FIRST Stronghold

FIRST Stronghold was the 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition game.[5] The game was played by two alliances of up to three teams each, and involves breaching the opponents’ defenses, known as outer work as well as capturing their tower by first firing "boulders" (small foam balls) at it, and then surrounding or scaling the tower using a singular rung on the tower wall. Points were scored by crossing elements of the tower's outer works, shooting boulders into the opposing tower's five goals in order to lower the tower strength, and by surrounding and scaling the tower.[6]

FIRST Stronghold
Year2016
Season Information
Number of teams3,128[1]
Number of regionals53[2][1]
Number of district events73[2][1]
Championship locationThe Dome at America's Center, St Louis, Missouri
Awards
Chairman's Award winner987 - "High Rollers"[3]
Woodie Flowers Award winnerEric Stokely - Team 360
Founder's Award winnerCharles Bolden/NASA
Champions330 - "The Beach Bots"
2481 - "Roboteers"
120 - "Cleveland's Team"
1086 - "Blue Cheese" [4]
Links
WebsiteOfficial website

The name of the game was revealed on October 14, 2015 in a video that was produced with Walt Disney Imagineering.[7][8] The details of the game were revealed at the kickoff event on January 9, 2016.

For this competition, the driver stations were split between the tower, with two driver stations to its left and one driver station to its right. Each team was given the option to display a team standard above the team's driver station. This standard was a small flag (made out of paper, cloth, or other flexible materials) and held up with a support structure built by the teams.[6]

Kickoff

The Kickoff event was held on January 9, 2016.[9] The event was filmed at Searles Castle in Windham, New Hampshire and at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. The event was live-streamed on the Internet as well as being presented at regional kickoff events worldwide. The broadcast was built around a parody of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, reflecting the "storming the castle" theme of FIRST Stronghold.[10]

Field
The FIRST Stronghold field

The playing field is divided into red and blue alliance sections, separated by a neutral zone that contains boulders. Each section contains a courtyard, an area for opposing teams to shoot boulders at the castle goals, a "secret passage" that allows human players to feed boulders to their robots from the human player station, the "outer works", and the tower.[10]

Outer works

The outer works is the series of five defensive obstacles that divide the neutral zone from the alliance sections and span the field. Four of the five used obstacles are modular and can be moved, and certain obstacles may or may not be present during a match. Options for defensive obstacles include a cheval de frise, a "moat", ramparts, a drawbridge, a sally port, a portcullis, a rock wall, and "rough terrain". The defensive obstacle on the left of each outer works, the "low bar", is not movable. LED light strips at the base of each obstacle display current obstacle strength.[6][10]

Three defensive obstacles of the outer works in a particular match are determined by the teams playing the match and one obstacle is chosen by the audience.[11]

There are over 18,000 possible field configurations from the eight defensive options.[11]

After problems with robots and boulders getting stuck in the fabric on the low bar, FIRST made the decision to have it replaced with rubber flaps at some events (including the Championship).

Tower

The tower consists of five scoring goals, three scaling rungs, and a "batter". Three high goals are 7 feet 1 inch above the playing field, and two low goals are six inches above the playing field. Three rungs for robots to scale the tower are 6 feet 4 inches from the playing field. Colored LED light strips on the front of the tower display the current tower strength. The "batter" is a series of seven 60° ramps at the base of the tower directly in front of the low goals designed to make challenging and scaling the tower difficult. The tower has a health of 8 for regional and district play[6][10] and a health of 10 at the FIRST Championship.

FIRST Stronghold 2016 boulder

Boulders

Scoring elements are called boulders, grey foam balls that are 10 inches in diameter. There are 12 boulders present on the field at the beginning of a match and 18 total. Six boulders are staged evenly along the mid line of the field, and three boulders are at each human player station and one in each robot.[6]

Game play and scoring

Stronghold is a medieval tower defense game in which two alliances of up to three teams each compete to score points by breaching the opponent's outer works and capturing the opponent's tower. Before the match, teams and the audience select defenses to fortify the alliance's outer works.[6] Teams receive two ranking points in the competition standings for a win, and one ranking point for a tie.

Each match begins with a 15-second autonomous period where robots act on pre-programmed instructions. The match then transitions to a 2-minute and 15 second teleoperated (tele-op) period, where robots are driven by the drive teams.[6]

Autonomous (auto) period

Robots begin in the neutral zone with the ability to hold one boulder each. However, alliances may assign a "spy" robot to start in the opposing alliance's courtyard. Alliances earn 2 points for reaching the opposing alliance's outer works, and earn 10 points for crossing them. Any additional defenses a robot crosses in auto will not decrease a defense's strength, or give points to the alliance. Once across a defense, a robot in autonomous mode can score a high goal for 10 points or low goal for 5 points.[6][10]

Tele-operated (tele-op) period

Robots retrieve boulders from either their secret passage or the mid line, overcome opponent defenses, and score goals in their opponent's courtyard. Robots may transport only one boulder at a time. Each time a robot crosses an undamaged defense, they receive 5 points. Robots earn 5 points for scoring a high goal, and 2 points for a low goal. In the last 20 seconds of the match, robots race to the opposing alliance's tower to either park on the batter, earning them 5 points for a challenge, or hang from the tower's rungs, earning them 15 points for a scale.[6][10]

Special scoring
A robot getting ready to shoot a boulder into the high goal

There are opportunities to score additional points by completing certain tasks in FIRST Stronghold. This can be done through breaching and or capturing, and will award the alliance either ranking points in the qualification matches or regular points in the playoff matches.

Breach

Any time a robot successfully crosses one of the opponent's defenses (whether in autonomous or tele-op), that defense's strength is reduced by 1/2. The second time a robot crosses the defense, that defense's strength is reduced completely and is considered "damaged". Once four of the five defenses are damaged, the outer works are considered breached. A breach is awarded 1 ranking point in qualifications and 20 points in playoffs.[6][10]

Capture

As goals are scored in the opposing alliance's tower, the tower's strength will be lowered. After 8 goals (high or low), or 10 goals at the World Championships, the tower has no strength and is considered "weakened". Only a weakened tower can be captured. To capture a tower, all robots in the alliance must either drive onto the opposing team's batter, or scale the tower. Once the capture has been declared, the tower will turn to the capturing alliance's color, and their flag will be raised. For capturing, the alliance receives 1 ranking point in qualifications, and 25 points in the playoffs.[6][10]

Events

Week 0.5
EventDates
Palmetto RegionalFeb 24 – 27, 2016

[12]

Week 1
EventDates
Greater Toronto Central RegionalMar 2 – 5, 2016
San Diego RegionalMar 2 – 5, 2016
Lake Superior RegionalMar 2 – 5, 2016
Northern Lights RegionalMar 2 – 5, 2016
Kettering University District Event #1Mar 3 – 6, 2016
Southfield District EventMar 3 – 6, 2016
Standish-Sterling District EventMar 3 – 6, 2016
Waterford District EventMar 3 – 6, 2016
Auburn Mountainview District EventMar 3 – 6, 2016
West Valley District EventMar 3 – 6, 2016
Waterbury District EventMar 3 – 6, 2016
Guilford County District EventMar 4 – 6, 2016
Granite State District EventMar 4 – 6, 2016
Mt. Olive District EventMar 4 – 6, 2016
Hatboro-Horsham District EventMar 4 – 6, 2016
Northern Virginia District EventMar 4 – 6, 2016

Week 2
EventDates
Israel Regional Mar 8 – 10, 2016
Greater Toronto East RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Mexico City RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Arkansas Rock City RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Arizona North RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Los Angeles RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Orlando RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Greater Kansas City RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
St. Louis RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Greater Pittsburgh RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Alamo RegionalMar 9 – 12, 2016
Central Valley RegionalMar 10 – 13, 2016
New York City RegionalMar 10 – 13, 2016
Columbus District EventMar 10 – 12, 2016
Kettering University District Event #2Mar 10 – 12, 2016
Gull Lake District EventMar 10 – 12, 2016
St. Joseph District EventMar 10 – 12, 2016
Wilsonville District EventMar 10 – 12, 2016
Tippecanoe District EventMar 11 – 13, 2016
North Shore District EventMar 11 – 13, 2016
Worcester Polytechnic Institute District EventMar 11 – 13, 2016
Greater D.C. District EventMar 11 – 13, 2016
Wake County District EventMar 11 – 13, 2016
Southwest Virginia District EventMar 11 – 13, 2016
Glacier Peak District EventMar 11 – 13, 2016

Week 3
EventDates
Australia RegionalMar 16 – 19, 2016
Central Illinois RegionalMar 16 – 19, 2016
Bayou RegionalMar 16 – 19, 2016
New York Tech Valley RegionalMar 16 – 19, 2016
Buckeye RegionalMar 16 – 19, 2016
Utah RegionalMar 16 – 19, 2016
Albany District EventMar 17 – 19, 2016
Dalton District EventMar 17 – 19, 2016
Center Line District EventMar 17 – 19, 2016
Escanaba District EventMar 17 – 19, 2016
Midland District EventMar 17 – 19, 2016
Central Washington University District EventMar 17 – 19, 2016
Walker Warren District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016
UMass-Dartmouth District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016
Northern Maryland District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016
UNC Asheville District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016
Seneca District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016
Springside Chestnut Hill District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016
Hampton Roads District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016
Mount Vernon District EventMar 18 – 20, 2016

Week 4
EventDates
North Bay RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Rocket City RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Sacramento RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Ventura RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Colorado RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Iowa RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Finger Lakes RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Oklahoma RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Dallas RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Wisconsin RegionalMar 23 – 26, 2016
Perry Meridian District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
Central Maryland District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
West Michigan District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
Livonia District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
Maryville District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
Lansing District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
UNH District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
Philomath District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
Rhode Island District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016
Central Virginia District EventMar 24 – 26, 2016

Week 5
EventDates
Waterloo RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Montreal RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Orange County RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
South Florida RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Hawaii RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Idaho RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Midwest RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Las Vegas RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
SBPLI Long Island RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Queen City RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Smoky Mountains RegionalMar 30 – April 2, 2016
Hub City RegionalMar 31 – April 3, 2016
Howell District EventMar 31 – April 2, 2016
Lake Superior State University District EventMar 31 – April 2, 2016
East Kentwood District EventMar 31 – April 2, 2016
Troy District EventMar 31 – April 2, 2016
Clackamas Academy of Industrial Science
District Event		Mar 31 – April 2, 2016
Hartford District EventApr 1 – 3, 2016
Boston District EventApr 1 – 3, 2016
Campbell University/
Johnson Community College District Event		Apr 1 – 3, 2016
Bridgewater-RaritanDistrict EventApr 1 – 3, 2016
Westtown District EventApr 1 – 3, 2016
Auburn District EventApr 1 – 3, 2016
Western Canada RegionalApr 3 – 6, 2016

Week 6
EventDates
Windsor Essex Great Lakes RegionalApr 6 – 9, 2016
Arizona West RegionalApr 6 – 9, 2016
Silicon Valley RegionalApr 6 – 9, 2016
Minnesota 10000 Lakes RegionalApr 6 – 9, 2016
Minnesota North Star RegionalApr 6 – 9, 2016
Lone Star RegionalApr 6 – 9, 2016
FIRST Chesapeake District ChampionshipApr 6 – 9, 2016
Pacific Northwest District ChampionshipApr 6 – 9, 2016
Pine Tree District EventApr 7 – 9, 2016
Woodhaven District EventApr 7 – 9, 2016
Traverse City District EventApr 7 – 9, 2016
NC FIRST Robotics State ChampionshipApr 8 – 10, 2016
Kennesaw District EventApr 8 – 10, 2016
Montgomery District EventApr 8 – 10, 2016

Week 7
EventDates
New England District ChampionshipApr 13 – 16, 2016
Indiana State ChampionshipApr 13 – 16, 2016
Michigan State ChampionshipApr 13 – 16, 2016
Mid-Atlantic Robotics District ChampionshipApr 13 – 16, 2016
Peachtree District State ChampionshipApr 14 – 17, 2016

World Championship
EventLocationDates
FIRST Robotics World ChampionshipSt. Louis, MissouriApr 27 – 30, 2016

[2]

gollark: You can put them in the... head slot?
gollark: Routing should be fine since skynet is broadcast-only.
gollark: Yes, exactly.
gollark: Basically just anyone who wants to run one, I guess.
gollark: Operators meaning?

References
  1. "2016 Season Facts" (PDF). FIRST. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  2. "Regional and District Events". usfirst.org. US FIRST. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  3. @FRCTeams (April 30, 2016). "Congratulations to @987highrollers on the 2016 Chairman's Award! You make us proud! #omgrobots #FIRSTChamp" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. "2016 Einstein Field". The Blue Alliance. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  5. "Welcome to FIRST Stronghold". usfirst.org. US FIRST. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  6. "FIRST STRONGHOLD Game Manual" (PDF). FIRST Robotics Competition. For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.
  7. Merrick, Frank. "The Teaser is Coming!". usfirst.org. US FIRST. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
  8. 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff Broadcast. For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. 2016. Event occurs at 28:50. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  9. "Details of FIRST STRONGHOLD 2016 Robotics Game Revealed | FIRST". www.firstinspires.org. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  10. "2016 FIRST Robotics Competition Kickoff Broadcast". YouTube. FRCTeamsGlobal. January 9, 2016.
  11. "One Page Game Description" (PDF). FIRST STRONGHOLD. For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. January 9, 2015.
  12. Merrick, Frank. "The Palmetto Regional". usfirst.org. US FIRST. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
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