Devices pushing egg shaped objects along a playfield and placing them in their nests
Design and construct a robot which can compete with a similar robot in pushing a set of egg shaped “balls” along a playfield and place them in ”nests” assigned for them, before the opponent.
The game field is a 1 meter wide strip, marked by its edges (two parallel base-lines), adjacent to which two rows of 2 “nests” (*) are placed, as shown in the figure. The first row (that adjacent to the edge) is reserved as the “target” for the opponent, while the second (farther away from the edge) contains self-balls at the start. The game starts with 2 balls (*) placed at each of the rear rows. The opponents try to move all the balls on their side, one by one, across the field and place them on their target “nests” on the other side of the strip, by pushing, dragging, rolling, or otherwise driving, but definitely not carrying.
- The game will be played on bare floor.
- The game field theoretically extends infinitely on all directions (bounding walls are not allowed).
- The edges (baselines) are only virtually there and will not be marked on the floor.
- “Nests” are simple devices or marks to keep the “balls” in their place, (may be slightly elevated from the floor), to be designed in compliance with the “balls”, manufactured and provided by the designers. The nests should fit in a circle with a diameter twice the maximum dimension of the balls.
- The pushing part of the robot must be a smooth plane with no “catching features”, like holes, dents, adhesives, magnets, velcro, and the like. Its size in any direction should be no more than twice the largest dimension of the “ball”.
- “Balls” are non-spherical, smooth, and hard surface objects with an eccentricity (ratio of the longest axis to the shortest axis) between 5/4 and 3/2, to be provided by the designers.
- Robots must be completely self-contained. Active communication between the robots and the use of stand-alone cameras overlooking the field of action are not allowed.
- Players will start the game at the same time with a common command.(*)
- Contact with the opponent or opponent’s “balls” is not allowed. All precautions will be taken to avoid collisions.
- Teams are responsible to provide their own “balls” and “nests”.
(*) Common standards to be satisfied to make an interactive game possible and to facilitate a fair competition, such as limitations, if necessary, on the physical properties (size, weight, color etc.) of the “balls”, relative location of the “nests” are to be decided upon by a joint standards committee, composed of representatives of teams undertaking the project.