Game Components

-4 Basketball hoops at 3 heights
-Foam basketballs
-3 Balance ramps
-4” barrier

Autonomous/”Hybrid Mode”

The first 15 seconds of the game are for the Autonomous mode or the new addition, “Hybrid Mode”. Autonomous mode if when the robot operates by itself and with the programming done by the team. This year, with the help of the Xbox 360’s Kinect technology, one member of each alliance has the option to go into “Hybrid Mode.” One human player is allowed to use the Kinect to tell the robot what to do. The other two alliance members still have the option to use Autonomous mode, as normal. The basketball hoops are worth their regular point value plus three during this period. This point of the game can be critical to winning the game for alliances.

Manual Control Period

The key part of the game consists of scoring. The goal is for the robots to gather basketballs from either the ground or from a human player. The robots must score on the baskets that are the same color as their alliance to receive points. Scoring on the topmost basket is worth three points during this time. The middle two are worth two and the bottom one is worth one. In order to travel to the other side of the field, the robots must be able to go over the 4-inch barrier or drive over a tilting ramp. Otherwise, the robots are stuck on their own side and cannot collect balls on the other side.

Endgame

The final 30 seconds are very important. There are three see-saw-like ramps spaced out in the middle of the field and over the 4-inch bumps. In the final 30 seconds, the teams have multiple options. One, they can balance just their own robot on the ramp that is the same color as their alliance. For example, a blue alliance robot could balance on the blue ramp, but not on the red. Or, the alliance can work together and try to balance two or even all three robots on their ramp. Balancing more than one robot gets more and more points. However, the middle ramp is white and can be used by both teams. This is the “Co-opertition” ramp. Both teams can only use this ramp. Here, one robot from the red team and one from blue must work together to balance the Co-opertition board. It is more difficult than the red and blue ramps, but brings great rewards. The participating teams get bonus points for working together.

How to Score