FIRST Challenges
2012 Challenge: Rebound Rumble
Rebound Rumble is played by two competing alliances on a flat, 27 x 54 ft field. Each alliance consists of three robots. They compete to score as many basketballs into their hoops as they can during a 2 minute and 15 second match. The higher the hoop in which the basketball is scored, the more points the alliance receives.
The match begins with a 15-second Hybrid Period in which robots operate independently of driver inputs. During this Hybrid Period, one robot on each alliance may be controlled using a Microsoft Kinect. Baskets scored during this period are worth 3 extra points. For the remainder of the match, drivers control robots and try to maximize their alliance score by scoring as many baskets as possible. Baskets are worth 3, 2, or 1 point in the top, middle, and low hoops, respectively.
The match ends with robots attempting to balance on bridges located at the middle of the field. In Qualification Matches, a robot from each alliance will also try to balance on the white CoopertitionTM bridge to score additional ranking points for each alliance. Scoring for the match is summarized below. One robot balanced is worth 10 points, two is worth 20 points, and three is worth 40 points (only in elimination matches).
2011 Challenge: Logo Motion
Logo Motion is played on a 27-by-54 foot carpeted field divided into feeding lanes, scoring zones and the remainder of the playing field. Logo Motion consists of two alliances of three teams each, trying to hang as many "logo pieces" on their 3-by-3 scoring grids. The higher the row on the scoring grid, the more points awarded for a hung logo piece. During the first fifteen seconds of the match, robots autonomously try to hang "ubertubes" for a doubling bonus for that tube and the peg on which it is hung. During the next two minutes, drivers try to retrieve logo pieces and hang them on their scoring grids. A doubling bonus is awarded if the FIRST logo is properly created (in the order triangle, circle, square). The match ends with robots deploying "minibots" up 10 foot high vertical poles, with the minibots making it to the top first earning a greater amount of bonus points.
2010 Challenge: Breakaway
Breakaway is played on a 27-by-54 foot carpeted field with two "bumps" separating the field into three zones. Breakaway involves two alliances of three robots each, trying to score soccer balls into either of their two goals. The robots are designed to kick a ball or try to defend the other alliance's goals to prevent the opposing alliance from scoring. During the last 20 seconds of the match the robots try to hang off the tower or their alliance partner’s robots to gain bonus points.
2009 Challenge: Lunacy
Lunacy is played on a rectangular field that is 54' by 27'. This field floor is referred to as 'Regolith'. The regolith is designed to interact with robots, which must use a special mandatory wheel that may not be altered, to have reduced traction. This is supposed to mirror the effect of driving with low gravity on the moon.
Lunacy is played by two alliances of three robots each. The objective of the game is to score points by placing moon rocks (worth 2 points when scored) in the opposing alliance's trailers, which are dragged around by each robot. Empty cells (worth 20 points when scored) may be delivered to human players to be used later as "super cells". During the last 20 seconds of a match, supercells (worth 15 points when scored) may be put into play.
2008 Challenge: FIRST Overdrive
FIRST Overdrive is played on a 54' by 27' carpeted field, divided lengthwise by a fence median to create a track, and separate the field into Red and Blue zones. The fence is crossed by an overpass marking the red and blue finish lines, and hold the game pieces: 40" diameter inflated balls called "Trackballs". Two alliances of three teams race around the track in a counter clockwise direction while manipulating the trackballs to score points.
2007 Challenge: Rack 'N' Roll
Rack 'N' Roll is played on a 54' by 27' carpeted field. The center of the playing field is occupied by the main scoring structure, the rack, containing 24 spider legs. The game is played by two alliances, red and blue, each consisting of three robots. To score, robots use tubes of their own colour to create columns or rows of their own alliances' colour. The game consists of a 15 second autonomous period where robots attempt to score "keeper" tubes on the rack and a 2 minute driver control period. Coloured tubes ("ringers") are worth 2 points and increase exponentially based on the length of the column or row. To negate points, black spoiler tubes may be placed over top of alliance ringers to nullify that tube's value and limit the exponential scoring. Alliances may score additional points if, by the end of the match, their robots in their home zone are lifted either 4" (15 points) or 12" (30 points) off the floor.
2006 Challenge: Aim High
Aim High is played on a 54' by 26' carpeted field. The game is played by two alliances, red and blue, each consisting of three robots. During a 10 second autonomous mode robots can be programmed to score into any of the three goals on each side of the field: one raised center goal and two corner goals at floor level. At the end of the autonomous period the alliance with the most points will be placed on defense for round two. Rounds two, three and four are each 40 seconds long and are human-controlled rounds. Between rounds two and three the alliances switch from offense to defense or vice versa. At the start of round 4 any alliance can score into the corresponding goals. At the end of the match any alliance can receive bonus points by placing its three robots on a platform below the center goal. The alliance with the most points wins with scoring as follows: 3 points for any ball scored in the center goal, 1 point for any ball scored in the corner goals, 10 bonus points for scoring the highest in the autonomous round and 25 points for placing all 3 robots on the platform at the end (10 points for 2 robots and 5 points for 1 robot).
2005 Challenge: Triple Play
Triple Play is played on a 54’ by 27’ carpeted field. The game is played by two alliances, each consisting of three robots. There are 9 three dimensional tetrahedral shapes located in a 3 by 3 grid throughout the field. The scoring objects for the game are three dimensional tetrahedral shapes (“tetras”), approximately 28 inches high and 8.5 pounds. Robots attempt to stack tetras on top of goals on contain tetras inside of goals, worth 3 points and 1 point respectively. A goal can be owned by an alliance if the highest tetra in a stack is their alliances colour. Additionally, a row of three owned goals in any direction (similar to a tic-tac-toe board) at the end of the match is worth 10 points for the alliance. At the end of the match, an alliance can earn an additional 10 points if all of their robots finish in the designated end zone at the conclusion of the match.
2004 Challenge: FIRST FRENZY: Raising the Bar
FIRST FRENZY: Raising the Bar is played on a 48’ by 24’ carpeted playing field. The game is played by two alliances each consisting of two robots. The field contains a large centre structure which consists of two lower decks, measuring 8’ by 8’ by 6”, with an upper deck in between the two lower decks, measuring 4’ by 8’ by 6”. Each lower deck contains a 28” diameter stationary goal made out of 2” PVC posts. A steel pipe pull-up bar is based on the upper deck; its height is 10 feet from the ground. There are two 28” mobile goals, also made from PVC posts, which are mounted on casters and start next to the upper deck. Above both driver stations are ball delivery systems that store 18 small balls which are released if a bonus ball is removed during autonomous mode, otherwise not until 45 seconds into the match. The scoring objects are small 13” diameter scoring balls and large 34” diameter doubler balls. Alliances attempt to gather small balls and transport them back to their human players using the ball chutes at the end of the field. Human players try to score the small balls into either their alliance’s stationary or mobile goal, worth 5 points. Robots can use the large doubler balls to cap a goal in order to double the point value within the goal. At the end of the match robots can earn an additional 50 points by hanging from the pull-up bar.
2003 Challenge: Stack Attack
Stack Attack is played on a 54' by 24' carpeted field. A 2 foot high platform, sized 4' by 12' is located in the middle of the field. The platform is accessed by 8' ramps on each side. The game is played by two alliances, red and blue, each consisting of two robots. A match consists of three time periods, a 10 second human player period, a 15 second autonomous period, and 1 minute 45 second driver control period. The scoring objects are blue Sterilite plastic storage containers, measuring approximately 24" by 17" by 16". In the human player period, all four human players will enter the field and place their 4 containers anywhere within their scoring zone. During the autonomous period, robots will attempt to ascend the ramp to knock 29 containers from the top of the platform into their alliance's scoring zone. All points are tallied at the end of the match, with one point awarded for each container in the scoring zone, except for the tallest stack. All eligible containers are multiplied by the highest stack, the multiplier stack, to calculate the total score. Additionally, 25 extra points are awarded for any robot that is touching only the top of the platform at the end of the match. Standings are kept in qualifying matches, not by wins and losses, but by qualifying points which are equal to the winning alliance score plus two times the losing alliance’s score for the winning alliance and just the losing alliance score for the losing alliance.