Bowled Over!
Bowled Over!, released on 10 September 2011, is the 2011–12 robotics competition for FIRST Tech Challenge. Two alliances compete to score racquetballs into alliance-colored scoring goals. The name refers to two bowling balls on the field used for scoring points.
Alliances
In each match, the four teams competing are organized into red and blue alliances. The members of an alliance compete together to earn points.Field
The field the robots play on is 12 ft by 12 ft in a diamond orientation with respect to the audience. In opposite corners are ramps up to flat platforms on which robots start each match, colored for each alliance. On each platform is a home zone goal into which a bowling ball fits. In the corners without the platforms are the front and back parking zones. The two parking lot corners contain infrared beacons, which may guide the robots during the autonomous period. Between each home zone and the front parking zone is a protected area for each alliance.Near the center of the field are 12 inverted ball crates that hold four containers of racquetballs. There are 100 racquetballs, 12 of which contain a magnet. There are also two bowling balls, one of each color, near the field's center.
One highly effective method of scoring involved scissor lifts. As there was no upper-end cap on the crate stacking bonus several teams built 10–18-foot scissor lifts that would lift a crate, scoring 200–400 points. This score was virtually impossible to beat without the use of another scissor lift.
Scoring
Autonomous period
The first thirty seconds of play is the autonomous period, in which the robot acts autonomously. Points can be earned in this period in the following ways:| Method | Points |
| Uprighting a ball crate | 5 points each |
| Parking a robot | 5 points each |
| Parking a robot | 10 points each |
| Parking a bowling ball | 10 points each |
| Parking a bowling ball | 20 points each |
Driver-controlled period
The Driver-controlled period is a 2-minute period following the autonomous period in which the robot is controlled by human drivers. Points can be earned in the driver-controlled period in the following ways:| Method | Points |
| Regular or magnet ball in protected area | 1-point each |
| Regular or magnet ball in ball crate | 2 points each |
| Magnet ball in off-field goal | 25 points each |
| Crate stacking bonus | 10 points for every 6 inches above 10.5 inches from the ground |
End game
The last thirty seconds of the driver-controlled period is called the End Game. Additional points can be earned in this period if an alliance can push their bowling ball into their home zone.| Method | Points |
| Bowling ball in home zone goal | 30 points |
| Bowling ball in home zone platform, but not in goal | 20 points |