FIRST Overdrive

Infobox_FRC_Game
game_title = FIRST Overdrive

year = 2008
number_teams =
number_regionals = 41 cite web
url= http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/regionalevents.aspx?id=430
title= FRC Regional Events
author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=
date= |year= |month= | publisher= FIRST
accessdate= 2008-01-06 ]
championship_location = Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
chairman_winner = Team 842 - Falcon Robotics
wf_winner = Mark Breadner
Team 188
founders_winner = BAE Systems
champions = Team 1114 - Simbotics
Team 217 - Thunderchickens
Team 148 - Robowranglers [cite web
url= http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Who/Media_Center/Press_Releases_and_FIRST_News/2008/FIRST_CMP_POST_FULL_FINAL.pdf
title= Robots Rule the Georgia Dome in Celebration of Science and Technology at Annual FIRST Championship
date= 2008-04-19 |format= PDF |work= |publisher= FIRST
accessdate= 2008-04-20 ]

FIRST Overdrive was the 2008 game for the FIRST Robotics Competition, announced on January 5, 2008. In it, teams competed to complete counterclockwise laps around a central barrier while manipulating large convert|40|in|m|0|abbr=on|lk=on diameter "Trackballs" over and under overpasses to score additional points.

Game Overview

FIRST Overdrive is played on a convert|54|ft|0|abbr=on|lk=on by convert|27|ft|0|abbr=on track divided lengthwise by a fence into a Red side and a Blue side. The fence is crossed by an overpass marking the red and blue finish lines. Two three-team alliances race around the track in a counter clockwise direction manipulating Trackballs.

The game is made up of two scoring periods. The first 15 seconds of play is the Hybrid period in which robots are autonomous, and may also respond to digital signals sent by team Robocoaches stationed at the corners of the track.

The next two minutes of play is the Teleoperated period. At this time, robots are radio controlled by team operators standing at either end of the field.cite web
url= http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Who/Media_Center/FRC_Assets/2008/FIRSTOverdrive_Description.pdf
title= THE GAME: Description and Scoring
author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=
date= 01-05-08 | format= PDF | publisher= FIRST
accessdate= 2008-01-06 ]

Scoring

During the Hybrid period, robots traveling in a counter clockwise direction score:
*8 points for each of their Trackballs knocked off of the overpass
*8 points for each of their Trackballs passed over the overpass
*4 points whenever their robot crosses a lane marker
*4 points whenever their robot crosses their opponent's finish line
*4 points whenever their robot crosses their finish line
*2 points whenever their trackball crosses their finish lineDuring the Teleoperated period, robots traveling in a counter clockwise direction score:
*2 points whenever their robot crosses their finish line
*2 points whenever their Trackball crosses their finish line
*8 points whenever their Trackball hurdles their overpassAlliances score an additional 12 points for each of their Trackballs that are positioned anywhere on the overpass at the end of the match.

Hybrid period

Hybrid period is a new addition to an FRC game. Rather than the pre-game autonomous modes of previous years where robots were prohibited from receiving input from humans, robots may receive signals via an infrared (IR) remote control or visible light from a designated Robocoach during the Hybrid period. The number of different IR signals the IR board included in the kit of parts is physically able to receive is 4. The number of distinct commands that are allowed to be sent is also 4, thus ruling out multi-signal combinations.

Competition schedule

* Kickoff — January 5, 2008
* Shipping deadline — February 19, 2008 [cite web
url= http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/content.aspx?id=454
title= Calendar of Important Deadlines
publisher= FIRST
accessdate= 2008-01-06 ]
* Regional competitions — weekends, February 28, 2008 – April 6, 2008
* Championship — April 17, 2008 – April 19, 2008

References