Host Chris Chianelli introduces Duke and Vanderbilt to their challenge: to build a robot that can break through a brick wall, drive over the debris, and drive up a ramp to a flag. Brian and the Blue Devils design a robot with an action arm that will raze the wall from the top, while Buzz and Vandy plan to build a robot with vertically rotating hammers that bash through brick. The teams take a look at the brick wall they will face in the final competition. The experts then reveal the "surprise household items" to their respective teams: building tools. The Teams
Vanderbilt University:
Daniel Hooper, Junior, Electrical Engineering and Math
Mike Bono, Graduate Student, Electrical Engineering
Guillermo Lagos, Senior, Computer Engineering
Duke University:
Colin Kelemen, Senior, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Chris Boston, Senior, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering
Ethan Eade, Senior, Computer Science and Math
The Designs
Vandy designs four-wheel drive robot with two linked crowbars spinning around a single shaft. A protective outer shell is fashioned from the body of a wheelbarrow.
Duke designs a four-wheel drive robot with a triple-action battering arm to topple the brick wall from the top, raise the front wheels over the rubble, and flip the robot over from its back.
The ConstructionDuke and Vandy outline their ideas at the design boards and begin construction. The experts and their teams continue building. Chris stresses the time element and teases the final competition.
Chris, Brian, and Buzz review the halftime progress that the students have made. The robots begin to take shape, and some preliminary tests are performed. Chris discusses possible future complications for Vanderbilt and the approaching competition.
While the students rush to complete their robots, Chris reviews the successes and setbacks each team has experienced so far. The building day comes to an end and the teams check out each other's robots.
The ContestAs competition is about to begin, Duke wins a five-second head start with a total of six parts from the surprise household item used in their robot. As the Vanderbilt Viper continues to suffer from recurring problems, the Duke Demolicious strong arms its way through the wall.
The Winners: Duke
The students from Duke University move on to the next round of the Robot Rivals competition.
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