GATORBOTICS | The Challenge

The 2008 Challenge: Lunacy

This season's game is known as "Lunacy".
It is played on 27 by 54 foot low friction rectangular field, with two alliances - a blue alliance and a red alliance - consisting of three robots and teams each competing to score the most points. Robots have "payload trailers" attached that 9 inch diameter "orbit balls" can be placed in; by placing orbit balls in the trailers of the opposing alliance will score points.

Robots are autonomous during the first 15 seconds of play and teleoperated for the remaining 2 minutes.

Orbit balls are divided into Moon Rocks, Empty Cells, and Super Cells. At the beginning of each match, trailers are empty, and robots can be human-loaded with up to 7 moon rocks. Moon Rocks and Empty cells placed in an opponent's trailer will gain a team 2 points. Super Cells, which are empty cells that have been activated by their delivery to a fueling station at the corners of the field, can be placed in trailers in the last 20 seconds of the match, and are worth 15 points.

This year's competition will pose the unique challenge of a low-friction field, which will inevitably result in increased frequency of collisions and higher speeds, as all robots are equipped with slippery mecanum wheels.

Good luck to all the teams - we look forward to seeing you at competitions!

To view the official FIRST game animation, click here.
The FIRST website also houses the competition manual and related resources.