|
2015 Game Teaser - Pay Dirt |
Pay Dirt 2015 Game Animation |
|
The 2015 BEST game, Pay Dirt, is focused on the process of mining. The general premise of the game is that the robot must enter into an abandoned mine shaft that has been purchased by BEST Inc., and is far too dangerous for human interaction. The air filtration system has failed and needs to be replaced by a non-human entity in order to ensure safety. While the robots are in the mine shaft, they can also collect ores: limestone, coal, iron, aluminum, copper, and lithium. The core samples can be sold in the current market or used for further research. As a result of the potential “gold mine”, BEST Inc. has released a request for proposal to prototype a robot capable of completing all of the above mentioned goals.
The first objective of the competition is to repair the broken structures in the mine. There are two structures that the robot has the option or repairing: the broken air filtration system and broken pipes. The broken air filtration system will be repaired by replacing the air filter. In the game, the air filter is represented by a piece of foam board that must be inserted into a predetermined slot. The second potential repair is a set of broken pipes. This task is completed by placing a PVC fitting onto a set of two pipes sticking up from the ground. All of the pieces used to repair the broken structures are located just outside the robot starting box (RSB) at the ground level of the mine.
The second game objective is to extract materials from the mine. There are 7 potential materials that can be extracted from the abandoned mine: Aggregate (limestone), Coal, Magnetite (Iron Ore), Bauxite (Aluminum Ore), Chalcopyrite (Copper Ore), Spodumene (Lithium Crystals), and core samples. No one material is of any more urgency than the other in terms of collection order. However, the materials each have varying point values. With the exception of Aggregate and Core Samples, the collectable materials will undergo a market shift on a few occasions during the tournament.
The field is divided into 3 sublevels and a ground level zone. The robot begins its journey into the mine from the ground level. There is a specific place in the ground level, the robot starting box, in which the robot begins the journey. At the ground level, spare parts to repair the broken pipe and air filter are located in a spare parts rack. In the first sublevel, coalcan be obtained by pushing a wooden lever and collapsing the coal chute. This allows the coal to fall to the ground and become available for collection. Also in the first sublevel, the magnetite source is represented as a PVC pipe attached to a horizontal lever that when tipped, dumps the iron ore (gold balls) into the playing field for collection. If the team so wishes, the air filtration system is located in sublevel one to fix. In sublevel two, the bauxite source is represented as a platform with a shelf cut from its under side. The aluminum ore (aluminum foil balls) can be obtained by scooping underneath the platform. There is also the source of chalcopyrite in the second sublevel. This is represented as a wooden box in the shape of a mine cart. This ore can be scored in one of many ways: drag it back to the RSB, tip it over and collect its contents, or dump its contents into the appropriate scoring bin in the ground level. The broken pipe is also located in sublevel two. The piece needed to repair the pipe is located at the ground level on the spare parts rack. Sublevel three is a community accessible location. All four robots on the game field has access to a single sublevel three. In this sublevel, spodumene crystals are located on a vertical piece of wood. There are 8 pieces on the pole, but any one robot may collect all 8 if it is the first to retrieve them. There are also core samples located here. Three varying lengths of PVC pipe represent the core samples and ar each worth different amounts of points. There is a return box for each team’s sublevel two entry way. If an opposing robot blocks the return box and prevents another team’s reentry into its own space, a penalty may be assessed to the offending team. The final scorable object is aggregate. This is located in the tunnel leading from ground level to the first sublevel. These objects can be toppled and returned to the scoring bins to be utilized for points.
The market shift will happen following the seeding rounds. This is when the point values of the scorable objects will change as a result of supply and demand. The most frequently scored objects will reduce in value, while the most elusive objects will raise in value. Teams must reassess their offensive strategies following the market shift in order to maximize scoring. A second market shift will occur following the end of the semifinal rounds. This will be the final market shift of the tournament. Market values are determined using scores from rounds of current action. Point values for the semifinal rounds are determined by the scores of the seeding rounds, and point values in the finals are determined by the points scored in the semifinals.
The first objective of the competition is to repair the broken structures in the mine. There are two structures that the robot has the option or repairing: the broken air filtration system and broken pipes. The broken air filtration system will be repaired by replacing the air filter. In the game, the air filter is represented by a piece of foam board that must be inserted into a predetermined slot. The second potential repair is a set of broken pipes. This task is completed by placing a PVC fitting onto a set of two pipes sticking up from the ground. All of the pieces used to repair the broken structures are located just outside the robot starting box (RSB) at the ground level of the mine.
The second game objective is to extract materials from the mine. There are 7 potential materials that can be extracted from the abandoned mine: Aggregate (limestone), Coal, Magnetite (Iron Ore), Bauxite (Aluminum Ore), Chalcopyrite (Copper Ore), Spodumene (Lithium Crystals), and core samples. No one material is of any more urgency than the other in terms of collection order. However, the materials each have varying point values. With the exception of Aggregate and Core Samples, the collectable materials will undergo a market shift on a few occasions during the tournament.
The field is divided into 3 sublevels and a ground level zone. The robot begins its journey into the mine from the ground level. There is a specific place in the ground level, the robot starting box, in which the robot begins the journey. At the ground level, spare parts to repair the broken pipe and air filter are located in a spare parts rack. In the first sublevel, coalcan be obtained by pushing a wooden lever and collapsing the coal chute. This allows the coal to fall to the ground and become available for collection. Also in the first sublevel, the magnetite source is represented as a PVC pipe attached to a horizontal lever that when tipped, dumps the iron ore (gold balls) into the playing field for collection. If the team so wishes, the air filtration system is located in sublevel one to fix. In sublevel two, the bauxite source is represented as a platform with a shelf cut from its under side. The aluminum ore (aluminum foil balls) can be obtained by scooping underneath the platform. There is also the source of chalcopyrite in the second sublevel. This is represented as a wooden box in the shape of a mine cart. This ore can be scored in one of many ways: drag it back to the RSB, tip it over and collect its contents, or dump its contents into the appropriate scoring bin in the ground level. The broken pipe is also located in sublevel two. The piece needed to repair the pipe is located at the ground level on the spare parts rack. Sublevel three is a community accessible location. All four robots on the game field has access to a single sublevel three. In this sublevel, spodumene crystals are located on a vertical piece of wood. There are 8 pieces on the pole, but any one robot may collect all 8 if it is the first to retrieve them. There are also core samples located here. Three varying lengths of PVC pipe represent the core samples and ar each worth different amounts of points. There is a return box for each team’s sublevel two entry way. If an opposing robot blocks the return box and prevents another team’s reentry into its own space, a penalty may be assessed to the offending team. The final scorable object is aggregate. This is located in the tunnel leading from ground level to the first sublevel. These objects can be toppled and returned to the scoring bins to be utilized for points.
The market shift will happen following the seeding rounds. This is when the point values of the scorable objects will change as a result of supply and demand. The most frequently scored objects will reduce in value, while the most elusive objects will raise in value. Teams must reassess their offensive strategies following the market shift in order to maximize scoring. A second market shift will occur following the end of the semifinal rounds. This will be the final market shift of the tournament. Market values are determined using scores from rounds of current action. Point values for the semifinal rounds are determined by the scores of the seeding rounds, and point values in the finals are determined by the points scored in the semifinals.