RoboTennis – Single Match
Game abstract
To push (ping) the ball to the other side of the court
within 10 seconds
Objectives
To demonstrate an autonomous robot capable of tracking, following, pushing a ball while keeping track of its location and orientation. Also it is required to recognize and keep track of the opponent robot and its location for winning game strategies.
Robot qualification
The robot must fit inside a box of dimensions: width 16” and length 16” (No height limitation). During the game, the robot may not extend its dimensions. The robot may use any number of sensors, cameras, and motors. It must use only one latoptop (notebook) computer for the main control as well as vision processing. It may use peripheral micro-controllers.
Each robot must wear four green letter size (8.5”x11”) papers. Each paper must be posted on four sides of the robot 8.5” above the floor.
How to start a Match
A referee tosses a coin. Each robot must tell either head or tail by a program. Then the referee shows the coin. The player winning the toss may choose the ball to serve or the court to start.
Service
First, the receiver robot must be located anywhere in its courts. Then the server robot is located while touching the service wall. When a referee gives the service signal after locating the ball at the center of the server’s court, the human players must start their robots in order to push (ping) the ball to the other side. After the referee’s signal, no human player can touch the robot until either robot scores a point.
Scoring a point
When the server gets a point:
- Service is not done, but the receiver violates the net-line.
- The receiver could not push back (pong) the ball within 10 seconds to the server’s court
When the receiver gets a point:
- Regardless of the service, the server violates the net-line.
- The server could not push (ping) the ball within 10 seconds to the receiver court
Change of Service
The service is alternated after each point until the end of the match.
Change of Court
The court will be changed after each set
How to win a Match
To win two sets first.
How to win a Set
A player wins a set if it gets four points for the first time. No deuce.
Tennis Court
The dimension is 6’x12’ surrounded by walls made of pinewood of which the height is 4”. These wall be can be detected by the robotic tactile and/or ranging sensors. Two net-lines are taped in the middle of the court to represent the tennis net. The distance between two lines is one foot. The width of the line (white duct tape) is about 2”. The surface of the court should be evenly colored and minimally reflective. Color of floor will be dark. The color of the wall is bright, since it is made of pinewood.
Ball
Diameter is 12” and the color is red.
Exceptional Cases
- If the ball goes out of the court, the robot of the court is the loser. If the ball goes out of the court from the center zone, then service will be redone.
- If the robot goes beyond the net-line, the human player and/or the referee must pick up the robot as quickly as possible to prevent from the physical contact between two robots.
- If no robot scores after ten ping-pongs, then the time limit to return is reduced by 1 second gradually
