First Seed Award
    • Incredible Play Award
    • Leadership in Control Award
  • FIRST Championship Newton Division-  Orlando, FL
    • Division Semifinalist
    • Woodie Flowers Award: Dave Verbrugge

2001: Diabolical Dynamics

Four teams work together as one alliance to try to achieve as high a score as possible in each match. Points are score by placing balls in their goal, and by positioning their robots and goals in designated areas at the end of each match. At the start of each match, the alliance station contains twenty small balls. In addition there are twenty small balls and four large balls on the far side of the field which may be used to score points.

Competitions and Awards:

  • UTC/New England Regional – Hartford, CT – March 1-3
    • Regional Finalist
  • West Michigan Regional – Grand Rapids, MI – March 8-10
  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI – March 22-24
  • FIRST Championship Newton Division – Orlando, FL – April 4-6

2000: Co-opertition FIRST

Four teams, paired in two alliances, will compete in each match. An alliance scores points by placing balls in their goal, and by positioning their robots in designated areas at the end of each match. At the start of a match each alliance has seven yellow balls and one black ball in their station. In addition, there are fifteen yellow balls and two black balls on the far side of the field which may be scored by either alliance.

Competitions and Awards:

  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI – March 9-11
    • Quality Award
  • NASA Langley/VCU Regional – Richmond, VA – March 16-18
    • Regional Winner
    • Quality Award
  • Motorola Midwest Regional – Evanston, IL – March 23-25
    • Delphi “Driving Tomorrow’s Technology” Award
  • FIRST National Championship, Orlando, FL – April 6-8

1999: Double Trouble

Points are scored by positioning “floppies,” robots, and the “puck” on the playing field. Floppies are light weight, pillow-like objects with Velcro-loop material located in the center and around the perimeter. Each alliance has ten color coded floppies located on the playing field and at the player stations.

Competitions and Awards:

  • Motorola Midwest Regional – Chicago, IL – February 25-27
    • Honeywell Leadership In Control Award
  • Philadelphia Alliance Regional – Philadelphia, PA – March 11-13
    • Regional Winner
    • Honeywell Leadership in Control Award
  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI – March 25-27
    • Team Spirit Award
  • FIRST National Championship – Orlando, FL – April 22-24
    • Chairman’s Award Finalist

1998: Ladder Logic

In two minutes matches, the three robots and human players score points by placing the balls onto the side goals or into the central goal. The balls are color-coded to identify team ownership. A human player, located outside the perimeter of the field, is allowed to hand balls to the robot or throw balls directly at the goals.

Competitions and Awards: 

  • Southwest Regional – Houston, TX – March 5-8
    • Honeywell Leadership in Control Award
  • Motorola Midwest Regional – Chicago, IL – March 12-14
    • Motorola Quality Award
  • Great Lakes Regional – Ypsilanti, MI – March 19-21
    • Honeywell Leadership in Control Award
  • FIRST National Championship – Orlando, FL – April 2-4
    • Chairman’s Award Finalist
    • Honeywell Leadership in Control Award

1997: Toroid Terror (Rookie Year)

In two minute matches, the three robots and human players score points by placing the inner tubes onto pegs in the goal, or around the top of the goal. The tubes are color coded to identify team ownership. Human players are not allowed onto the field, but they may hand tubes to the robots or throw tubes directly onto the goal.

Competitions and Awards:

  • Motorola Midwest Regional – Chicago, IL – March 6-8
  • FIRST National Championship – Orlando, FL – April 10-12
    • Rookie All-Star

Fun Facts: 

  • Team name – Hyper Hex Offender Team
  • Team number – 47