6.270 Rules Committee Rulings

Rules Questions and Answers

If you have a question about the rules, please send email to the Rules Committee at 6.270-rules. Only responses from the Rules Committee are official. If it is not clear in the Course Notes, check with the Rules Committee before you do whatever you are thinking about doing.

Rulings

What are the scoring and skunk balls going to be like?

For the final competition, the scoring balls will be either red or yellow and 1.5 inches in diameter (the same types you received in Workshop 1). The skunk balls will be large 3 inch diameter red balls, examples are available in lab. The scoring slots will be increased to 2 inches in height to ensure that your scoring balls will fit through, but the skunk ball will not.

Can we use a strategy where we load different numbers of balls into three chutes then release them into the scoring areas?

You may use any type of scoring strategy you wish. However, your robot must *start with the same ball configuration at the beginning of every match*. This means that if you have three chutes, you must always have the same number of balls in the chutes from match to match (i.e. always 3, 2, 1 or always 2, 2, 2). You will be required to commit your ball starting configuration in writing during impounding.

What is the final position of the skunk ball? How many balls will we start with?

The skunk ball will be situated in the middle of the baseline (the line in front of the #1 scoring zone) Each team will start the round with 6 balls. These rules remain the same as those stated in the course notes.

Will there be horizontal lines connecting the scoring zones?

No, there will not be lines running between the scoring zones across the table.

What will the scoring bins be like?

The scoring bins will be the length and width of a LEGO baseboard, as tall as the table (approximately 5 inches tall), and be constructed entirely out of LEGOs. An example will be available in lab for viewing.

What constitutes scoring with the skunk ball?

Scoring with the skunk ball occurs when the skunk ball is at least halfway across the ridge around the starting zone. The final location of the skunk ball once all balls on the table have come to a stop will be the only position recorded. Note: It is possible to score against yourself with the skunk ball :-)

Are we allowed to break apart LEGO parts like the turntable?

No, the only LEGO part that you may modify is the green baseboard. Please see the course notes for more information.

What are the possible numbers that we can have? We can't score 23 with only six balls.

Yes, our math skills are a little... special. Consequently, we've decided that the possible goal numbers will be: 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 22. They will be randomly chosen from a uniform distribution.

Can the robot reach into the scoring bins to retrieve balls?

Yes, your robot may reach into the scoring bins either through the scoring slot or over the side of the table to retrieve balls.

Will we be able to see past competitions?

Yes, we will likely play videos of past competitions in the lab.

Are robots allowed to use preloaded rubberbands?

Yes, preloaded rubberbands are allowed in robots

Can we non-destructively tilt other robots?

Tilting robots is fine, as is lifting so long as this is done *non-destructively.* Setting out to harm another robot, however, is expressly against the rules of the competition.

What are the maximum dimensions of our robot?

Your robot should fit within a 12"x12"x12" cube (1 foot cubed). This will be tested by us by placing your white box over your robot.

Are we allowed to use optical mouse sensors, along with the corresponding DSP board? If so, how much would they "cost" towards the $30 limit?

You can buy any electronics you like so long as you're under the limit. The price you should count is the 100 ct. price we might buy (that should be lower than buying just a single one like you're actually doing).

Can purchased fans be used in our robot?

Fans--or, more specifically, the blades--fall under the category of structural non-lego pieces, making them disallowed. Making your own fan blades, however, is perfectly legal.

At the minute mark, are balls in motion at the end scored? That is, if we release the balls at the last second and shut down our actuators, does scoring wait until the balls settle or occur instantly at the end?

From the course notes: "The match ends when all robots and game objects on the table come to a rest." Once all the balls have stopped moving we score the match.