[Discussion 2024] Fitness Test

Rules and Roadmap
1

It was proposed to replace the robot inspection with a series of fitness tests. These fitness tests would be simple challenges that test the physical capabilities of the robots and their fitness for the competition. As they would replace the robot inspection they must also include the dimension requirements checks.

Purpose

Adding these fitness challenges would help resolve several issues currently facing the league:

  • They would provide a clear year-to-year comparison of the physical capabilities of the robots and the improvements in the league.
  • They would provide a way to seed the competition such that the teams that are best demonstrating soccer-playing skills are better seeded.
  • They allow for “challenges” that are not complex enough to be a technical challenge but are still areas of interest for the league.
  • They would allow an early testbed for future rule changes without preventing current teams from participating.
    • For example, adding a get-up time fitness test would encourage adult-size teams to add this functionality without excluding them from the competition.

Procedure

During the robot inspection time, teams will instead complete a series of fitness tests.
Each of the fitness tests may have a minimum requirement to participate in the main tournament.
Initially, these minimum requirements should be set generously to determine a baseline for the league.
Additionally, some of the fitness tests should have no minimum requirements to encourage participation without excluding teams.

For example, for kid size, the get-up time fitness test may have a minimum requirement of 1 minute, but for adult size, the get-up time fitness test may have no minimum requirement initially.
However once a baseline is established that adult size robots must get up a requirement can be added.

Once these fitness tests are completed, the teams can be ranked in each test based on their performance.
Points can be awarded for each test based on the ranking.
These points along with ranking in the drop in games can be used to seed the tournament.

Note that some of the tests such as making sure the robot conforms to the size requirements will not have a score and ranking associated with them.

Possible Fitness Tests

  • Movement speed:
    • The robot moves from a starting line on the field to a finish line.
    • The time taken to move the distance is measured.
    • If the robot falls over, it must get up and continue.
    • OR
    • If the robot falls over, the time and distance before the fall is recorded and used as the speed.
      • The robot must pass some minimum distance to be considered a valid attempt.
  • Kick distance:
    • The robot must kick the ball as far as possible.
    • The distance the ball travels is measured.
  • Kick accuracy:
    • The team must select a location on the field to kick the ball to.
      • This distance must be at least 1m from the robot.
    • The robot must kick the ball to that location.
    • The distance from the target is measured.
    • The distance from the target is divided by the distance of the kick to give a normalized score.
  • Get-up time:
    • The following is repeated for the robot when placed face down and face up:
      • The robot is placed on the ground.
      • The timer starts when the robot is told to get up.
      • The timer stops once the robot is in a stable upright position.
    • The time taken for both getups is and added together for the final score.
  • Ball detection distance:
    • The robot is placed on the field.
    • The referee places a ball on the field.
    • The robot reports the location of the ball using the Team Communication Protocol.
    • If the robot reports the location of the ball within an acceptable tolerance, the distance from the robot to the ball is recorded.
    • The detection must be repeated three times for the same distance at different locations on the field to count as a valid attempt.
  • Ready placement accuracy:
    • The robot is placed on a random side of the field at the penalty line.
    • The game controller goes to the ready state.
    • The robot must move to the kick-off position.
    • The distance from the robot to the kick-off position is measured at the end of the ready state.
  • Unstable terrain walking:
    • Artificial turf is laid over a box with a depth of dry sand.
    • The robot must walk across the turf to the other side.
    • The time taken to cross the turf is measured.