FIRST Overdrive is the 2008 game for the FIRST Robotics Competition, announced on January 5, 2008. In it, teams compete to complete counterclockwise laps around a central barrier while manipulating large 40-inch (1 m) diameter "Trackballs" over and under overpasses to score additional points.
FIRST Overdrive is played on a 54 foot by 27 foot (16 m by 8 m) track divided lengthwise by a fence into a Red side and a Blue side. The fence is crossed by an overpass marking the red and blue ?nish lines. Two three-team alliances race around the track in a counter clockwise direction manipulating Trackballs.
The game is made up of two scoring periods. The first 15 seconds of play is the Hybrid period in which robots are autonomous, and may also respond to digital signals sent by team Robocoaches stationed at the corners of the track.
The next two minutes of play is the Teleoperated period. At this time, robots are radio controlled by team operators standing at either end of the field.
- 8 points for each of their Trackballs knocked off of the overpass
- 8 points for each of their Trackballs passed over the overpass
- 4 points whenever their robot crosses a lane marker
- 4 points whenever their robot crosses their opponent's finish line
- 4 points whenever their robot crosses their finish line
- 2 points whenever their trackball crosses their finish line
In Teleoperated period, robots going in a counter clockwise direction score:
- 2 points whenever their robot crosses their ?nish line
- 2 points whenever their Trackball crosses their ?nish line
- 8 points whenever their Trackball hurdles their overpass
Alliances score an additional 12 points for each of their Trackballs that are positioned anywhere on the overpass at the end of the match.
Below is a short animated video of the 2008 FIRST challenge, FIRST Overdrive.
Click here for more information about the 2008 FIRST challenge.
