Your robot is your meArm. It will be controlled by your Raspberry Pi and your software. You will need to be able to control the meArm. You can use buttons, keypresses, or preset values or a game controller. You are free to automate the game. Each player uses their own raspberry pi, meArm and software. If you control your meArm with keyboard input into the terminal, you will need to use your notebook computer with VNC or SSH (ssh will be faster and simpler). There will be no MEDDEV wireless network at the competition. You do not need to use the meArm kinematics software but you will want to move fast.
Modifications to the robot are not allowed with two exceptions:
You can modify the claw to attach a mechanism for holding the game pieces. The width and length of claw need to remain.
You can add screws the the existing holes in the baseplate but they can not protrude more than 10mm. The end of the screws can be polished or pointy to increase or reduce friction. No weights can be added to the robot. The raspberry pi can not be attached to your robot.
The field consists of up to three locations for the meArms along a circle with a radius of 200mm. A robot's front of the base plate will need to touch the circle and its long axis will need to point towards the center of the circle. The center of the circle for the opposing team will need to be located on the other teams circle. See the drawing below.
We have three game pieces:
A pin needle.
A balloon.
A shield.
Each player will need to attach the pin needle and balloon to their robot.
Each team can choose to place one shield anywhere on the field.
Each team will receive one extra pin needle. This needle can be attached to any game piece or robot.
For clarity, in this manual, the "claw" of the meArm consists of the two pieces most distal to the arm, used to grip objects.
The pin needle will need to be affixed to the claw. The head of the needle will need remain within the are formed by the two claws. The head can not be more than 5mm above or below the claw. The tip of the needle can point to any direction. The needle's length can not be modified but its shaft can be bent.
The balloon will need to be inflated with regular air to a diameter of at least 100 mm. At least one point on the balloon will need to stay within the area of the two claws. that point can not be more than 5mm above of below the claw.
You can add items to the claw and modify the claw as long as its footprint remains the same. You can add a balloon or pin needle holder that your robot claw will grip. You can not permanently remove parts of the standard meArm.
The shield can be no taller than 200mm, 50mm wide and 5mm thick and the base can be no larger than 100x100mm. The shield will be free standing and can not be attached to the base. It will need to be manufactured of laser cut particle board or 3D printed with PLA.
Per Team there is one shield, 2-3 robots, each player
A coin toss will decide which team will be first on placing one robot onto the field. Then the opposing team can choose the location for one of their robots. This will continue until all robots are in place. No adjustment shall be made after placing a robot. The robots of a team form a section along the circle of the game field. The section shall not exceed 180 degrees of the circle. A robot can not be placed inside the section of the opposing team. A section shall not exceed 180 degrees.
Popping opponents balloon: 1 pt
Popping a balloon of your own team: 1 pt to the opposing team.
Successfully defending t your own balloon: 1 pt
Moving your robot out of start position by engaging the motors: 1 pt
Finishing the game before time runs out: 1 pt for each full 10 seconds for the winning team (15 seconds = 1 pt).
At start of the game, your robot will need to be fully configured.
The full range of motion of your me arm can be used to either defend or attack.
Successful Pop: Balloon is collapsed or air is leaking through a puncture.
Successful Defense: Balloon is inflated and not punctured.
Successful Start: Your robots claw moved.
Handicaps: When the balloon of your robot popped, the referee will disable your needle. If your team chooses to attach the team pin needle to a robot, that needle will not be disabled.
Each game is 60 seconds in duration or until only one balloon remains intact.
At any time during the lab of the remaining semester and before last week of class, a team can call for a match. If an opposing team agrees to play, the score will be recorded. The top ranking 3 teams are automatically qualified for the finals.
Monday during last week of classes the remaining teams can compete for the 4th spot on the finals.
During competition (last lecture day) the 4 teams will compete for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and runner up place.
Lottery will determine which teams play each other for the first round (2 games).
The two loosing teams of the first round will compete for a second round (1 game).
The two winners of the first round will compete for first place (1 game).
The loosing team will play against the winning team of the second round, competing for second place (1 game). The loosing team earns third place.
The team establishes their player positions. The referee will start the game.