2008 Challenge

The 2008 challenge, announced January 5th, is FIRST Overdrive! In this challenge, there are two main ways to score: driving laps around the track and manipulating the trackballs, large red and blue balls 40 inches in diameter which start on a six-and-one-half-foot tall overpass. Teams work in alliances of three robots.

The game starts with a new mode of play: the hybrid mode. In this 15-second mode, robots can be autonomous or controlled using infrared (IR) signals from one or two human "RoboCoaches." Robots are awarded eight points for getting a trackball off of the overpass during this mode, and four points for every line crossed (there are four lines on the track in a lap: your finish line, the opponent's finish line, and two dividing lines).

At the end of the hybrid mode, points are tallied. Then the 2-minute teleoperated period begins. During this period, robot drivers control the robots. Two points are awarded for every time your robot crosses its own finish line. Two more points are awarded every time a ball of your alliance's color crosses your finish line while not in contact with a robot from your alliance. Eight points are awarded every time a ball of your alliance's color "hurdles" the overpass (crosses the finish line while above the overpass and not in contact with the robot). At the end of this period, twelve points are awarded for balls of your alliance's color which are sitting on the overpass.

Pushing is not allowed in FIRST Overdrive, but a gentle nudge is the agreed-upon signal to indicate a desire to pass (as the track is really only wide enough for three robots). After a nudge, the nudged robot must move out of the way. No nudging is allowed while a robot is in the process of "hurdling," unless no passing lane is open.

To read the complete game description and rules, click here and read sections six and seven of the game manual.