Servo - September 2007

BASHBALL!

UPCOMING EVENTS

South Carolina State Fair, October 10-21, 2007. BotBash and Mechwars Robot Combat will be presenting five shows a day in the MARCA at the fair. The balance of the time is available for BashBall teams to come test their mettle. For further information, contact info@botbash.com

The Botbash team is working on an event schedule for 2008, and will be making announcements as the dates are finalized.

jets, and “death blossom” pneumatic rams that pop up from the floor.

need to change the game. BashBall is a new game combining elements of robot fighting, an exciting and dynamic playing field, and strategic team play in a fast-paced, fun ball game. Robots can and will be damaged or disabled on the playing field, but the game is not about damage, it’s about scoring points.

Earlier, experimental versions of BashBall were played at Botbash events in 2002, 2003, and 2004. The current version draws on lessons learned at those events. Video of the 2004 version of the game is available on You Tube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJCAZ Cx_iKw. Additional videos can be found at the Botbash Channel at www.youtube.com/botbash.

BashBall 2007

The Arena

BashBall is played in the Mobile

Automated Robot Combat Arena (MARCA). First introduced in 2002, the MARCA was designed to support new forms of extreme robotic sports and be highly mobile. The MARCA provides a completely self-contained mobile arena; mounted on a trailer, the 30’ by 16’ playing surface has hydraulically operated “wings” that fold up for travel. The outer arena screens hang from a track for use and fit between the folded floor sections for travel.

The arena consists of a 16’ x 30’ flat playing surface with a goal opening at each end. The arena is surrounded by rails, above which are angled sections of metal mesh which allow the ball to roll back onto the playing surface.

The arena is equipped with several obstacles: a gap in the rail through which robots can be ejected, pneumatically operated pits, a pendulum “ sweeper” wielding a spinning metal bar, flame

The Game

The object of the game is to accumulate the highest possible score during regulation play. In the case of a tie, a “sudden death” overtime period will be played with the first team to score winning the match.

The game is played in four quarters of five minutes each; with a 10 minute break between quarters and a five-minute Sudden Death overtime, if necessary.

The game begins with each team’s robots positioned behind the starting line at their respective ends of the arena. Play is started with the ball in the ceiling-mounted center-court Tee. The ball is released onto the arena floor when a robot hits a release bar projecting from the bottom of the Tee.