The planning committee has been working very hard to make this competition an exciting and rewarding event for you.
We are very grateful for the support that FIRST continues to generously provide for this regional.They have given their time, advice and some experienced personnel to guarantee our success.NASA needs to be recognized for their contributions of both financial resources and manpower to bring the FIRST opportunity to our regional.A big thanks needs to go to the enthusiastic people from our support organization BLaST, Inc. (Building Louisiana’s Science and Technology).BLaST, Inc. has provided the manpower for our planning committee.Included on the BLaST, Inc. board are representatives from:
ASME - New Orleans Chapter
The Bruce J. Heim Foundation
Intralox, Inc.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems - New Orleans
New Orleans Public Schools
StennisSpaceCenter
TulaneUniversity
University of New Orleans
Finally, our biggest thank you goes to the mentors, coaches, teachers, and students for being here.We appreciate everyone’s tremendous commitment!
Each year, students, educators, and corporate volunteers, eagerly await the January kickoff to learn what the annual game and its rules will entail.Today marks the culmination of your dedication and hard work in meeting the 2010 FIRST challenge.Here on the arena floor, you will test your design, strategy, and fabrication skills against many worthy opponents.In the spirit of gracious professionalism, these opponents will become your friends and colleagues – perhaps for years to come.We hope that you take full advantage of the opportunity to lean from what other teams might have to offer.
On behalf of the Bayou Regional planning committee and all the sponsors and partners who join us this year, we wish you much success.
Let the games begin and thank you for being an essential part of the experience.
Barbara Pailet
Bayou Regional Planning Committee Chairperson
Breakaway Explained
Breakaway
is a game played on the FIELD (illustrated in the figure below). Two ALLIANCES, one red and one blue, composed of three FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams each, compete in each MATCH. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent by shooting BALLS into a GOAL, climbing on the ALLIANCE TOWER or PLATFORM, or by lifting an ALLIANCE ROBOT off the PLAYING SURFACE.
A MATCH is 2 minutes and 15 seconds long. An AUTONOMOUS PERIOD starts each MATCH during which the ROBOTS are controlled by pre-programmed instructions. The AUTONOMOUS PERIOD is followed by the TELEOPERATED PERIOD during which the DRIVERS assume control of the robot. The ROBOTS continue to play the game until the TELEOPERATED PERIOD is over.
ALLIANCE scores are determined by a combination of the number of BALLS SCORED in the ALLIANCE GOALS during the MATCH and the number or ROBOTS in the following states at the conclusion of the MATCH, where:
a. Each SCORED BALL is worth 1 point, and
b. Each ELEVATED ROBOT is awarded 2 points, or each SUSPENDED ROBOT is awarded 3 points.
Prior to the MATCH, all members of the TEAM must be standing behind the STARTING LINE and facing their Players Station.
Prior to the MATCH, each TEAM negotiates within their ALLIANCE to select one of the three starting areas for their ALLIANCE.
When the FIELD is viewed from the ALLIANCE STATION, the ROBOTS must be placed on the right side of the CENTER LINE in one of the following starting positions:
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In the far ZONE and in contact with the ALLIANCE STATION WALL and/or ramp.
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In the MIDFIELD and in contact with the farthest BUMP.
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In the near ZONE and in contact with the nearest BUMP.
Prior to the MATCH, each ALLIANCE is provided with six BALLS to be placed on the FIELD. The BALLS must be placed on a STARTING GRID location prior to the MATCH start. When the FIELD is viewed from the ALLIANCE STATION, the BALLS must be placed on the right side of the CENTER LINE, with one BALL in the near ZONE, two BALLS in the MIDFIELD, and three BALLS in the far ZONE. The BALLS must not be in contact with a ROBOT at the start of the MATCH.
