Power Hog is Exploding Bacon’s 18th robot, made to play the 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition Game “Charged Up”.

Power Hog utilizes a custom three-stage elevator to quickly and efficiently collect and place game pieces across all three levels of the grid. This simple extending elevator, coupled with a turret, enables Power Hog to complete multiple links per match with ease. The turret permits rough alignment to the grid or human player station, followed by precise adjustments that accelerates the process. To optimize defensive maneuvers, Bacon outfitted Power Hog with pneumatic tires, ensuring the ideal amount of grip on both the charging station and the standard carpet. Furthermore, a two-speed shifting gearbox provides rapid maneuverability across the field, while still offering precise control when retrieving or placing game pieces. In end game, the need for balance was evident, which is why Power Hog’s bumpers were elevated as high as possible, enabling swift engagement and balancing on the charging station in under 20 seconds, even in tandem with multiple robots.