Robo Racers Team 3843: Dive into the 2025 REEFSCAPE Season!

This year’s game, REEFSCAPE, transported us to an underwater world where alliances competed to build thriving coral reefs and manage vital ocean resources. Here’s a quick rundown of the challenge:

• Autonomous Period: Robots had to leave the starting line and score at least one “coral” to earn an “Auto Ranking Point.”
• Teleoperated Period: For 2 minutes and 15 seconds, drivers took control! Our robots worked to:
  • Place “Algae” in their Net: Contributing to their alliance’s resource management.
  • Collect “Coral” from Human Players: And strategically place them on their “Reef.” Higher placement meant more points!
  • Process “Algae”: Delivering algae to a “processor” could earn a “Co-op Point” for both alliances, reducing the coral needed for a ranking point and influencing tournament rank.
• Endgame: As time ran out, robots raced back to their “Barge” to “Hang” on their “Cage” and “Ascend to the Ocean Surface.” Points were awarded for hanging on “Shallow Cages” and even more for “Deep Cages.” Alliances could earn a “Barge Ranking Point” for scoring enough points in this phase.
• Winning the Match: The alliance with the most points overall at the end of the match claimed victory!

REEFSCAPE was a true test of strategic thinking, precise robot design, and seamless teamwork. We loved the dynamic elements and the emphasis on both individual robot performance and alliance cooperation.

• Qualification Matches: We had a qualifying record of 4-7-0, showcasing moments of brilliance and identifying key strategies to refine. We finished Rank 30 out of the competing teams.
• Key Matches:
  • Qualification 5: Red Alliance (Teams 7428, 9097, 5005) – 62 vs. Blue Alliance (Teams 3843, 8772, 8624) – 40
  • Qualification 24: Red Alliance (Teams 3468, 3138, 4601) – 38 vs. Blue Alliance (Teams 4265, 3843, 7072) – 30
  • Qualification 37: Red Alliance (Teams 3814, 3824, 144) – 89 vs. Blue Alliance (Teams 48, 5005, 3843) – 56
  • Qualification 48: Red Alliance (Teams 4601, 3843, 2783) – 63 vs. Blue Alliance (Teams 538, 8624, 5125) – 21

While the qualification rounds presented challenges, they provided invaluable experience that fueled our determination for the next event.

• Qualification Matches: Our performance improved significantly, leading to a strong qualification record of 11-6-0. We ranked 14th overall, a testament to our consistent performance!
• Playoffs – Regional Winners! We were thrilled to be the 2nd Pick of Alliance 1, joining forces with Team 10479 Powerhouse and Team 4467 Titanium Titans. Our alliance fought through intense playoff matches, demonstrating exceptional coordination and strategic play.
  • Match 1 (Round 1): Alliance 1 (Teams 4467, 3843, 10479) – 180 vs. Alliance 8 (Teams 1708, 1592, 3824) – 160
  • Match 7 (Round 2): Alliance 1 (Teams 4467, 3843, 10479) – 170 vs. Alliance 4 (Teams 10101, 233, 5847) – 153
  • Finals: Our alliance went on to win the Smoky Mountains Regional Championship! In the final matches, our alliance scored:
    • Final 1: Alliance 1 (Teams 4467, 3843, 10479) – 170 vs. Alliance 7 (Teams 2614, 3937, 3966) – 155
    • Final 2: Alliance 1 (Teams 4467, 3843, 10479) – 170 vs. Alliance 7 (Teams 2614, 3937, 3966) – 171
    • Final Tiebreaker: Alliance 1 (Teams 4467, 3843, 10479) – 192 vs. Alliance 7 (Teams 2614, 3937, 3966) – 175

Winning the Smoky Mountains Regional was an amazing accomplishment and a true highlight of our 2025 season! We are incredibly proud of our team’s dedication, hard work, and the spirit of Gracious Professionalism that shined through in every match.

Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being a part of the Robo Racers’ journey!