Playing the Game?
Basic synopsis of what everything is each year. What is an alliance? Competition structure? Scale of the game/robots?
While the actual theme of the game or how it's played changes each year, some components are fairly consistent. Teams build a 120lb robot to play a game in teams of three, or alliances, which are randomly assigned each match. It is played on a 26x52ft field, score points to win matches, work with your teammates and even the opposing alliance to earn ranking points. After all 40 teams have completed ~10 matches, average ranking points determine the top teams. These teams then take turns choosing their alliance to take into the elimination matches in a two-tiered bracket to win it all!
Celia Transcribed:
For most of the tournament for the qualifications segment of the tournament you're with randomly assigned other teams for the alliance. Once qualifications are over you get a ranking based on your ranking points and there are extra ranking points at time, eg. if you balance three robots on the tipping thing you could get an extra ranking point. After qualifications the first 8 teams in the rankings get to pick their alliance. First alliance gets first pick of partner 1, second gets second of partner 1 etc. Then once all 8 have picked their first partner the process is reversed. Burning is a process by which teams in the top 8 get picked by higher teams and the rankings move up a slot.
For most of the tournament for the qualifications segment of the tournament you're with randomly assigned other teams for the alliance. Once qualifications are over you get a ranking based on your ranking points and there are extra ranking points at time, eg. if you balance three robots on the tipping thing you could get an extra ranking point. After qualifications the first 8 teams in the rankings get to pick their alliance. First alliance gets first pick of partner 1, second gets second of partner 1 etc. Then once all 8 have picked their first partner the process is reversed. Burning is a process by which teams in the top 8 get picked by higher teams and the rankings move up a slot.