2014 FRC Game Breakdown

[jee7s]

FRC 2789 tried to consolidate our game breakdown into a single page...and we did. We narrowed the margins and used 9 point font, but it fits. Please comment, critique, or throw it in the trash as you see fit.

Scoring notes
Maximum Autonomous:
25 pts/team
75 pts/alliance

Maximum Teleop per Cycle:
60 points (10 TRUSS, 10 CATCH, 10 HIGH GOAL, +30 ASSIST BONUS)

Penalty for low goal:
9 points, constant

Pertinent points about the game:
* Top goal and Truss are roughly the same height
* Low goal easily defended
* Game is all about possession
* Possession is well defined.
* No “safe” zones. Robots are subject to contact across the field.
* No max score by rules
* Cycles don’t start until all Autonomous Balls are scored
* No provision for a ball stuck in a robot that is dead -- may never start cycles
* No requirement that all robots on an alliance possess a ball at start of match

Strategic estimates:
* Minimum estimated cycle time is 14 seconds, so max 10 cycles in game → Theoretical Max 675 points per match
* Realistic cycle time is 30 seconds, so max 5 cycles per game → Idealized 375 points per match
* Three well coordinated robots is unlikely, so drop catch chance to 1 in 5 → 335 points per match
* Nominal 2 coordinated robots, so drop match score to maximum expected 225 points per match. ← This is the Champs score expectation
* Average 1 in three can score all 25 auton points, 1 in three score 16, 1 in three score 5. In teleop one half of performance expected → Realistic Maximum of 121. ← This is the Regional Elims score expectation
* Defense is VERY signficiant as there are no safe zones
* Possession is key. Herding gets you the assist, but opponents will likely disrupt your movement down the field.
* Pay attention to human player rules re: balls that leave the playing field
* HOT goal will be hit-or-miss for most teams
* Three fundamental roles: Shooter, Midfielder, Inbounder
* Shooter is maneuverable but not necessarily fast, scores in top goal reliably, can catch
* Midfielder is maneuverable and fast, can score in top goal, can toss the ball
* Inbounder defends the opponent’s scorer and pushes their ball up the field

Robot Design Notes:
* Extension is 20” all the way around the robot, so no cylinder rule
* Solenoid Cv restriction is lifted
* 5’ Height restriction limits arm viability
* In the end, it’s an energy problem to shoot the ball -- they gave us those constant force springs for a reason
* Mecanum drivetrain is potentially trouble since there are no safe zones
* All robots need a fast on-the-fly pickup and good possession mechanism
* Midfielder needs to send the ball over the truss, but not necessarily accurately
* Scorer needs to hit the top goal. Period.
* Bumper rule is extra strict this year...build them well
* No reason a team can’t score 5 points in Autonomous with a modicum of effort.

[Team3266Spencer]

I would really love to see a 600 point game. Sounds like cheetahs playing catch XD. I think we hit mostly all the stuff you guys did with your discussion.

I'm feeling better we didn't miss anything big ourselves as well. Good luck!

[Short Stuff]

This will become a high scoring game but defense will be play a huge role however they will have to be very careful based on the penalties for committing fouls.

[Johhey]

Hate to be that guy, but I caught a typo.

"Defense is VERY signficiant as there are no safe zones"

It should be significant. Sorry

[Kyle Love]

I would add a point under the robot design notes that you can extend past the 5' limit, but can only be within the 6" diameter extension.

R3.D Any extension above 60 in. may not exceed a 6 in. diameter vertical cylinder (see Figure 4-3 and Figure 4-4 for examples), per G23.

[Animal Control]

do you know what the dimension of the goalie zone is?

[Canon reeves]

Sounds about what we got, I would add however the midfielder could be able to catch and the in bounding robot shoot over truss and the midfielder assist then either play defense on opponents in bounding robot and play anti defense for their shooter? It could go either way, but we were planning on being a midfielder and catching it assisting, than playing defense.

[Shadowreaper513]

How do you get "Theoretecal" points?

[thursam]

Originally Posted by Animal Control

do you know what the dimension of the goalie zone is?

All three zones have the same dimensions. Here's what I found. If I am incorrect, someone please tell me so I won't be using incorrect information.

Width: 296 inches + or - 1 inch (24.6 feet)
Length: 216 inches + or - 1.3 inches (18 feet)

[Rynocorn]

Originally Posted by Kyle Love

I would add a point under the robot design notes that you can extend past the 5' limit, but can only be within the 6" diameter extension.

But only when you are touching the carpet in the goalie zone, not other times. Wouldn't want any robots hitting that big lighting truss

[Kevin Leonard]

Originally Posted by thursam

All three zones have the same dimensions. Here's what I found. If I am incorrect, someone please tell me so I won't be using incorrect information.

Width: 296 inches + or - 1 inch (24.6 feet)
Length: 216 inches + or - 1.3 inches (18 feet)

He's talking about the "Goalie Zones", or the area marked by black tape under each set of high goals and bounded by the corners of the one-point goals.

I would mention your "inbounder" should have a blocking extension for blocking shots in the goalie zone.

The three roles as I assumed them were:
The "Goalie"- responsible for the first assist, passing, blocking shots. A good goalie will also be able to truss score.

The "Midfielder"- responsible for the second assist, truss scoring, passing and having a floor pickup. A good midfielder will also be able to catch.

The "Forward"- responsible for the third assist, scoring in both goals, having a floor pickup, and catching. A good forward will have a powerful and maneuverable drivetrain.

We'll see how the game strategy evolves, however. Some team might come up with some crazy 2010 469 strategy that utterly dominates.

I'm quite excited for this year.

[Kyle Love]

Originally Posted by Rynocorn

But only when you are touching the carpet in the goalie zone, not other times. Wouldn't want any robots hitting that big lighting truss

Very true. That would be a detail to add to it.

[jee7s]

Originally Posted by Shadowreaper513

How do you get "Theoretecal" points?

By "theoretical" we mean a scenario where three specialized robots are aligned to complete a cycle as quickly as possible without opposition. Our definition of cycle is the same as the Game Manual definition.

The basic timing looks something like this:
3 seconds: Human player(s) retrieve the ball from the pedestal and enter it into play.
1 second: first robot establishes posession
2 seconds: ball is in motion between first and second robots
1 second: second robot establishes possession
3 seconds: ball in flight over the truss
1 second: third robot catches the ball and establishes possession
3 seconds: third robot launches the ball into the top goal and cycle completes

We call that "theoretical" because it involves no opposition. Also, note that the points aren't theoretical, the scenario is. Someone mentioned cheetahs in reference to this. It's not just cheetahs, it's cheetahs playing speed billiards with a yoga ball.

The "idealized" scenario is one where we account for real world slip ups, like missing shots and the ball behaving in unexpected ways. It's still not something we expect to happen in real life, but it gets us closer to a realistic estimate.

After that we enter reality and make our estimates based on the above numbers.

[arizonafoxx]

Originally Posted by jee7s

By "theoretical" we mean a scenario where three specialized robots are aligned to complete a cycle as quickly as possible without opposition. Our definition of cycle is the same as the Game Manual definition.

The basic timing looks something like this:
3 seconds: Human player(s) retrieve the ball from the pedestal and enter it into play.
1 second: first robot establishes posession
2 seconds: ball is in motion between first and second robots
1 second: second robot establishes possession
3 seconds: ball in flight over the truss
1 second: third robot catches the ball and establishes possession
3 seconds: third robot launches the ball into the top goal and cycle completes

We call that "theoretical" because it involves no opposition. Also, note that the points aren't theoretical, the scenario is. Someone mentioned cheetahs in reference to this. It's not just cheetahs, it's cheetahs playing speed billiards with a yoga ball.

The "idealized" scenario is one where we account for real world slip ups, like missing shots and the ball behaving in unexpected ways. It's still not something we expect to happen in real life, but it gets us closer to a realistic estimate.

After that we enter reality and make our estimates based on the above numbers.

If Robot 1 is able to shoot the ball from zone 1 over the truss and robot 2 is able to catch the ball while completely in zone 2. Robot 2 could then pass to robot 3 in zone 3 and robot 3 could score in the high goal. This could potential save a few seconds in this theoretical scenario.

[Anthony4004]

In the new update, they say they are working out what to do in case a ball gets stuck in multiple ways. No official rule yet as they need to process it.