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Step 1: Understanding the Rules and Game

Overview​

The planning phase is where you analyze the game, calculate strategies, and determine what your robot should do. This is the most critical phase because it sets the foundation for your entire season. The decisions you make during planning will guide prototyping, building, and competition strategy. A strong planning phase prevents wasted time and resources on the wrong capabilities, while a rushed or incomplete planning phase can doom your season before it begins.

This phase has four critical steps that must be completed before moving to prototyping.

Key Questions to Answer:​

Scoring Opportunities:​

  • What are ALL the possible ways to score points?
  • How many points is each scoring action worth?
  • Are there multipliers, bonuses, or special conditions that affect scoring?
  • What game elements can be scored, and where can they be scored?
  • Where do you score?

Ranking Points:​

  • What are the criteria for earning ranking points (RPs)?
  • What is the maximum number of ranking points you can earn?

Game Elements:​

  • How many game elements are available on the field?
  • Where are they located at the start of the match?
  • How do game elements become available during the match?
  • What are the physical properties (size, weight, shape) of each element?
  • Are there different types of game elements?

Defense and Game Dynamics:​

  • Is defense allowed in this game?
  • How could defense affect your scoring strategy?
  • Are there protected zones or time periods where defense is restricted?
  • Can opponents interfere with your game elements or scoring?
  • What are the penalties for illegal defense or contact?

Match Timeline:​

  • How is time allocated (autonomous vs. teleop vs. endgame)?
  • Are there time-sensitive objectives or bonuses?
  • When do certain scoring opportunities become available or unavailable?

Robot Rules and Constraints:​

  • What are the maximum robot dimensions (length, width, height)?
  • What is the maximum robot weight?
  • What are the starting configuration size limits?
  • What are the maximum extension limits during the match?
  • Are there any special size restrictions for certain game elements?
  • What are the bumper requirements and dimensions?
  • Are there any restrictions on mechanisms or deployment?

Remember: You can't design a winning robot if you don't understand the game you're playing!