Gears

Rules

Savage Soccer 2002 Rules

Important Dates

Object

To design and build a radio-controlled robot that will defeat your opponent at the competition.

The winner is the team that wins the finals at the end of the tournament. Each match will be two (2) minutes long. The tournament will consist of 30 qualifying matches (each team will participate in 10), semi-finals, and finals. At the end of each qualifying match, each team will receive Qualifying Points (QP’s). The loser will receive their score and the winner will receive their score plus twice the loser’s score as QP. The top four teams will enter into the semi-finals where the first place team plays with the third and the second with the fourth place team. The winners from these matches will go onto the finals where the Champions will be determined.

Field Description

The field consists of many objects and scoring positions. The field is approximately 8’ by 12’. The robots will start within 2-foot squares centered on the short ends. In each corner there is a triangular shaped area that extends 3 feet along each wall. Two of these triangles are Goals, and the other two are End Zones. The goal for each team is diagonal from their end zone. In each goal is a horizontal goal post which is 18" the ground and extends from the corner 20". There are various "shapes" loose on the field: two triangles, two squares, and three circles, all of which are about a foot tall. The squares start standing upright next to the robot starting positions on the end zone side. The three circles start one foot away from each other down the center of the field. The triangles start standing upright one foot from the walls, in line with the circles. In each circle is one tennis ball.

Field Dimensions

Match Scoring

All scoring will occur at the end of the 2 minute matches after all shapes, balls and robots have come to rest.

Each shape moved entirely into a goal will count as 2 points for the goal’s owner. If the shape is hanging on the horizontal goal post, it is worth 5 points. Each tennis ball in a goal is worth 1 point for the opposing team. If there is a set of three different shapes (called a "complete set", consisting of a triangle, a circle, and a square) in the goal, the team will be awarded 5 bonus points if the entire complete set is hanging on the goal post, or 3 points otherwise. Any robot which is in an end zone, either entirely or in part, at the end of a match is worth five points to the end zone’s owner.

For purposes of exact scoring, lines marked on the field shall be considered part of whatever region they mark. Furthermore, the regions are three-dimensional, and consequently shapes do not have to be on the floor to be considered "in". Finally, a shape will be considered "hanging" on the goal post if the horizontal goal post goes through a plane centered within the shape, regardless of whether the shape is being supported by the goal post or not.

Tie-Breakers

In case of a tie during any of the matches, the following tiebreakers will be put into effect:

  1. Shapes in scoring position
  2. Number of shapes hanging
  3. Number of balls in your opponent’s goal.
  4. Robot in end zone.
  5. Closest robot to the end zone corner.
  6. Shaking of a Magic 8 Ball in the following manor:
    • The judge first says, "Does the red team win?"
    • The judge will then hold the Magic 8 Ball facing away from himself, shake it for 3 seconds, and then see the response.
    • If the Magic 8 ball gives an ambiguous response, the judge will ask "Does the blue team win?" and repeat the above step.
    • This cycle continues until a winner is determined.

In case of a tie in Qualifying Points at the end of the qualifying rounds, the following tie-breakers shall be used to determine who goes onto the semi-finals:

  1. Most match wins
  2. Largest total number of shapes hanging for points during the qualifying rounds.
  3. Magic 8 Ball, similar to rule 6 above

Driver Rotation

During each match, two drivers from each team will have an opportunity to drive. The drivers may switch at anytime between 50 seconds into the match and 70 seconds into the match. If the driver switch does not happen during that timeframe, the robot will be disabled for the remainder of the match.

The two drivers for each match will be selected sequentially from the team roster. This means that each team member will drive 2 or 3 times during the qualifying rounds.

Size Restriction

At the start of each match, every part of the machine must fit, unconstrained, in a stable position, within a box 15 inches wide by 18 inches long by 24 inches tall. The robot must be fully self-supported, in contact only with the horizontal, carpeted surface of the playing field when started.

Weight Restriction

Each machine’s weight must not exceed 8 lbs.

Safety and Rules Details

  1. At the start of the match, each team may position their robot anywhere they wish within the 24 inch starting square.
  2. Any ball or shape knocked out of the playing field will remain out of play until the next match.
  3. Judges will disqualify any device that appears to be a safety hazard.
  4. A machine may not intentionally contaminate the playing field or an opponent’s machine with lubricants or other debris.
  5. You may interact with your machine during a match only through the normal operation of the remote control system.
  6. Damaging the playing field, the playing pieces, or the control system may result in disqualification upon judge’s discretion.
  7. Strategies aimed solely at the destruction of, or damage to, an opponent’s machine are not in the spirit of the competition and will not be allowed. Devices designed expressly to tip the other vehicles are prohibited.
  8. A machine must be designed to operate by reacting only against features within the confines of the playing field perimeter wall and the wall itself.
  9. Gaining traction by use of adhesives, or by abrading or breaking the surface of the playing field is not allowed.
  10. If a team is being pinned for 5 seconds, the team doing the pinning must back off at least 12 inches before they can resume. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. Definition of Pinning: The other robot is held against an obstacle and cannot move, either forward or backward because of your robot’s presence.
  11. All parts of a machine must stay attached and must not cause any hazard of entanglement. Minor pieces becoming detached will not be grounds for disqualification if the judges determine that it 1) was not intentional, 2) did not positively influence the respective team’s outcome, and 3) was not the result of improper design/construction.
  12. All questions or rules clarifications will be addressed to the judges via the website or emailing minifirst@wpi.edu. All answers will be posted on the website in a timely fashion.
  13. Part replacement is allowed between matches if something breaks as long as everything still complies with specifications and rules. Any replacements shall be brought to the attention of a judge before the start of their next match.
  14. Minor design changes to your robot may be made between matches. Any modifications shall be brought to the attention of a judge before the start of their next match.
  15. Teams must have their team name clearly marked on their robot so as to visible from 20 ft away.

Building Constraints

Each team will be given parts from an Innovation FIRST EduRobot kit (http://www.innovationfirst.com/FIRSTRobotics/), and will be allowed to use additional materials as explained below. The kits given to teams have been customized for the miniFIRST competition. The kits will not include the same quantities of items listed on the Innovation FIRST EduRobot kit inventory.

Modifications are permitted to the mechanical parts of the kit, however all modified parts must be reformed (if bent), or replaced (if broken or cut). Teams can opt to pay the cash equivalent of any modified parts, based on the prices on Innovation FIRST’s website. Teams may opt to buy their own replacement or spare parts from Innovation FIRST, but no more than one kit’s worth of parts may be on a robot. Teams may NOT intentionally modify or break any of the kit electronics or motors. Modification of items on the additional materials list is permitted.

Some of the electronics shall not leave the robotics lab. This includes the robot controller "black boxes", the driver stations, the batteries, and the chargers. Teams will share driver controls and robot controller "black boxes". These items are to be used only in the robotics lab.

Each team will be expected to return all kit parts (or cash equivalences) at some time after the competition. If a team has permanently damaged or is missing any kit parts, they may be held responsible.

If a team breaks any motor or electronic parts, it shall be presented to a miniFIRST official for repairs.

Materials

Unless otherwise specified, an unlimited quantity will be allowed from the authorized materials list. Authorized materials may be available in the lab, but teams are permitted to use outside sources.

Each team's robot must be constructed solely from parts in the robot kit or from the authorized materials list, with the following allowed exceptions:

Authorized Materials List:

  1. Lexan sheet, up to 1/4 inch nominal thickness
  2. Aluminum sheet, up to 1/8 inch thickness
  3. Any metal or plastic round shaft or tubing up to 1/2 inch diameter
  4. Any bearings
  5. Plywood or wood up to 1/4 inch thickness
  6. Cardboard or foam-board
  7. String or twine.
  8. Any springs or elastic bands (must be designed to release energy no faster than it was input)

Energy Sources

The energy used by the devices in the competition must come solely from:

Lab Use

The robotics lab is available for fabrication of parts and testing and operating that requires use of the controls systems. Brainstorming, designing, and simple mechanical assembly should be done elsewhere to give other teams time in the lab.

The following restrictions are in place regarding use of the robotics lab:

The miniFIRST playing field components will be available in the lab. The control systems, batteries and driver stations will be available for use, however teams can only use the control systems clearly marked for miniFIRST use. If you have any questions on how to use the controls, or how to program your robot, feel free to contact the Chief of Controls, Justin Marrese or anyone else on the controls staff.

Maintained by savage@wpi.edu
Last modified: Nov 02, 2004, 09:31 EST