2012′s FIRST® Robotics Competition Game: Rebound RumbleSM
Rebound Rumble is played by two competing Alliances on a flat, 27 x 54 foot field. Each Alliance consists of three robots. They compete to score as many basketballs into their hoops as they can during a 2 minute and 15 second match. The higher the hoop in which the basketball is scored, the more points the Alliance receives.
The match begins with a 15-second Hybrid Period in which robots operate independently of driver inputs. During this Hybrid Period, one robot on each Alliance may be controlled using a Microsoft Kinect. Baskets scored during this period are worth extra points. For the remainder of the match, drivers control robots and try to maximize their Alliance score by scoring as many baskets as possible.
The match ends with robots attempting to balance on bridges located at the middle of the field. In Qualification Matches, a robot from each Alliance will also try to balance on the white Coopertition™ bridge to score additional ranking points for each Alliance.
2011′s FIRST® Robotics Competition Game: LOGO MOTION™
LOGO MOTION is played by two competing alliances on a flat 27’ x 54’ foot field. Each alliance consists of three robots. They compete to hang as many inflated plastic shapes (triangles, circles, and squares) on their grids as they can during a 2 minute and 15 second match. The higher the teams hang their game pieces on their scoring grid, the more points their alliance receives.
The match begins with one 15-second Autonomous Period in which robots operate independently of driver inputs and must hang Ubertubes to score extra points. For the rest of the match, drivers control robots and try to maximize their alliance score by hanging as many logo pieces as possible. Any logo piece hung on the same peg as an Ubertube receives double points. If teams assemble the logo pieces on their scoring grids to form theFIRSTlogo (triangle, circle, square, in a horizontal row in that order), the points for the entire row are doubled.
The match ends with robots deploying minibots, small electro-mechanical assemblies that are independent of the host robot, onto vertical poles. The minibots race to the top of the pole to trigger a sensor and earn additional bonus points.
2010′s FIRST® Robotics Competition Game : Breakaway®!
Breakaway, similar to soccer, is this year’s new game. The game is played on a 27′ x 54′ field, with two foot-high ridges across the field. In addition to the ridges, there are two towers on the field. Two alliances, each with three teams and therefore three robots, compete with each other to earn points by collecting soccer balls in their goals. Additional bonus points are earned for each robot not touching the field at the end of the match. Bonus points are also awarded for any robot that can hang onto the tower and tunnel. Extra points are awarded if another robot can hang onto a robot that is hanging onto the tower and tunnel. Good luck teams!
2009′s FIRST® Robotics Competition Game : Lunacy®!
Lunacy is played on a 27′ by 54′ field covered by carpet, called the crater. On top of the crater lays the Regolith, a layer of Glasliner FRP (a gel-coated, fiberglass-reinforced, polymer material). In honor of the 40th anniversary of man landing on the moon, low friction wheels are used on the robot to simulate driving as a rover. Two 3-team alliances, one red and one blue, compete in each match. Robots start on launch pads, positioned around the perimeter of the arena. The object of the game is to score more points than your opponent by scoring moon rocks into the opponent’s trailers. The robot is programmed to move around the field, and has a camera to track other robots on the field. Each game piece scored during the autonomous period is worth two points.
In the 2009 season, Team 1829 was awarded the Xerox Creativity Award for their unique carbon-fiber design and the Regional Engineering Inspiration Award for effectively inspiring students and exposing them to professional engineers and engineering principles. The Engineering Inspiration Award is the second highest in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and allowed the team to compete in the FIRST Robotics Championships in Atlanta, Georgia.