RoboTag

Rules for RoboTag

Mission Objectives

For a tagger, the mission is to detect and touch a moving target (taggee) in a ring.
For a taggee, the mission is to detect and escape from a moving opponent (tagger).

Game Rules

Tournament selection method will be used. There may be a benchmark test for each team before making the tournamnet table.
The referee will decide who will be the tagger first. The tagger must put a "tagger" flag on the robot as shown in Fig. 3. The flag will be given by the referee.
Two robots run around a playing field. One robot (tagger) is to tag; another robot (taggee) is to run away. Each robot is supposed to put a lamp light powered by an independent battery on the top of the robot. Details about how to make a lamp are shown in a section below.
In the beginning of the game, the tagger must face the opposite direction of the taggee as shown in Fig. 2 and 3.
The roles will be reversed, if one of the following conditions are met:
- A robot tags the other, or
- A robot drops the lamp light as a result of breaking apart, or
- 3 minutes expire
The tag can be accomplished in any direction, which means either forward or backward.
A referee decides if a robot tags the other.
Rules for just Senior Division: Light intensity in the gym may be varying during the game. Your robot should be adaptable.
Tie breaking rule: First, time taken to tag is considered. If no robot was successful in tagging, then a rematch will be done.

(Fig. 1) Initial position

(Fig. 2) Initial position and how to build the playing field

(Fig. 3) Tagger's initial position

Constructing and Programming

Light sensor(s) can be used for locating the opponent with the bright lamp light.
The width and length of the robot should be less than 11 inches including any extensions such as antennae, arms, bumpers and etc. through out the game.
The lamp light must be made of the following as shown in Fig. 4 and 5:
- Battery holder by lego blocks
- One 9 volt battery. RadioShack's batteries are recommended, because some are thicker than others.
- A 9 volt battery snap connector. You can purchase this at RadioShack's.
- A threaded base lamp holder with mounting bracket and solder tabs. You can purchase this at RadioShack's.
- Screw-base lamps. You can purchase this at RadioShack's. Specification of this lamp will be announced soon.
The lamp bulb must be located at the center of the robot. The height of the bulb from the ground to the top of the bulb must be between 7" and 8". The threaded base lamp holder should not be blocked by any other robot parts as shown in Fig 6.
Each robot must use two different programs.
You may also implement a proximity sensor using infrared signal and NQC, Visual Basic with Spirit.ocx or LegOS/C. However, you may use RCX code, too.

(Fig. 4) Battery holder, battery, battery snap connector, threaded base lamp holder and lamp

(Fig. 5) The lamp set

(Fig. 6) The height of the lamp

Constructing Playing Field

As shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the RoboTag square ring is made of four 2x4 studs. The length of the stud is between 36" and 42". Notice that the size of the ring is unknown.
Two 2x4x7 studs are enough to build a ring.
The ground material and color of the ring is unknown.

Acknowledgement

A similar experiment but using random strategy was done by Matthew Miller. For more information please visit at mattdm.org/mindstorms/robotag.shtml. Rory Savageau at Lawrence Technological University/Veraldi Center for Educational Technology suggested this idea in September, 1999, and Dr. Chan-Jin Chung implemented the idea as a head-to-head game for Lego MindStorms robots in December, 1999. Stay tuned for next year's Robo Firefighter Tag! The tagger is armed with a motorized fan to extinguish a candle light on the taggee!