2014-2015: Cascade Effect

Cascade Effect is played on a 3.66 m x 3.66 m (12’x12’) square Field with approximately 30.5 cm (1’)- high walls and a soft foam mat playing surface. Two randomly selected teams are paired together as an alliance to play a match against a second alliance. Alliances are designated as either “red” or “blue.”

Scoring Elements are 160 white plastic balls - large (40) and small (120). In the middle of the field is the center field structure which contains two ball dispensers with trap doors held in place by alliance-specific kickstands. There are also two center goals - one red and one blue - with infrared beacons placed beneath each goal. The field has six alliance-specific rolling goals with clear ball tubes of various heights (30 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm) as well as two alliance-specific ramps, platforms, and parking zones.

The match starts with a 30-second autonomous period where robots are operated via preprogrammed instructions only. Prior to the start of the autonomous period, the center structure will be rotated to one of three positions. Points will be awarded for robots achieving certain tasks including placing autonomous balls in the rolling goal and/or center goal , robots moving off the platform, knocking over the kickstand (and releasing balls into the field of play), and moving their rolling goals into the alliance’s parking zone.

In the next two minute driver-controlled period, robots are tasked with collecting balls and placing them in the rolling goals. Balls scored In the rolling goals are worth points based on the length of the ball tube and the ball height.

(Game Information from One-Page Game Description)

Competitions

• Cleveland Regional Qualifier at Cuyahoga Community College
• Newark Regional Qualifier at Ohio State Univeristy and Central Ohio Technical College
• Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier at Shady Side Academy
• Ohio State Competition at iSPACE Cincinnati
• Pennsylvania State Competition at Millersville University
• East Super-Regional Championship at the University of Scranton
• World Championship at Union Station in St. Louis

Awards and Recognitions

• Inspire Award (Cleveland Regional Qualifier)
• Finalist Alliance Captain (Cleveland Regional Qualifier)
• Control Award (Cleveland Regional Qualifier)
• Promote Award (Cleveland Regional Qualifier)
• Winning Alliance Member (Newark, OH Regional Qualifier)
• Rockwell-Collins Innovate Award (Newark, OH Regional Qualifier)
• 2nd Place Inspire Award (Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier)
• Winning Alliance Member (Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier)
• Think Award (Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier)
• Winning Alliance Member (Pennsylvania State Competition)
• Promote Award (Pennsylvania State Competition)
• Division Winning Alliance Captain (East Super-Regional)
• Event Finalist Alliance Captain (East Super-Regional)
• Division Winning Alliance Captain (World Championship)
• Event Finalist Alliance Captain (World Championship)