Gears

Rule Updates

Updates

Update 1

Update 2

Update 3

Update 4

Rule Update #4

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Notices

It seems that there is a little confusion with the Ball Wall and whether the balls come back onto the field or not. The balls that are placed in the holes are returned to the field on either side of the Ball Wall.

Q&A

Q: Are the StR, B3s, and/or Super Dumpers coalition specific? If so, which ones and what coalitions do each of the individual elements of these on the field represent?
A: The StRs and B3s are coalition specific, however either coalition can get balls from the super dumpers on both sets of STAIRS. The StRs correspond with the coalition color indicators on the Ball Wall; Red is on the left, Blue on the right. The B3s are coalition specific, with the first and last B3s on the left and the middle B3 on the right belonging to the Red, and vice versa for the Blue.
Q: My team is wondering if sandpaper would be allowed under rule 3.6.2.12 which stipulates that "Paper, saran-wrap, aluminum foil, fabric or any paper or cloth-like material " would be allowed.
A: We feel that sandpaper would still violate rule 2.7.8 as the sandpaper may damage the balls.
Q: I am seeking a clarification for rule 2.1.14, which was introduced in Rule Update #1
Can you quantify precisely how much of a scoring benefit (flag height raising) one can achieve by pulling down of the Golf Ball of Terror? Is a fixed percentage added to your flag height? Is it equivalent to scoring with some number of golf balls or tennis balls? What is it worth?
The GBoTs at the top of the stairs will raise the flag 20% of the remaining flag height. ÊThe GBoTs at the front corners of the field will raise the flag 10% of the remaining flag height. ÊWhen both GBoTs for a coalition are pulled, the flag will raise 35% of the remaining flag height. ÊThe GBoTs are coalition specific, with the two on the left belonging to Red, and the pair on the right belonging to Blue.

Rule Update #3

Saturday, December 2, 2006

Notices

We have posted the schedule for Savage Soccer at WPI

During the elimination matches at the tournament the coalitions will be comprised of three teams. Please see the new and modified rules section below.

Q&A

Q: Rule 2.3.3 The Super Dumpers will only have balls available during autonomous.
As a person who has spent too many hours getting Super Dumpers to work correctly, is there any way the rules committee might consider leaving one of the towers with balls on them through out the match, perhaps the one at the top of the STAIRS. The advantages of this would be:
  • Encourages students to focus on making a design for the Super Dumpers
  • only takes 2 people to remove the balls at the end of autonomous
  • adds another element to focus on during the game
  • adds six more scoring balls (3X at that)
  • you don't have to see all the field construction workers cry after the first 20 seconds of each match!
A: We appreciate your concern for the well being of the field construction personnel. Since you bring up some very reasonable concerns we have changed rule 2.3.3 below.
Q: Where do the bonus balls come out of after hitting the button during autonomous mode?
A: The bonus balls are placed onto the ramp behind the Ball Wall which returns the balls to the field.
Q: Does the robot's script have to be in easyC or MPLAB C18?
A: The code must be written in either eacyC or C using a programming environment of your choice. We recommend Eclipse or MPLab if you decide not to use easyC.
Q: Do the teams have to supply a copy of their code?
A: Teams are not required to supply a copy of their robot's code.
Q: Are teams allowed to switch and/or modify the robot code before matches?
A: Yes, teams are allowed switch and modify the code between matches.
Q: If teams are allowed to switch and/or modify the robot code before matches, how much time before the match begins are the teams given their partners and color?
A: The matches are determined at the beginning of the day. The amount of time will depend on how many other matches are between your matches. We will make sure you don't have any matches back to back but some times you may have some matches that are very close to each other. If you are asking because you would like to have different autonomous modes depending on what you partner can do, we recommend that you use the jumpers. Have your program check the ports where the jumpers can be placed and depending on which ones are there or not it will run different autonomous code.
Q: Do you know approximately what time the events will begin on December 9th?
A: The event will start at 8:00 a.m.
Q: When will the event most likely be over on Saturday?
A: We are planning on the event ending at 5:00 p.m. Please be aware that this is an estimation and it could end earlier or later.
Q: What happens if your robot only uses one transmitter? Do you use one driver per half of the match or have another person come up to offer strategic advice?
A: All teams are required to change drivers half way through the match. This is if you use one or two transmitters. If you use two transmitters, the person using the second transmitter does not have to switch during the match.

Rule Additions / Modifications

Modify Rule 2.3.3
2.3.3 The lower two levels of the Super Dumpers will only have balls available during autonomous.

Modify Rule 2.4.4.2.1
2.4.4.2.1 At the conclusion of the qualifying matches, the top-ranked four (or the number of elimination alliances set by the tournament director) teams will be designated as Coalition Colonels. In order of their ranking, they will draft another team to be their coalition member for the remainder of the competition. The tournament director may decide to have the coalitions comprised of three teams instead of two in the eliminations.

Add new rule 2.4.4.2.1.1
2.4.4.2.1.1 If the tournament director decides to have three team coalitions in the eliminations the matches will still be two on two. Over the minimum of two matches the coalition will play in a bracket, with all three teams will be required to play.

Add new rule 2.4.4.2.1.2
2.4.4.2.1.2 If the tournament director decides to have three team coalitions in the eliminations and one of the three teams breaks to the point it can not be fixed, they must approach the head referee and at the head referees decision the coalition may continue as a coalition of two teams and rule 2.4.4.2.1.1 will be voided.

Rule Update #2

Monday, November 27, 2006

Notices

Team numbers have been assigned to every registered team. Please check what your number is on the Teams page and remember that it must be displayed on your robot per rule 2.7.14.

Q&A

Q: How many degrees is the scoring plateau?
A: The ramp to the scoring plateau is set at 14.5 degrees from horizontal.
Q: I can't get the programming template to open to see what it looks like. Could you possibly take a screenshot and send it to me?
A: The programming template is a special easyC template created for this years Savage Soccer competition. In order to read and use the template, you must have version 2 of easyC. To access the template, open easyC, select open from the file menu, then change the file type from easyC project (.ECP) to easyC template (.ECT). Once there, navigate to the Savage Soccer '06 template and click open. A tutorial on how to use easyC templates can be found at http://www.users.wpi.edu/~bamiller/VexProgrammingLow.wmv. If you do not have version 2 of easyC please refer to the email sent to the mentor on your team shortly after kickoff.
Q: Do we get to pick our team number?
A: We have assigned every team a number.
Q: While building the super dumpers we ran into very conflicting diagrams. The sentence at the top corner of the drawing says that the pins should all be 2.5 inches above the surface of the stairs, but the actual diagram puts the pin at 3 inches above the outside wall of the field. When the 3 inches about the wall are added to the varying difference between the surface of the stairs and the top of the wall we have three separate heights for the pins, but none of them are 2.5 inches above the surface of the stairs. We are very confused please help us straighten out which is the correct way to build it thank you.
A: The pins for the Super Dumpers are at 2.5" from the driving surface. There was a fault with the drawings, and we have updated the drawings with the correct numbers.
Q: Can you please post the diagrams for how the hanging golf balls will work? Thank you.
A: We plan on posting the diagrams by the end of the day Wednesday.
Q: In the new rule 2.3.6, how many X's will it take for the flag to make it all the way to the top of the pole?
A: In theory, since the function is asymptotic, the flag should never reach the top of the pole. However, in practice, the math shows that it would be about 42 X's to reach the top of the flag pole.
Q: Is the StR pin operated by pulling or pushing? Is the StR pin identical in dimensions and height off the floor as the super-dumper pins? Also, I am assuming the B3 switches operated by pushing.
A: The StR pin is operated by pulling it out. The StR pin is identical to the super dumper pins. You are correct, the B3 switches are activated by pushing them.

Rule Update #1

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Notices

A new endgame task has been added to this year's challenge! By pulling down on hanging golf balls 9.5 inches above the driving surface, your coalition can give your flag a raise (or two!). The flag will be raised based on the remaining height to the top of the pole, but if you let go, your flag drops right back down! One hanging ball will be located in each field corner, and each will require approximately 4 lbs. of downward force to activate. Full game mechanics and mechanism details will be released soon in an updated field drawing.
Please note this has changed slightly from the original emailing.

Q&A

Q: In the renderings of the field it shows the golf balls recessed into the wall, but in the super dumper field drawing it shows the golf balls protruding completely from the wall. Which way are the golf balls positioned?
A: The golf balls on the pins are whole balls and not recessed. The renderings will be updated to reflect this.
Q: To activate the super dumper how far out do the golf balls have to be pulled?
A: Please see new rule 2.2.6 below.
Q: In section 2.3 Match Scoring & Ranking - 2.3.4 & 2.3.5 refer to a difference in flag height raised if a ball is scored in the bottom opening, middle opening, or highest opening. I am assuming that there is an advantage to each opening, the higher the opening, the more the flag would move up. I could not find any other reference to an advantage. Is there an advantage to scoring in a higher opening? If so, what is the advantage?
A: Please see new rule 2.3.6 below.
Q: Can you score with either tennis balls or golf balls in the ball wall?
A: You can score with either tennis balls or golf balls in the lower two levels. The top hole is too small for tennis balls.
Q: Do balls put into the ball wall return to the field?
A: Yes, they return to the sides of the ball wall.
Q: Rule 2.7.17 states, Teams will not be permitted to block the opposing coalition's Ball Wall scoring holes. Does this extend to blocking an opposing coalition's access on the ramp and/or scoring platform or just blocking the scoring holes themselves?
A: This rule will be interpreted such that a robot can not deny another robot access to score in the Ball Wall. As such you may block a robot trying to get into a position to score but once a robot makes immediate intent to score, the balls may not be interfered with.
Q: How will you get all of the robots to start at the same time?
A: When teams arrive at the field they will have to hook their controllers into the field. This will then give the staff access to start and stop the robot. The template we have provided on the team resources page includes two functions one for autonomous and one for operator control. Once the match begins it will start in autonomous and after 20 seconds automatically go into operator control.

Rules Modifications

New Definition
2.1.14 Golf Ball of Terror (G-BoT): A hanging golf ball that, when activated at the end of the match, will raise the flag based upon the remaining height to the top of the pole.

Add new rule 2.2.6
2.2.6 The pin for the Super Dumper must be pulled out 3/4" to deploy or 1 1/4" to pull out completely.

Add new rule 2.3.6
2.3.6 A ball placed in the bottom hole is worth 1X, the middle 2X, and the top 3X. X is determined by: X = sqrt ( height of pole - height of flag) / 4

Add new rule 2.3.7
2.3.7 When a G-BoT is pulled it will raise the corresponding coalition's flag based off of the remaining height of the flag. If the G-BoT at the bottom of the S.T.A.I.R.S. is activated then it will raise 10% of the remaining distance. If the G-Bot at the top of the S.T.A.I.R.S. is activated then it will raise 20% of the remaining distance. If both are activated then it will raise 35% of the remaining distance.

Maintained by savage@wpi.edu
Last modified: Jul 02, 2007, 20:21 EDT