Survival 101: What to Expect at Your First

CompetitionThomas Gill, Team 6705 Motorbolts

Outline

• Judging• Inspection• Scouting• Qualification Matches• Collaboration in the Driver’s Box• Alliance Selection• Elimination Matches• Awards Ceremony/Advancement• Advancement• General Tips

Judging

• Generally 15 minutes long• 5-7 minute presentation- make sure everyone

talks• 8-10 minutes for questions• Discuss design, strategy, team dynamics, 3D

printing, etc.• Judges are there to bring out the best in your

team• Set time- look at schedule

Inspection

Game Manual

Hardware:Making sure robot is in specEx: Robot must fit within an 18” cube

Field:Making sure your robot functions on the field

Set times- look at schedule

ScoutingPit Scouting Example : Get a basic idea of team’s strategies and abilitiesGet a first look at the other robotsGet to know other teams

Match Scouting Example:Evidence of what teams can do in actionGet scoring info for drive teamGet ideas for future robot improvements

Qualification Matches

• Each team generally plays 6-8 qualification matches. Teams play on randomly selected 2 v 2 alliances. Teams are ranked according to Qualification Points (QP) and Ranking Points (RP).

QP: Win (2) - Loss (0) - Tie (1)RP: Losing team’s score

Ex: Team QP RP 1234 6 200 4321 6 158 2468 3 400 369 0 60

Match overview:30 seconds: Autonomous: NO CONTROLLERS

1 minute: Teleop: Controllers

30 seconds: End game: Controllers

Collaboration Within the Driver’s Box

• Remember: There are 2 TEAMS in the driver’s box

• It is important to talk to your alliance partner to

make sure your autonomous programs don’t run

into each other

• Make sure you have a strategy for teleop

Alliance Selection

• At the end of the qualification matches, the top 4 ranked teams pick 1 (20 or under) or 2 (21+) teams to play with them in the elimination rounds. Teams can accept or refuse, but refusing doesn’t allow a team to be picked by any other alliance

Ex: Rank Team Pick 1 Pick 2

1 1234 (1) 5972(5) 2888

2 5678 (2) 4150(6) 4251

3 910 (3) 4140(7) 724

4 1112 (4) 701 (8) 4240

Elimination Matches

Alliance 1

Winner of 2 v 3

Winner of 1 v 4

Alliance 4 Alliance 2 Alliance 3

Champion

Semifinals

Finals

Note- Higher ranked team Red

Advancement Criteria

1. Qualifier Host Team*2. Inspire Award Winner 3. Winning Alliance Captain 4. Inspire Award 2nd place 5. Winning Alliance, 1st Team selected 6. Inspire Award 3rd place 7. Winning Alliance, 2nd Team selected 8. Think Award Winner 9. Finalist Alliance Captain 10. Connect Award Winner 11. Finalist Alliance, 1st Team selected 12. Rockwell Collins Innovate Award Winner 13. Finalist Alliance, 2nd Team selected 14. PTC Design Award Winner 15. Motivate Award Winner

* Only at qualifier events

Advancement

Qualifiers- 9 or 10 in MN

MN State Championship

North Super Regionals

World Championship

~10 in MN this year

~End of February

4 around US- 13 states in NSR

Teams from everywhere from Taiwan to Mexico to India

General Tips

• Bring Extras (Duct tape, Hex Keys, Electrical tape, Screws, BATTERIES, Chargers etc.) Anything on your robot should have a spare

• Make friends- sharing parts and ideas is GP• Expect a long day- Bring Caffeine • READ THE RULES- (GM 1, GM 2)• Bill Of Materials• Checklist - Example

Questions?