Lunacy. An apt description of the idea a bunch of high school kids could design and build a robot capable of playing a game under conditions similar to the moon’s surface in just six weeks. But that is exactly what teams involved in this year’s FIRST robotics competition are doing for this year’s game, called “Lunacy.”

In the game, robots will play on a slippery surface, meant to simulate gravity one-sixth of the Earth’s, just like on the moon. Two threeteam robot alliances collect and store balls in trailers attached to the opposing team’s robots, with human plays positioned around the perimeter to score by throwing balls in the trailers.

The robots play without human intervention for the first 15 seconds, then are operated by radio control for the remaining two minutes. West High School’s Team 501, the PowerKnights, is ready to play.

“Unlike previous years where we finished the robot just in time to ship,” said Bedford senior Chris Costes, “this year we completed construction of the major robot features about a week in advance of the ship date. Though we completed construction early, the remaining week was used to the fullest and allowed us time for testing and tweaking.”

Coming up with ways to cope with the slippery surface were important to the team.

“The drive train we decided on is a six-wheel system with all wheels powered using a singlespeed transmission on each side of the robot,” he said.

“There were many ideas discussed about how to manipulate the moon rocks. Ultimately we decided to build upon the system we used during the Aim High competition two years ago.

There are a pair of rollers at the front of the robot that are used to suck the moon rocks off the floor where they are stored in a hopper. Towards the back of the robot there is a “magazine” where we can store up to four moon rocks, ready to be shot.

“On top of this magazine there is a turret that holds our shooter, able to launch moon rocks about 5 feet. This turret can be controlled by the operator and can rotate about 270 degrees. We also have a camera mounted on the turret that can be used to track the opposing team’s trailer markers and aid in aiming the turret,” said Costes.

Other local teams competing this year include Bedford High School, Team 509; St. Paul’s School, Concord, Team 1512; Bishop Brady High School, Team 1517; Hopkinton High School and John Stark High School, Team 1922; Pinkerton Academy, Team 241; Memorial High School, Team 238; Trinity High School, Team 40; Central High School, Team 131; and Pembroke Academy, Team 134.

The BAE regional competition takes place at the Verizon Wireless Arena Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28. Admission is free.