2008 Overdrive
The Challenge
Overdrive is a game played with two alliances, three robots to a team. The objective of the game is to score more points that the other alliance in the given amount of time by passing the game pieces (gigantic inflated balls known as "trackballs" over the overpass (Metal frame that divided the field). At the beginning of the game, robots would enter autonomous mode, wherein they would drive themselves around the field for fifteen seconds, getting bonus points for every line they crossed and every trackball they knocked down. After that, the robots enter the teleoporated period, where the team drives the robot around the field in an attempt to complete as many laps and throw the trackball over the overpass as many times as possible. During the last twenty minutes of game play, teams could earn bonus points for placing the trackballs back on the overpass.
There are two parts of this game, in which different things happen, and the mode of robot control differs. Here is a description of the two different game
HYBRID PERIOD - The hybrid period is the 15–second period at the start of the match. Driver control of the robot is not permitted at this time. During this period, the ROBOTS may react only to sensor inputs and commands programmed into the onboard control system. The only external signals that may be received by the robot are those sent from alliance robocoaches. No external signals are permitted from any other source. The robot may react to no more than four distinct external commands provided by the robocoach. All robot safety rules are still applicable during the hybrid period. The hybrid period ends when the arena timer displays zero seconds left in the period.
TELEOPERATED PERIOD – The teleoperated period is the 2-minute period of game play immediately following the hybrid period. At the beginning of the teleoperated period the operator consol controls are activated and drivers may remotely control their robots. The drivers continue to teleoperate their robots for the remainder of the match. Robocoaches may continue to signal the robot. The teleoperated period ends when the arena timer displays zero seconds. This also indicates the end of the match.
The Robot - BallFrog
To meet this challenge, our team put our heads together with other teams around the Bay Area. We needed to design a manipulator that would be able to not only hurdle the large trackballs, but which would also be able to place the trackball on the rack. Our robot, BallFrog, was programmed in autonomous, to make it around the track, crossing up to four lines.
The large manipulator was designed to hurdle the large trackballs over the overpass. The manipulator tilted forward to easily capture the game pieces. The elevator was able to raise the manipulator so that it was able to take balls off the overpass at the start of the match. By modifying antique wheel wagon bending machinery, we formed our large manipulator. This claw was extremely effective at transporting the oversized game pieces. So effective, in fact, that it took us to the final match at Curie field in Atlanta.
Oregon
The first regional that our team decided to go to was the Oregon regional, a first for our team. We rolled in on Thursday, pumped and ready for the games to begin. We fought to the semifinals and then were defeated. Determined to have another go at a shot at Atlanta, we geared up for our next regional: Silicon Valley.
Silcon Valley
Enlivened by our loss and ready to win, we threw ourselves into our second and last regional at Silicon Valley. We fought our hardest, making it to the #1 seed and staying there this time. The finals came as a bit of a surprise, since to earn our ticket to Atlanta we had to fight five straight games before finally winning the regional. With team 254 and team 115, we won the finals and earned our right to Atlanta.
Atlanta
After our close loss the year before, we were eager to re–enter the fray in Atlanta. We where placed in the Curie division, and we fought our way through until we found ourselves in the division finals. Unfortunately, we struck out, and were eliminated. This was a great season, and we hope to have as good a season in the coming year. Good luck to all teams, and let the games begin!
Comming to a regional near you soon.
