2012 Competition Rules

"End of the World"

The year is 2012, and the apocalypse foretold by the Mayans has come to pass. Humanity is long gone, but there’s still ‘life’ on earth yet! Robots roam the desolate planet, competing to collect the scarce supply crates left behind. Collisions, theft, and all sorts of post-apocalyptic chaos abound as machines scramble to gain the upper hand. Whichever bot can stockpile the most supplies will come out on top. But they better be careful, any crate left out on their turf is going to attract a lot of (negative) attention!

In this year’s Design Competition, robots compete to collect foam cube playing pieces. These 20 cubes, or “crates”, have been placed in strategic points around the arena. On either end of the arena is a team’s scoring zone. Which…is moving! Robots will aim to place the crates into their zone, which is sliding back and forth throughout the match.

A team’s scoring zone is a 1.5' x 1.5' square platform, held between two walls. The platform and walls move back and forth, such that the platform oscillates between the outer walls of the arena. Behind each team’s scoring zone is a bonus-scoring zone: a basket whose opening is behind a 12 inch wall and bottom is 6 inches off the ground. As an added twist at the end of the match any crate on a team’s side, but not in a scoring zone, will count against that team!

To score points, teams can (1) put crates on their opponents side, (2) push a crate into their own scoring zone, or (3) lift/shoot a crate into their own bonus-zone.

At the end of the match, the crates will be scored according to their position when time ran out. Whichever team scores the most points wins!

Arena Layout

Game Rules

• 1. Match Rules

     1. Each match will pit two robots against each other, head-to-head

     2. Each robot will start in a predetermined "Start Zone", located on their side of the arena

     3. The match will be 3 minutes long

     4. On a judge's count, each team will power up their robot and the match will begin

     5. Teams will power down their robots after 3 minutes

     6. In the event of a last second score, judges will decide whether the point counts

  2. Scoring and Game Pieces

• • 1. Crates are identical 2" foam cubes

    2. A team LOSES 1 point for every crate on their side of the arena at the end of the match

    3. A team EARNS 3 points for every crate in their scoring zone at the end of the match

    4. A team EARNS 9 points for every crate in their bonus zone at the end of the match

    5. A robot can be in possession of up to 5 crates at a time

       1. "Possession" is defined as touching or manipulating the crates in any way

    6. A crate counts as "in the scoring zone" if any part of the crate is over the outer boundaries of the zone at the end of the match

    7. If a robot is in possession of a crate at the end of the match, the crate will count as if the robot was not there

    8. If a crate is on both sides of arena at the end of a match, judges will decide which side it will count against

    9. Judges have the final say in scoring matters

• 3. Arena

• • 1. The scoring zones will oscillate at a constant, reasonably low speed. The walls will begin oscillating from the same position at the beginning of each match, and turn off automatically at the end of the match

    2. The arena will be constructed to reduce the chance of a robot getting stuck on or near the walls, however in the event that a robot gets stuck it will be treated as part of the game. If both robots are disabled by the course the judges may terminate the match early if both teams agree.

    3. Each scoring zone wall will be covered with retroreflective tape, be 1.5' x 1.5', surrounded by a 12" high wall, with a 6" deep, 1.5' wide and 6" long bonus zone behind it

    4. One side of the arena will be white, the other purple, so that a robot can identify which side it is on

    5. The arena will have 3/4" wide black lines leading to the crates and scoring zones for line following

    6. An outer wall will surround the arena, 12" high, the same color as that side of the arena

• 4. Penalties

• • 1. Teams may not use any strategy which is aimed at disabling the opposing robot, however, random non-aggressive collisions are acceptable

    2. Teams may not purposely remove crates from play

    3. Teams may not damage or alter the arena or crates

    4. Robots may not leave the arena

    5. Robots may not enter their opponent's scoring zone, or will LOSE 1 point per second for every second they are inside their opponents scoring zone

    6. Teams will LOSE 10 points for every crate past the limit of five they have in their possession, every time they break the rule. (i.e. if a robot picks up six crates, it is automatically docked 10 points. If it drops them off, then goes and picks up seven crates, it is docked another 20 points. Basically, don’t pick up more than 5. This rule would also come into effect if a robot was holding five, and then starts pushing a sixth. Be careful about holding five, it’s a gamble)

Robot Rules

• 1. Robot dimensions

     1. The robot must fit in a 12" x 12" square at the beginning of each match

     2. There are not limits on robot height or weight

  2. Robot design

• • 1. Teams may not use a design which is aimed at disabling the opposing robot

    2. Each team will be provided two standard drive motors and may not use other motors for primary locomotion

    3. Robots should be able to withstand accidental collisions with robots and obstacles; bumpers are encouraged

Competition Rules

• 1. The Competition will be held on Saturday, May 19 2012, starting at noon in the Machine Shop in Ford

  2. Each team must pass a milestone, approximately once a month, to prove progress is being made

     1. Students taking DSGN360 for credit in the spring must form a team and start in the winter to be eligible to register for credit

  3. A mockup of the arena will be made available ASAP