FRC 2007 Challenge

    The FIRST Robotics Challenge is a surprise every year. For 2007's game, Rack 'N' Roll, the game is played by two opposing alliances who will compete by placing inner tubes on a central structure (known as "The Rack"). The Rack contains three levels each with a set of eight "spider legs, " for a total of twenty-four scoring locations. Each spider hangs from a series of chains that allows it to move freely if it's impacted by a robot or game piece. The game pieces are inflatable plastic pool tubes and come in three verities: "Keepers, &"Ringers," and "Spoilers."

    The game is divided into two periods. For the first period the robots move without direct human control and rely on programming and a color vision tracking system, thus, this period is known as the Autonomous Period. This is the only period in which Keepers can be scored. Keepers are the only game pieces that cannot be Spoiled.

    After fifteen seconds, a buzzer will sound signaling the end of first period and when the drivers can step forward to take control of their robots. In this two minute period, robots can receive Ringers to score from the human players in their home zone, or retrieve them from the floor in opposing alliance's home zone. Black Spoiler tubes may be placed on the rack to negate the effects of any Ringers underneath them. However, unlike the other game pieces, Spoilers can be removed from the Rack. Points are scored exponentially by the number of Keepers and Ringers in a column or row.

    Bonus points are awarded at the end of the match if teams manage to get to their home zone and elevate their robots before the final buzzer. This will be done by placing one or two robots on top of another. The bonus will be fifteen for each robot elevated four to twelve inches and thirty for each robot elevated more than twelve inches of the ground.