During gameplay, teams are combined into alliances of three, and play against another alliance of three. The competitions starts with qualification matches where alliances are randomly selected. Throughout these matches other teams scout to find partners that would be beneficial to their strategy. At the end of the qualification rounds the top eight teams choose their alliance partners going into the elimination rounds.

The first 15 seconds of gameplay is the autonomous period. In autonomous, the robots start in designated zones with three power cells each. The teams are unable to directly control their robot and instead have to rely on pre-set code. They can gain points from leaving their zone (5 per robot) and scoring power cells into the power port. All power cells that are scored are worth double the points in autonomous.

Following the autonomous period, the teams gain control of their robots in the tele-operated period. During this time, teams are challenged with completing three stages to energize their shield generator. The first stage is completed by scoring nine power cells (either during autonomous or after) in the power port and entering the tele-op period. The second stage is completed by scoring 20 more power cells into the power port and spinning the control panel 3-5 revolutions. Finally, the third stage can be completed by scoring 20 more power cells and turning the control panel to the determined color (the color is decided once an alliance scores 49 power cells.)

In the last 30 seconds, we enter the endgame period. This year, there is an elevated switch in the middle of the field. Robots have to hang on a metal bar and attempt to level the switch. Every robot that hangs from the switch earns 25 points, and if it is level, the alliance gains an extra 15 points.

Team rankings in seeding matches are determined by ranking points. These points are gained in three different ways: winning (2 ranking points)/tying (1 ranking point) the match, completing all three stages and energizing the shield generator (1 ranking point), and balancing the switch with two robots or having all three robots climb (1 ranking point). To move on to finals, the team must be in the top eight and become an alliance captain, or may be selected by a top eight team to be in a finals alliance. These teams move on to the elimination rounds and compete for the Championship and a Blue Banner!

In previous years, FIRST required FRC teams to stop all work on their robots about 6 weeks after Kickoff. This presented a significant challenge to all the teams, but rookie teams and teams with limited resources especially felt the impact of this. In the past several years, WildStang has lost build season work hours to snow days. This year, FIRST removed the requirement to stop building on a certain day, and now teams are able to work on their robots right up to their competitions. We will most definitely use all the time we can!

Altogether, Infinite Recharge is looking to be a fun game for students and spectators alike. WildStang is excited to see how this season goes and wishes the best of luck to other teams. Happy Build Season!

Terms To Know

• Power cell: 7 inch diameter foam ball

• Trenches: Stretch of land that is protected for one alliance containing the control panel

• Autonomous mode: 15 seconds period in which all the robots actions are preprogramed by the team

• Tele-operated (tele-op): Period in which drivers and manipulator control the robot

• Switch: Scale that the robots hang from

• Bottom Port: Port that scores one point per power cell in teleop

• Outer port: Hexagonal port 6ft off the ground, 2ft across

• Inner port: 13in hole inside of the outer port

• Control panel: Multicolored wheel split into eight sections of red, green, blue, or yellow

• Alliance: Three teams working together during the game

• Points: Determines which team wins the match

• Ranking Points: Determines where you stand at the end of the qualification matches

Images provided by SolidWorks