What's up, everybody?
My name is Grant Cox, and I am the Chairman
of the VEX Robotics Game Design Committee.
I'm standing here with the game for 2023-2024, VRC Over Under.
We're going to take a closer look at some of the field
elements, the game elements, answer
some of the questions that you might have
as you explore this new game.
We are releasing these videos
pretty much as the new game gets released.
We release a series of updates
to the manual throughout the season,
so if anything changes over the course of the season
that isn't consistent with something you see in this video,
just remember the current version of the Game
Manual always takes precedent
over all other support materials.
So let's get started.
First up, let's take a look at these game objects.
They are called Triballs.
They are kind of a weird shape.
This shape is referred to as a Reuleaux triangle
or a Reuleaux tetrahedron.
They are hard plastic, hollow, pretty lightweight,
lighter than they look.
Should be an interesting
challenge for robots to manipulate.
They have some interesting properties
in the ways that they roll.
Even though a robot would
probably manipulate it somewhat similarly
to the way you would manipulate a ball,
they do roll in kind of unexpected ways.
It kind of warbles around.
It's also very unpredictable,
if you toss them or launch
them, how they will react, It’s kind of like
an American football in that manner.
It might shift off to the side, might bounce.
So teams will have to
definitely work on the best way to prototype
that and figure out the best ways to play.
As with all games, the Triballs do start in
predetermined places on the field.
Rotation of those Triballs
is not specified, so it doesn't matter
if it's rotated slightly off to the side or not.
We do have red and green Triballs in the same game here.
Red-Green Color
Blindness is a common form of
color blindness that is found out there.
So one of the things that we are recommending:
if Event Partners choose to do so, they can actually place dots
or Sharpie in the corners of the red Triballs
to help differentiate red from green.
We'll release more information about this in an actual Game
Manual update later on in the season,
but just wanted to give you a heads up on that.
One of the things that's pretty unique
about Over Under is how many Match Loads there are.
You get to Match Load
more game objects than start on the field.
So, objects that are Match Loaded have to follow the rules
in . It's pretty straightforward.
Basically just means place the Match
Load into the Match Load Zone.
Don't throw it.
Don't try and bounce pass it.
One interesting note, and again, this is found in ,
the definition of Match Load Zone
refers specifically to the gray
foam tile (the portion of the gray foam
tile that's contained in this corner here).
So it is perfectly legal
to place multiple objects in the Match Load Zone,
as long as they all
satisfy that definition of being in the Match Load Zone
or contacting the gray foam tile.
So what that means is
you can keep loading up the foam tile with as many as you want
until you reach a point where it can't go, can't
touch the foam tile anymore.
Next up, let's take a look at the field
element that really makes this game possible: the Goals.
So obviously, there's one goal on each
side of the field, one red and one blue.
The goals are made of mostly PVC
structure with, you know, this netted portion on the top.
One thing that was a really common question
when the game came out was how do the Triballs
actually interact with the goal?
How do you get them into the goal?
Yes, the Triball is slightly higher, slightly larger
diameter than the distance from the goal to the foam tile.
So you do have to actually shove it under the goal slightly
in order to score it.
Simply tossing the Triball from afar or trying to like
get it in that way usually won't work.
You're going to need to be pretty much on top of the goal
in order to shove it in.
We've done
a significant amount of testing with these goals, using super
heavyweight robots and robots
smashing into them a thousand times and whatnot.
Yes, it is thin PVC, but it should withstand
most wear and tear during a normal season.
The one piece of advice
we would have about
storing these goals
or transporting them from event to event:
if they're going to be stored in a hot car
or a, you know, warehouse or closet or something,
just make sure that nothing heavy
is like pressing down on them or, you know, that
there's no chance of them sagging or anything like that.
Another interesting thing about, feature
about these goals: you saw me do it
a couple of times there just previously.
At the end of the match,
once you have
objects inside the goal, and it's time for field reset,
the goal does actually lift up from the side of the field.
So field resetters
or referees can reach in and remove the objects.
Of course, states that you're not allowed
to do that during a match.
So, yes, even though technically you can try and sneak
a Triball in through the side, just don't even try it.
It won't be legal during gameplay.
If you think you found a way
to do it, we’ll probably make it not legal.
Another really common question with this game
is, “Hey, this net looks like a big springboard.
What happens if objects land on top of the net?”
Well, in most cases
they're going to bounce back off,
or in most cases they're going to land and maybe roll off.
If you do end up in a situation where a Triball comes to rest
on top of a goal or on top of the net during a match,
then the note in states that the Alliance
who is lined up where I'm standing right now--
so in this case, it would be the Red Alliance--
they are able to reach in,
take it, and then use it as a normal Match Load.
So don't recommend if you're the Blue Alliance,
you know,
getting too many Triballs stuck up on top of there
because you're essentially giving them to your opponent.
One other quick note about storage and transport.
The goal can be kept
mostly intact for storage or for tear down and storage.
What we recommend is basically removing it
from the wall here,
removing it from the steel plates underneath,
and then you'll be able to essentially
fold the netted portion in line with these PVC pipes.
You can zip tie it together,
and you kind of get this nice L-shaped structure.
The two nets can then sandwich together,
and you're good to go for storage.
The most critical element, of course, is,
“What is considered scored in the goal?”
Your most basic definition:
if the Triball is in the goal, obviously that counts as scored.
For edge case scenarios, such as where the Triball is
right up against the lip of it
at the end of a match or just barely,
you know, stuck under the PVC pipe:
the rules state that the way to identify scored versus
not scored is to check the corners of the Triball.
In order to be considered scored, you need a minimum of
two corners inside the goal structure.
So, for example, right here, not scored, not scored...
Now, at this point,
even though the Triball is mostly outside of the goal,
or it appears mostly outside of the goal,
I can tell from looking straight down on it,
which is what a head referee will do,
that these bottom two corners are actually inside the goal,
within the vertical plane of the outside of the goal.
So this Triball right now is considered scored.
Similarly, as soon as you basically
are able to get that moment
of shoving the top corner underneath the edge of the PVC,
it's pretty
much always going to be considered scored,
no matter how the rotation ends up.
So the best way to ensure
that your objects can't accidentally be descored
or anything of that nature is to make sure you get that actual
shove under the PVC pipe.
Of course, everyone's favorite part of Over Under,
myself included:
the field includes this huge PVC barrier
all the way across the whole field.
The barrier is made of two-inch PVC, two-inch nominal PVC.
It's pretty straightforward to assemble.
It's just these screws that go straight
through the pipes
into our plastic connectors all the way around.
Quick note on assembly and tear down of the barrier.
The instructions
essentially has you build the barrier
in two halves and then bring it together
in the middle of the field, on the field.
For tearing it down,
you're going to want to do the same thing.
You're going to want to disassemble
the center point first and then take it apart
and then go from there.
If you try to lift up the whole barrier
while it's still attached, that center connector
might not make the journey with you.
Another point about assembling the barrier to the field
or connecting the barrier to field,
there are two sets of instructions
for both the goals and the barriers, depending on
whether you're using the old metal field perimeters
or the new portable field perimeters.
Obviously, we have the portable field perimeter here.
The instructions are mostly the same.
The only difference is that some of the hardware,
some of the screws that go through
the sides of the field, are slightly different lengths.
So make sure you're using the correct instructions.
The only other note, if you are using
the portable field perimeter, getting your GPS
strip lined up in the correct orientation is absolutely key.
this PVC is obviously held down to the floor
through these multiple steel plates underneath.
It does have this yellow cap at the top of it.
As you've all seen in the rules by this point
hopefully, elevations do not count
if you're touching the yellow cap.
This yellow cap can come off, so head
referees or field resetters,
just make sure that that is secured
after every match, especially after a match
that maybe has a particularly intense elevation process.
Elevations are measured using the measuring stick.
Every field kit comes with one of these measuring sticks,
and it's a pretty simple piece of PVC.
The exact dimensions for the gradients
are located in Appendix A, if you for some reason
need to make your own or you lose yours or something.
Measuring robots is pretty simple.
You place the measuring stick on the field
and visually check
where the lowest point of the robot
reaches on the measuring stick.
A couple interesting things to note on the measuring stick.
Elevation Tier A does go about a finger's width
above the black barrier.
So if your robot is able to rest on the black barrier,
that will get credit for being in Elevation Tier A.
The other one to note is the difference between D and E.
This marker between D and E
is a little bit above the horizontal Elevation Bar.
So, that means that in order to reach Tier E,
you need to prove that no part of your robot
is touching the horizontal Elevation Bar.
I hope you enjoyed this opportunity
to take a closer look at the VRC Over Under field.
I cannot wait to see
what you all come up with to play this game.
So, if you have further questions
about the game or something we might have gotten wrong
in the initial version of the manual,
be sure to log
into robotevents.com with your team account
and post on the official Q&A there.
That's about all I got.
So good luck and have a great season!