Our coach Millard created an off season challenge for us, these were the rules.

Game Description:  The game will be similar to FTC match in that there will be a 30 second autonomous period followed by a 2 minute driver controlled period.  With the last 30 seconds being the end game.  The majority of the game will be centered on a nerf gun with six shots:

Scoring Elements:

There will be six off field targets with varying degrees of difficulty.  The point value will range from 1 to 6.  Each team will have a maximum of 16 shots.  The first six darts will be preloaded on the robot.   The additional scoring element will be a corner flag for each alliance that can only be raised in the end game.

Human Player:  Each team will have a human player that may reload darts in the gun but only in the designated loading area.   Drivers must put down their controls while the when robot is being reloaded.  Once the human player is clear of the loading zone the driving can continue.   The human player can only load darts.  The human player may not cock the gun.

Hardware:

• One six shot nerf gun
• No more than 4 motors
• No more than 6 servos
• No more than 4 sensors
• You may use whichever building system you like (GoBuilda or Rev) and whatever other parts we have on hand.  You may also design and I’ll print any CAD parts (within reason)
• Robot must fit in the 18x18x18 cube at the start of the match.

Scoring:

Autonomous

• Any targets scored in the autonomous period will count double.  That is 2 to 12 points.  Darts in the autonomous period will also be added to the tele-op score at their tele-op value. 
• There is no reloading of the robot during Auto
• Parking in the loading zone is worth 2 points
• Parking in the flag corner is 3 points

Tele-Op:

• Each team can score up to 16 darts in (although more than likely some will be used in Auto). 
• Defense will be allowed, but like in FTC no pinning a robot
• Robots can be reloaded at any time whether the magazine is empty or not

End Game:

• Each team will have a flag that can be raised during the end game by turning a winding mechanism.  Each flag pole will have three different levels.  Each level reached is worth 5 points for a total of 15 points if raised all the way up.
• Parking in the loading zone is worth 5 points.

Field Setup:  Unlike FTC the field will be setup in a 4 x 4 tile field arrangement.  That is 8 foot by 8 foot.

These are the two robots we came up with.

The design process took around three months. We finished at the beginning of June 2024. We had split into two teams. Maddie choose Lauren, Whitman, and Schuy for her team. Preston took Evan, Reid, and Gabe.

We competed on June 16th, Maddie and her team won the competition with a score of 283 points.

This was not our first time with this idea. We first did an off season challenge in 2023 in order to improve an maintain our skills. We use incredibly limited assistance from coaches for allowance of trial and error. We love getting in extra time with our teammates as well.

If you’re interested in learning about our process step by step check out our Instagram which held weekly updates.