Savage Soccer 2003 Rules
1. Important Dates:
Kickoff Event
When: Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Time: 1600-1700
Where: WPI Campus - Washburn 229
Competition Event
When: Sunday, December 7, 2003
Time: 1000-1600
Where: WPI Campus - Higgins Lab 116
2. The Game
2.1. Summary
2.1.1. This year's game with consist of two robots trying to play an expanded version of Tic-Tac-Toe. Robots begin in an 18" starting strip next to a row of 16 appropriately colored ping pong balls set into ball racks. Each team will try to get as many three-in-a-rows as they can on by placing their colored ping pong balls into the 16 holes in the scoring platform. Each three in a row is worth 10 points, and each ball, regardless of being in a three in a row, is worth one point. A team can double their total points by hanging on their teams Goal Post. A team must play proper defense, as well as a strong offense, in order to win.
2.2. Objective:
2.2.1. To design and build a radio-controlled robot that can play tic-tac-toe with ping-pong balls on a Scoring Platform and hang on a Goal Post.
2.2.2. The winner is the team that wins the finals at the end of the tournament. Each match will be two (2) minutes long.
2.2.3. The tournament will consist of qualifying matches
, semi-finals, and finalsand elimination matches. At the end of each qualifying match, each team will receive Qualifying Points (QP’s). The top eight (8) teams will enter into the quarter-finals, the four winners of the quarter-finals will go on to the semi-finals, and the two winners of the semi-finals will continue on to the finals, where the Champion will be determined. There will also be a "loser’s bracket", to determine how the other teams place.2.3. Field Description
2.3.1. The Field is eight feet (8’) in width by twelve feet (12’) in length. This playing area is bounded by a wooden rectangular frame approximately three inches in height and approximately three-quarters on an inch (¾") in thickness. The majority of the Field surface is gray ("high-traffic") carpet. Centered on the field is a Scoring Platform. The Scoring Platform is a piece of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) three-quarters of an inch (¾") thick. The Scoring Platform will be secured to the Field with carpet tacks or carpet tape. Intentional lifting or moving of the Scoring Platform will result in disqualification.
2.3.2. The robots will start within eighteen-inch (18") Starting Strips at either end of the field. The Red and Blue Starting Strips will be defined by red and blue tape, respectively. Robots must begin completely between the colored tapes. Robots are not permitted to begin a match touching or breaking the planes created by the inside edges of the colored tapes. In a given match, the Red team’s robot will start in the Red Starting Strip and the Blue team’s robot will start in the Blue Starting Strip.
2.3.3. Each team’s Ball Rack is aligned with the center-line parallel to, and ten inches (10") from, each end of the Field. Each rack is approximately one-and-a-half inches (1.5") in width, one and a half inches (1.5") in height, and twenty-four inches (24") in length. These each hold sixteen (16) colored ping pong balls.
2.3.4.
The Ball Racks are secured to the Field with carpet tacks. Intentionally lifting or moving the Ball Racks will result in disqualification.The Ball Racks are not secured to the field, and may be manipulated by robots.2.3.5. At two adjacent corners of the Field are horizontal Goal Posts which are fixed
seventeen-and-a-quarter inches (17.25") above the Field surface and extends seventeen-and-a-quarter inches (17.25") from vertical support posts.eighteen inches (18") above the Field surface and extends eighteen inches (18") from vertical support posts. The Red Goal Post lies at the end of the field with the Blue Starting Strip, and the Blue Goal Post lies at the end of the field with the Red Starting Strip. The horizontal bar of each Goal Post will be placed above the field at forty-five degree (45?) angles with respect to the field borders.2.3.6. Field drawings are attached.
2.4. Field Setup:
2.4.1. At the start of each match, each team’s robot will start in their respective starting strip, as above. Sixteen (16)
red coloredorange colored 40mm ping-pong balls will be placed in the red Ball Rack, and sixteen (16) blue colored 40mm ping-pong balls will be places in the bluescoringBall Rack.2.5. Match Scoring
2.5.1. All scoring will occur at the end of each two-minute match, after all balls and robots have come to rest.
2.5.2. A ball is in scoring position if and only if the ball is whole, its surface is continuous, and is touching the bottom carpet surface inside one of the 16 regulation holes in the scoring platform. Only one ball may be in scoring position per hole.
2.5.3. Red colored balls are considered the red team’s balls, and blue colored balls are considered the blue team’s balls.
2.5.4. At the end of the match, when all balls and robots have come to a full and complete stop, each team will receive points based on the following criteria:
2.5.4.1. One (1) Match Point will be awarded for each of that team’s balls in scoring position.
2.5.4.2. Ten (10) Match Points will be awarded for each three-in-a-row (three (3) of that team’s balls in scoring position in three (3) adjacent, collinear scoring holes).
2.5.4.3.
Any robot whose weight is fully supported by their own team’s colored bar shall have their match points accrued in criteria 1 and 2 multiplied by a factor of two (2). A robot is defined as having its weight supported by the bar if it is completely off the ground.Any team whose robot is hanging from its own team’s colored bar will have their match points earned in 2.5.4.1 and 2.5.4.2 multiplied by two (2). A robot is defined as hanging from a bar if it is touching that bar, and not touching the carpet, scoring platform, either Ball Rack, or the playing field perimeter wall.2.5.5.
Each team will receive Qualifying Points equal to their Match Points
During qualifying matches, each team will receive Qualifying Points equal to their Match Points.2.5.6. In case of a tie in Qualifying Points at the end of all qualifying rounds, the following tie-breakers shall be used to determine who goes onto the semi-finals:
2.5.6.1. Greatest number of qualifying matches won.
2.5.6.2. Highest number of times the robot legally ended a qualifying match on the Goal Post.
2.5.6.3. Highest total number of three-in-a-rows throughout qualifying matches.
2.5.6.4. Highest total number of balls in scoring holes throughout qualifying matches.
2.5.6.5. Shaking of a Magic 8 Ball (or running of software substitute) in the following
manormanner:
- The
judgereferee first says, "Does the red team win?"- The
judgewill then hold the Magic 8 Ball facing away from himself, shake it (or run software) for approximately 3 seconds, and then see the response.- If the Magic 8 ball
gives an ambiguous responseresponds with "Reply hazy, try again," "Concentrate and ask again," "Better not tell you now," "Cannot predict now," or "Ask again later," thejudgereferee will ask "Does the blue team win?" and repeat the above step.- This cycle continues until a winner is determined.
2.5.7. During the elimination rounds, all matches will be scored on a win/loss basis. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by the following tie-breakers:
2.5.7.1. Greatest number of 3-in-a-rows.2.5.7.1. Greatest number of 3-in-a-rows.
2.5.7.2. Furthest distance from lowest point of robot to ground (carpet and scoring platform count as ground).
2.5.7.3. Shortest distance from team’s robot to the vertical post of that team’s Goal Post.
2.5.7.4. Greatest number of opponent’s balls on the field.
2.5.7.5. Greatest number of team's colored balls in contact with the scoring platform.
2.5.7.6. Team with the closest ball(s) to scoring platform (tied pairs would be removed from consideration until a decision could be made).
2.5.7.7. Shaking of a Magic 8 Ball as in 2.5.6.5.
2.5.7.2. Furthest distance from lowest point of robot to ground (carpet and scoring platform count as ground).
2.5.7.3. Shortest distance from team's robot to the vertical post of that team's Goal Post.
2.5.7.4. Greatest number of opponent's balls on the field.
2.5.7.5. Greatest number of team's colored balls in contact with the scoring platform.
2.5.7.6. Team with the closest ball(s) to scoring platform (tied pairs would be removed from consideration until a decision could be made).
2.5.7.7. Shaking of a Magic 8 Ball as in 2.5.6.5.
2.6. Driver Rotation
2.6.1. During each match, one driver and one operator from each team will have an opportunity to drive and operate, respectively. The driver and operator must switch at some time between 60 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.
2.6.2. The operator is not required to operate any part of the robot. He or she may elect to stand next to the driver and do nothing.
2.6.3. The "batting order" of drivers must be specified by the team mentor before the start of competition. Team members will drive and operate during qualifying matches according to that order (team members one and two will drive and operate a team’s first match, teams members three and four will drive and operate a team’s second match, and so on).
2.6.4. There are no restrictions on which team members may drive and operate during the elimination rounds.
2.7. Match Sequence
2.7.1. 0 seconds - Robots enabled
2.7.2. 0-10 seconds - Robot under Autonomous Control
2.7.3. 10-60 seconds - Robot under first Driver and first Operator control
2.7.4. 60-70 seconds - Driver and Operator Switch.
2.7.5. 70-120 seconds - Robot under second Driver and second Operator control
2.7.6. 120 seconds - Robots disabled
2.8. Safety and Rules Details
2.8.1.
No flipping the opponent’s robot. The flipping robot will be DQed if it initiates a lifting action which results in flipping; if the flipped robot initiates the action, there is no penalty. In all cases, and especially when both the flipper and the flipped are in motion, the final decision is up to the referees, whose decision is final.No flipping of the opponent’s robot. The flipping robot will be disqualified from that match if it initiates a lifting action which results in flipping; if the flipped robot initiates the action, there is no penalty. In all cases, and especially when both the flipper and the flipped are in motion, the final decision is up to the referees, whose decisions are final.2.8.2. At the start of the match, each team may position their robot anywhere they wish within the eighteen (18) inch Starting Strip corresponding to their team color (red or blue).
2.8.3. Any ball ejected from the playing field will remain out of play until the next match.
2.8.4.
JudgesReferees will disqualify any robot that appears to be a safety hazard.2.8.5. Drivers/Operators may interact with
yourtheir robot during a match only through the normal operation of the Operator Interface control system.2.8.6. Damaging the playing field, the playing pieces, or the control system may result in disqualification upon
judge’sreferee's discretion.2.8.7. Strategies aimed solely at the destruction of, damage to, or disabling of an opponent’s robot are not in the spirit of the competition and will not be allowed.
2.8.8. 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.
2.8.9. All parts of a robot 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.
2.8.10. Part replacement and minor design changes are allowed between, as long as the robot still complies with specifications and rules after modification. Any modification shall be brought to the attention of a judge before the start of the robot’s next match.
2.8.11. Teams must have their team name and number clearly marked on their robot so as to visible from 20 ft away.
2.8.12. All questions or rules clarifications will be addressed to the judges via the forum at http://www.massacademy.org/minifirst/. All answers will be posted on the website and sent out by email.
3. The Robot
3.1. Size Restriction
3.1.1. At the start of each match, every part of the robot must fit, unconstrained, in a stable position, within a box fifteen (15) inches wide by eighteen (18) inches long by twenty-four (24) inches tall. The robot must be fully self-supported, in contact only with the horizontal, carpeted surface of the playing field when started.
3.2. Weight Restriction
3.2.1. Each robot’s weight must not exceed eight (8) lbs.
3.3. Controls
3.3.1. At competitions, teams will share common driver controls supplied by miniFIRST.
3.3.2. The controls will have the left driver joystick connected to port 1 on the FIRST Operator Interface (OI), the right driver joystick connected to port 3 on the OI, and the operator joystick connected to port 2 on the OI.
3.4. Construction Rules
3.4.1. A robot must be designed to operate by reacting only against features within the confines of the playing field perimeter wall and the wall itself.
3.4.2. Gaining traction by use of adhesives, or by abrading or breaking the surface of the playing field is not allowed.
3.4.3. A robot may not intentionally contaminate the playing field or an opponent’s robot with lubricants or other debris.
3.5. Building Constraints
3.5.1. Each team will be expected to use parts from the Innovation FIRST EduRobot kit (http://www.innovationfirst.com/FIRSTRobotics/) and the miniFIRST Pneumatics Kit, and will be allowed to use additional materials as explained below.
3.5.2. Modifications are permitted to the mechanical parts of the kit. 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 any of the kit electronics or motors. Modification of items on the additional materials list is permitted.
3.5.3. Teams may use any 7.2V NiCad battery, but only one (1) battery may be used on the robot at a time.
3.6. Pneumatics
3.6.1. Components from a single miniFIRST pneumatics kit may be used in the construction of robots. The kit must be purchased as a whole.
3.6.2. Teams interested in purchasing a pneumatics kit may contact Ken Stafford (stafford@wpi.edu). The kit cost is approximately $150.
3.6.3. At the start of a match, pressure in pneumatic circuits may not exceed 120psi in the reservoir or 100psi in the cylinders. This means that robots that do not use a regulator may not exceed 100psi in the reservoir.
3.7. Materials
3.7.1. Unless otherwise specified, an unlimited quantity of the materials in the Additional Materials List will be allowed in addition to parts in the EduRobot and pneumatics kits.
3.7.2. Additional Materials List:
3.7.2.1. Polycarbonate or acrylic sheet, up to one-quarter inch (¼") nominal thickness
3.7.2.2. Aluminum sheet, up to one-eighth inch (1/8") thickness
3.7.2.3. Any metal or plastic round shaft or tubing up to one-half inch (½") diameter
3.7.2.4. Any bearings
3.7.2.5. Plywood or wood up to one-half inch (½") thickness
3.7.2.6. Cardboard or foam-board
3.7.2.7. String or twine.
3.7.2.8. Any springs or elastic bands (must be designed to release energy no faster than it was input)
3.7.2.9. Fasteners, washers, and adhesives (used as such). You may not use adhesive tape (Duct tape, electrical tape, etc) as a fastener.
3.7.2.10. Lubricants used to reduce friction within your own device
3.7.2.11. Non-functional decorations
3.7.2.12. Paper, saran-wrap, aluminum foil, fabric, or any paper or cloth-like material.
3.8. Energy Sources
3.8.1. The energy used by the devices in the competition must come solely from:
3.8.1.1. A change in altitude of the center of gravity of the device.
3.8.1.2. Energy stored by deformation of any springs on the authorized materials list.
3.8.1.3. Energy stored by the compression of air in the pneumatic reseviors.
3.8.1.4. Electrical energy delivered by the provided battery to the electronics and motors provided with the kit
4. Awards
Maintained by savage@wpi.eduAll awards to be announced.
Last modified: Nov 02, 2004, 23:21 EST