MARVIN VIII

One of the key advantages of MARVIN VIII is that is very good at exactly one thing - and that thing was the key to the whole game. The entire machine is built around a dual-leadscrew lift system built specifically for stacking totes. The system was so good at what it did, it never once failed in competition. Every single match, the only thing that could go wrong was human error. This is a huge part of what made the machine so successful in competition.

MARVIN VIII is the first MARS robot to undergo a major redesign after its first event. Using incredibly light components and system replacements, the team was able to bring in an entirely new game-piece grabbing system to the second event, more than doubling the machine's scoring output. The major change was a switch from passive control of the "tote" game objects to an active, pneumatically actuated system.

In addition to the changes to the lift system, several sensors were added to the robot during the second event. These sensors, while unused at the time, enabled a future project - autonomously collecting game objects during the first 15 seconds of the match. The goal was to collect and stack three totes and place them in the center of the field in those fifteen seconds. The sensors added were small-range IR sensors in the form of a multi directional array. Using them, the robot could determine where the targeted tote was in relation to the lift system, and adjust in real time to pick it up.

Sensors similar to those added for the increased autonomous functionality were included in the lift design from the beginning, intended to enable autonomous control of the lift system. However, we performed extensive testing comparing a human operator (me) to the machine's autonomous capabilities, and found that human intuition and training was able to consistently outscore the computer.

MARVIN VIII was the first majorly successful MARS machine. After its redesign, it went on to win one regional event and rank ninth at championships. It was the first MARS robot to be selected for championship playoff matches, and ended up making it all the way to the division finals. MARVIN VIII had an average playoff score of 152.29. MARVIN VIII would also be the first robot to win an off season event, followed by MARVIN IX, X, and XI consecutively.