About FIRST Overdrive 2008
This year's game is played on a track. There are two alliances of three robots each competing against each other. Each alliance has two 40 inch, 10 pound balls to carry around the track. The balls start randomly placed on a 78 inch tall hurdle spanning the width of the track. The robots are only allowed to move counterclockwise around the track. Points are awarded when robots and trackballs move around the course. There is a fifteen second hybrid mode in which the robot can only be controlled with a remote control with 4 buttons. During this period, each time a robot crosses a line marker or finish line it gains 4 points for its alliance. Also during this period, each ball which is removed from the hurdle gains its alliance 8 points. Following the hybrid mode there is a two minute teleoperated period in which the operating console may be used to control the robot. In this period, whenever a robot crosses its finish line it gains 2 points. Also, when a ball is pushed across its finish line not in contact with a robot of its alliance it gains 2 points. If a ball goes over the hurdle the ball gains 8 points for that alliance. At the end of this period there is a 12 point bonus for each ball replaced on to a hurdle.