RoboSoccer Shootout!

Robot Soccer is the most popular robotics competition in the world. Each year hundreds of teams participate in a World Soccer Competition: RoboCup (www.robocup.org). The grand challenge of robot soccer is to create a team of robots that can compete in a World Cup Soccer match by 2050. This will require research in electronics, mechanics, and computer science. This year?s competition is based on RoboCup. Two robot soccer players face off against each other. Each robot has a supply of soccer balls and a goal to defend?it?s a penalty-kick shootout! Gathering soccer balls, aiming towards the opponent?s goal, and scoring, robot players may also go on the defensive, blocking shots as they come across the field. It?s a fast past game of two-robot soccer!

• Robots must collect various balls and attempt to score them in the goal box of the opposing team; shooting from a launch pad increases the chances of a successful shot. Robots must score as many goals as possible within the three minute shootout!
  • Goal box starting point; place where opposing points are scored.
  • Ball hopper dispensers from which colored balls are regenerated.
  • Launch padsdirected at the opposing goal box to increase shot accuracy.
  • Colored balls shot into opposing goal box to score points; regenerate.
  • Power balls shot into opposing goal box to score points; do not regenerate.

• Each robot will start on the center launch pad located in front of the appropriately colored goal box, designated at the beginning of the round.
• At the start of each round, colored balls are dispensed randomly from the ball hopper of the same color.
• Each robot must collect colored balls, attempting to score them in the goal box of the opposing color.
• Colored ballsscored in a goal box are regenerated from the appropriate ball hopper.
• Power balls are located at the end of each launch pad, and can be scored in the goal box of the opposing color for more points.
• Power ballsare heavier than the other balls.
• Launch pads are located throughout the field and increase shot accuracy, as they always point toward the goal box of the opposing color.
• Though each robot will have its own colored balls, if scored in its own goal box, points will be awarded to the team of the opposing color!

• The first team to score a goal in the goal box of the opposing color will be awarded a 2x point multiplier to that goal.
• Power balls scored in the goal box of the opposing color are worth 5 points each for the team of the balls' color.
• Power balls scored in the goal box of the same color are worth 3 points each for the team of the opposing color.
• Colored balls scored in the goal box of the opposing color are worth 2 points each for the team of the balls' color.
• Colored balls scored in the goal box of the same color are worth 1 point each for the team of the opposing color.
• All points scored (i.e., by colored balls and power balls) are counted as they enter a goal box.
• Colored balls will be regenerated from the appropriate ball hopper by a judge.
• Points scored by power balls are counted at the end of each round, and are based on the final positions of the balls and robots.
• In the case of a tie by points, the following tie-breaker rules will be enforced:
1. The team that has scored more of their own power balls in the goal box of the opposing color.
2. The team that has scored more of their own colored balls in the goal box of the opposing color.
3. The team that has more of their own power balls on the side of the opposing color.
4. The team that has more of their own colored balls on the side of the opposing color .
5. The team that has scored fewer of their own power balls in the goal box of the samecolor.
6. The team that has scored fewer of their own colored balls in the goal box of the same color.
7. The team that has fewer of their own power balls on the side of the same color.
8. The team that has fewer of their own colored balls on the side of the same color.
9. The team that has scored a goal in the goal box of the opposing color first.
10. The team that has been restarted the least.
• A team whose robot fails to leave its starting box will receive 0 points for the round.
• A round may be decided by a judges ruling. All judges rulings are final!

• Robots may place one independent structure on the board as long as it is not considered by a judge to be small enough to interfere with the mechanical operations of other robots.
• Robots and structures combined must be able to fit within a 12"x12"x12" box before each round starts. This rule will only be enforced if challenged by another opposing team.
• Robots and structures may expand once the round has begun, however, each must be able to fit within an 18"x18"x18" box when fully expanded.

• The center launch pad will start 1' away from the entrance to the goal box and will end 1' away from the center of the field.
• 2 4'x8' plywood boards
• 7 10' PVC 1" pipe (approximately 1⁵/₁₆" OD)
1. 23 ³/₄"(2 black, 2 white)
2. 10 10 ³/₈" (4 black, 6 white)
3. 4 13 ⁵/₈" (2 black, 2 white)
4. 2 31 ³/₈" (1 black, 1 white)
5. 2 47 ¹/₄" (1 black, 1 white)
6. 2 80 ¹/₄" (1 black, 1 white)
7. 1 44 ³/₄" (1 white)
8. 4 1 ¹/₂" (4 white)
• 10 90 degree PVC 1" corners (4 black, 6 white)
• 8 45 degree PVC 1" corners (4 black, 4 white)
• 8 PVC 1" Ts (4 black, 4 white)
• 20 ping-pong balls (colored balls; 10 black, 10 white)
• 10 golf balls (power balls; 5 black, 5 white)

• If you have any questions, please contact Ross Mead at cs-robots@siue.edu.