The competition field

The competition:

There are two robots competing on a field that is separated with a net/wall in the middle of the field. There are 8-10 squash balls on each side. The aim is to remove all balls from your side of the field and to throw as many balls as you can into the opponent's field. There are 2 rounds minimum in the competition between the two robots. The robot that has defeated its opponent in 2 rounds will make it through to the next stage. The duration of one round is 90 sec during which the teams cannot interfere in the actions of the robots without the permission of the judge. The robots will come to a stop using a standing switch or timers. When counting the points, the score of the balls on the field when the competition time is up is taken into account. When the field of one of the robots is empty, the clock will be stopped and the result will be recorded. In this case, there is no need for picking up the balls and waiting since meanwhile the opponent might be quicker.

The robot that lost will compete again in the zero round according to its level. Defeat in the zero round will not enable to compete any longer in the competition. The winner of the zero round will compete against the winner of the basic round.

The team members have 60 seconds to change sides. During that time, the team places their robot on the other side of the field and may do necessary changes (fasten wires that have come loose etc.).

When there is a draw between the competing robots after the two rounds, there will be a third round and it lasts for 30 sec. In the third and the following rounds the judge orders the team members to stop the robots after 30 sec.

If it is still a draw after the third round, then a penalty round will determine the winner. The fastest robot will win i.e. the robot that first gets the ball over to the opponent's side. The idea is that there is only the robot and one ball on the field and they are located diagonally in different corners of the field. The robot is on the side of the net.

The Balls:

The balls are balls of squash and they are located on both sides of the field at predetermined places. The referees who randomly throw a coin on the field mark the initial location of the balls. Before every round the balls are put back on their initial places. The initial location is not known until the beginning of the competition.

The Robots:

The robot is fully an autonomous machine that carries its own power source, motion mechanisms, and its own control and check systems. It is not allowed to control the robot using a remote control. The robot must fit in a square of 30x30 cm when starting and after the start together with the manipulators in a square of 50x50 cm maximum. In case of the parts being detached from the robot accidentally, the judge may allow the robot to continue.

• 1. The robot can carry one ball at a time. Carrying a ball means lifting the ball from the ground. The robot may be U-shaped and gather the balls this way. It is absolutely forbidden to gather balls on the robots, above the ground etc. Only ONE ball is allowed to be in the air at a time.
• 2. The robot cannot contain parts that may cause damage or otherwise be a danger to the field, the balls, or other robots and bystanders.
• 3. The algorithm of the robot cannot contain an algorithm that may damage the field, the balls, or other robots.
• 4. At the request of the judge, it may be necessary to show and explain the original text of the programme of the robot after the competition.
• 5. A robot that does not meet the requirements will not compete at the competition.
• 6. If elements that diffuse light are used, then the intensity of them cannot be dangerous to the human eye or must be shielded from direct observation. If lasers are used, then their power must be smaller than 1mW (0dBm).
• 7. The robot must have a start and stop switch(es) that are easily accessible.
• 8. The recommended weight of the robot is 2 kg. The robot must not damage the competition polygon with its weight or in any other way.
• 9. The robot together with its manipulators must not go over the walls of the polygon or be over the walls.
• 10. The team members may place the robot on their side of the field at their own discretion, so that no part of the robot touches the balls. The robot may be over the ball provided that it does not touch the ball.
• 11. The team members activate and deactivate the robots themselves.

The Field:

The measurement of the field is 2x3 m, divided in the middle 2x1.5 m. A 20 cm high wall surrounds the field. The lower 10 cm of this wall is painted white and the upper 10 cm is of transparent material (plexiglass). The wall that divides the polygon is 10 cm high and is painted black, and there is a silvery tape that is 2 - 2.5 cm wide drawn on it, 5 cm from the ground. There is a silvery tape drawn on the ground, 15 cm before the wall that divides the field. The width of the tape is at least 2 - 2.5 cm.

Scoring

Points will be scored after the end of the round. Every ball that is still on the home field of the robot gives one minus point. It is only allowed to throw balls to the opponent's field. Every ball that flies outside the polygon gives one minus point to the robot that threw it out. The robot that gets the smallest number of minus points is the winner.

The ball that flies outside the polygon will be scored as a minus point to the robot that initially threw it out. An example: when robot 1 throws a ball to the opponent's field and it flies out as a result of a bounce by robot 2 or the field, then robot 1 gets a minus point.