1. Competition Dynamics Written by Larry Liu and Saints Robotics 1899

2. Overview Preparation Event logistics – Basic schedule – Competition structure Team member roles

3. Before the competition… Media release forms Self-inspection

4. Safety Goggles – Wear in pits at all times – Goggles may be provided at event Shoes – No open toes No loose clothing Robot transportation – Slowly, make sure people nearby know you’re coming through Tethering to prevent interference

5. General Schedule: 3 Days Thursday: Pit setup, inspection, practice matches Friday: Seeding matches, award ceremony Saturday: Seeding matches, alliance selection, playoffs, award ceremony, cleanup

6. Opening Ceremonies National anthem of represented countries A few quick speeches Note: if you’re in the first match after the opening ceremony, your robot should be on the field before the ceremony begins

7. Thursday: Pit Setup One adult and no more than three students Arrive early, uncrate (or unbag), move all tools to pit area Vacate pit area afterwards until official opening

8. Thursday: Inspection Must pass inspection to compete in official matches – Includes software inspection! Have people knowledgeable in build and programming around Tip: Go through the inspection checklist in game manual before crating/bagging robot during build season

9. Thursday: Practice Matches Schedule is not rigid – Scheduled teams get priority – Teams who have not yet completed a practice match get priority afterwards Each team must participate in one practice match – Meant for testing compatibility of robot software with field management system Inspection completion advised, but not required

10. Friday: Official Matches Matches count toward seeding the team Seeded with three scoring systems (next slide) Top 8 seeds become alliance captains for playoffs

11. Scoring Systems (2010) Seeding Score: total points scored by the alliances the robot is on – Primary system used for seeding Coopertition Points: double the losing team’s unpenalized score – Breaks ties in seeding score Bonus Points: points scored from certain difficult objectives – E.g. Breakaway – Hanging points

12. Saturday: Alliance Selection One representative per team – Generally scout leader or captain Captains select two teams to form an alliance – If a top 8 team is selected, all lower ranked teams move up (i.e. Seed 9 becomes captain 8) Selection order: Alliances 1 to 8, then 8 to 1

13. Practice Fields Availability varies by event Queue up—there’s usually a line! Must be tethered

14. Machining Availability varies by event If available, there will be a someone to assist you – Do not use in his/her absence

15. Scouting Qualitative: Pit scouting – Examine features of the robot off the field Empirical/Quantitative: Match scouting – Evaluate performance on the field Tip: Have a scout leader to organize and know all information; s/he should represent the team for alliance selection

16. Pits Robot repairs and programming A representative to “sell the team” to other teams Have knowledgeable members ready to discuss the robot with judges Tip: Keep tools and parts organized, do not crowd the pits with members

17. Media One media badge per team – Must be worn and visible – Grants access to competition field to one non- drive team member

18. Drive Team Do NOT lose badges – Four badges: Two drivers, coach, human player Discuss strategy with alliance partners Inform build and programming team about malfunctions and necessary repairs

19. Playoffs Best two out of three Single elimination bracket If a robot breaks down, it will be replaced by next highest seeded robot

20. Team Spirit Shirts – Team unity! Pit decoration Flags – Given to emcee before each match Spirit Gear! – Buttons, candy, wristbands, etc. Promotional information – Flyers, trifold presentation, past trophies, etc.

21. Lunch Availability depends on venue Parent network to provide food is most reliable Designated lunch time

22. Awards Ceremony One on Friday – Off-site awards, i.e. Website and Animation One on Saturday – Competition-related, i.e. Champion and Finalists – Chairman’s Award