Mobile Robotics
Robot Billiards
Prior to the competition, the contestants will
design and build a single robot capable
of
placing standard (2-1/4 inch) billiard balls into containers located at each
corner of
a
square table.
Robots and transmitter(s) must be impounded before
the start of the competition
and
will be released one hour after the last team has competed unless there are
appeals pending.
Up to 2 students may compete.
5 minutes total time.
Construction
Contestants may use generic commercial robot components, kits, or parts
of kits,
RC cars and similar items, but
there must be some integration and/or functional
modification by the
contestants.
Off-the-shelf robot kits specifically designed to accomplish the task are
not allowed.
Control
The robot may be operated by any type of wired electronic (not
mechanical)
control, wireless remote
control (e.g., radio control, infrared, visible light, ultrasonic,
etc.) or onboard control
system.
If radio control is used, only unmodified, commercially available
equipment operating
on the 75 MHz or 27 MHz radio
control bands or the lower power, 49 MHz, bands may
be used. Use of these
frequencies is at your own risk and you must accept any
radio interference from others
without redress.
The 72 MHz band is restricted to model aircraft and may not be used.
Power
All energy used to power the robot must come from commercially available
batteries
in the robot or control panel.
Any number of batteries may be used as long as they are not connected
together
to produce more than 9.6 volts
between any two point
s on the robot and/or control
panel. The voltage stated on
the batteries, by the
manufacturer, will be accepted.
This limitation does not apply to radio control
transmitters, which must use
batteries specified by their
manufacturer.
Dimensions
Immediately prior to starting its run, the robot (in its
ready-to-start configuration),
excluding transmitter(s)
and/or control panel(s) and
connecting wires, must fit
into a 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm
cube.
Control wires must exit the cube at the table's surface.
A sample cube shown on the right.
General Configuration
A diagram of the table is presented on
the left below.
A picture of the configuration of the
balls is on the right below.
Table
The competition will take place on a flat, level table, approximately 1.2
m (4 ft)
square, with no side rails.
The top of the table will be not more than 50 cm above the floor.
The table will be covered with a non-woven, non-directional, texture,
marine
backed carpet, less than 1/4
inch thick.
A 30 cm square, centered on and adjacent to one side of the table will be
marked
on the carpet with permanent
felt-tipped marker.
Each corner of the table will be cut out at a radius between 5 and 6 cm,
centered
where the two adjacent sides intersect.
The table will have some provision for leveling it.
Pockets
Coffee cans (approximately 16 cm tall and 15 cm in diameter) or similar
containers to
place the balls in, will be
located at each corner of the table.
The containers will be large enough to hold all 16 balls at one time.
The top of the containers will be lower than the table's top surface.
The cans may also be used to support the table. Additional support may be
placed
under the table as required.
Cue Ball
The cue ball is a "wild card".
After the robot has completed its run, the contestants may designate it
to be any
one of the other 15 balls. This may
result in two of the same balls earning points.
Points
One point for each ball placed in a pocket. (up to 4 points per pocket)
One point for each pair of balls (solid color ball and its matching color
striped ball) in
a pocket - up to 2 points per
pocket. The eight ball cannot earn points under this
approach since there is not
ball with a black stripe.
One point if the pocket contains two or more striped balls.
One point if the pocket contains two or more solid colored balls.
Scores
The team's score for the event will be the
sum of the scores for all four pockets.
Teams with higher scores will be ranked
above those with lower scores.
Ties
Ties will be broken in favor or teams with shorter elapsed time.
If ties still remain, the sum of the numbers on the balls in a pocket
will be used
Upper left Pocket
1 point for each of 4 balls = 4 points
1 point for solid and striped green and 1 point for solid and striped red = 2
points
1 point for two solid and 1 point for 2 striped = 2 points
Total = 8 points
Upper Right and
Lower Left Pockets: 8 points each as for the Upper Left Pocket
Total for both = 16 points
Bottom Right Pocket
1 point for each of 4 balls = 4 points
1 point for solid and striped brown balls = 1 point
1 point for two solid balls (brown and 8 ball) = 1 point
1 point for two striped balls (let cue ball count as a striped ball) = 1 point
Total = 7 points
Max Score = 24 +
7 = 31
Team:__________________________________
Total Time_____
Total Score____________
Highest Number
for a Pocket (If Needed to Break Tie): Pocket:UL__ UR__ BL__ BR__
Number:_____
Notes:
Pockets are arranged as viewed by the robot at the beginning of
the contest, UL = upper left, etc.
Balls placed in the pockets are indicated with a red X
|
Points for
Balls __ Points for Pairs __
Points for
Solids __ Points for Stripes __
Total Score for
the UL Pocket ____ |
Points for
Balls __ Points for Pairs __
Points for
Solids __ Points for Stripes __
Total Score for
the UR Pocket ____ |
|
|
|
|
Points for
Balls __ Points for Pairs __
Points for
Solids __ Points for Stripes __
Total Score for
the BL Pocket ____ |
Points for
Balls __ Points for Pairs __
Points for
Solids __ Points for Stripes __
Total Score for
the BR Pocket ____ |
Cue
Ball Counts As:_______________________________________
