Polyathlon rev 2.0
Notice 1-21-2012:
These rules are being revised. Click here to see the proposed new rule set.
Updated March 21, 2009
Results of the March 14th Robot Rally meeting. This is close to being 100% complete. Some small details may change. Click here to see the scoring details. This contest will be part of the 2009 Robot Rally on May 16th at Pinckneyville Community Center.
What is a polyathlon?
A series of contests similar to a decathlon where robots compete to determine the best over all performer. Each contest will be scored based on performance and then the scores totaled to determine the over all winner. The number of contests in our polyathlon may change each year.
Each contest is fairly simple so that everyone has a chance to compete. If a robot was not programmed for one or more contests it can still compete but will get zero points for contests not entered.
General rules
Robot size:
Must fit inside a 12x12 inch square or 14 inch circle. After starting, arms may be deployed only to the extent the robot would fit in an 18 inch diameter circle. The robots height will be limited to 18 inches maximum.
Robot weight:
20 pounds maximum.
Hardware and Software:
Robot hardware design is fixed and cannot be changed between contests. You may not add or subtract mechanical components. Robots may extend arms, shift sensor positions or change shape using actuators after starting. The robot hardware may also be adjusted manually in a 15 second window before starting. For example, manually shifting the position of a sensor or arm is OK if it takes less than 15 seconds and can be done at the starting position. Software can be changed between contests. This may be done by switches, changing EPROMS or processors or by downloading new software.
The robots "brain" must be contained on the robot. Links to remote computers are not allowed except for the downloading of new software before a contest. Data may not be sent to the robot during a contest. Telemetry from the robot is allowed.
Sequencing
The contests will be conducted one at a time. For example, all contestants will complete simple line following before starting advanced line following. Contestants will be allowed 2 or 3 attempts to complete a contest depending on time available. The best score will be used. Each contestant will do a single run. After everyone has completed their first run the second round will begin and then the 3rd if time is available.
Example:
Simple Line Following: Bot1, Bot2, Bot3, Bot1, Bot2, Bot3
Advanced Line Following: Bot1, Bot2, Bot3, Bot1, Bot2, Bot3
etc.
Time between runs cannot be determined. It will depend on the number of competitors and the time they take to complete each contest run. The judges may set a minimum time a competitor has to prepare between runs.
Contests:
Basic line follower
Goal: Complete the course faster than your opponents.
The course will be a simple oval with turn radius no less than 6 inches. The "line" is 3/4 inch black electrical tape on a white surface. Lines will be at least 8 inches from the edge. A time limit of 90 seconds will be imposed. Failure to complete the course within 90 seconds will result in a score of zero.
Note: A calibration pad 6 x 3 inches will be provided for calibraition of line follower sensors.
Advanced Line Follower
Goal: Complete the course faster than your opponents.
Course will have intersecting lines and 90 degree turns. Non-intersecting lines will be spaced apart greater than 8 inches. Intersections will be 90 degrees. The "line" is 3/4 inch black electrical tape on a white surface. Lines will be at least 8 inches from edge. A time limit of 90 seconds will be imposed. Failure to complete the course within 90 seconds will result in a score of zero.
Beacon Killer
Goal: Travel 10 feet to make contact with a beacon from a random start orientation in the least time.
Contestant may supply his own beacon or use the clubs Cube Quest white light beacon. Robot will be placed 10 feet from beacon pointed in a random direction. All contestants will be placed in the same direction. Robots will have a 5 second delayed start. Time starts when robot starts moving and ends when it touches the beacon. Robots have a maximum of 60 seconds to complete this task.
Beacon Killer with obstacles
Goal: Travel 10 feet to make contact with a beacon from a random start orientation in the least time without moving obstacles. A time penality will be imposed for each obstacle moved.
Five to twenty objects may be placed in the area between the robot and the beacon. They will be at least 2 feet apart, edge to edge. The objects will be 3.5 inch sections of 3.5 inch OD white PVC pipe standing on end. The position of each object will be marked with a small marker. Markers will be about 3 inches in diameter. Moving an obstacle more than 1/4 inch will expose the marker. A 10 second time penality will be applied for every marker that is exposed after the run.
Robots have a maximum of 90 seconds to complete this task.
Navigation by dead reckoning
Goal: Travel 3 legs of an equalateral triangle in a clockwise direction and arrive back at the starting point. Scoring is based on how close the robot is to the original start position. Robot must accurately measure distance traveled and angle of turns to succeed.
The triangle sides are 4 feet. There are no lines. A small 1/2 inch diameter rod 24 inches high will be placed 6 feet from the starting point along the first leg to allow initial manual alignment of the robot. The robot must touch imaginary 8.5 inch diameter circles at the intersections of the 4 foot sides.
The contestant must define the reference point on the robot which will be placed over the starting point and used to measure the offset distance when finished. It can be a wheel or other easily observed part.
Time limit 2 minutes.
Bulldozer
Goal: Push 5 objects off a surface in the least time without driving off the edge.
The objects to be pushed are 3.5 inch long sections of 3.5 inch OD white PCV pipe standing on end. The surface is a 2.5 x 8 foot folding table 3.75 inches above the floor. There will be no line marking the edge. Robots must detect the 3.75 inch drop-off to avoid falling off. Robots may use optical, mechanical, sonar or other sensors to detect the edge.
There is a 5 second delayed start. Robots start behind a line that is 18 inches from the end of the table. All objects are on the other side of the line. Time starts when robot moves and stops when all objects are pushed off. Time limit is 90 seconds. If robot runs off the table before pushing off all objects the time defaults to 90 seconds. A time penality of 10 seconds is imposed for each object left on the table after time expires or the robot falls off.
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