GUIDING PRINCIPLES

GP1 – Gracious Professionalism - You are “Gracious Professionals.” You compete hard against problems, while treating all people with respect and kindness. If you joined FIRST LEGO League with a main goal of “winning a robotics competition,” you're in the wrong place!

GP2 – Interpretation

• If a detail isn’t mentioned, then it doesn't matter.
• Robot Game text means exactly and only what it plainly says.
• If a word isn't given a game definition, use its common conversational meaning.

GP3 – Benefit of the Doubt - If the Referee feels something is a “very tough call,” and no one can point to strong text in any particular direction, you get the Benefit Of The Doubt. This good-faith courtesy is not to be used as a strategy.

GP4 - Variability - Our suppliers and volunteers try hard to make all Fields correct and identical, but you should always expect little defects and differences. Top teams design with these in mind. Examples include Border Wall splinters, lighting changes, and Field Mat wrinkles.

GP5 - Information Superiority - If two official facts disagree, or confuse you when read together, here’s the order of their authority (with #1 being the strongest):

• #1 = Current Robot Game UPDATES
• #2 = MISSIONS and FIELD SETUP
• #3 = RULES
• #4 = LOCAL HEAD REF - In unclear situations, local Head Referees may make good-faith decisions after discussion, with Rule GP3 in mind.
• Pictures and video have no authority, except when talked about in #1, #2, or #3.
• Emails and Forum comments have no authority.

DEFINITIONS

D01 - Match - A “Match” is when two teams play opposite each other on two Fields placed north to north.

• Your Robot LAUNCHES one or more times from Base and tries as many Missions as possible.
• Matches last 2-1/2 minutes, and the timer never pauses.

D02 - Mission - A “Mission” is an opportunity for the Robot to earn points. Requirements are written in the form of

• results that must be visible to the Ref at the end of the match.
• METHODS that must be observed by the Ref as they happen.

D03 - Equipment - “Equipment” is everything you bring to a Match for Mission-related activity.

D04 - Robot - Your “Robot” is your LEGO^® MINDSTORMS^® controller and all the Equipment you've combined with it by hand which is not intended to separate from it, except by hand.

D05 - Mission Model - A “Mission Model” is any LEGO^® element or structure already at the Field when you get there.

D06 - Field - The “Field” is the Robot’s game environment, consisting of Mission Models on a Mat, surrounded by Border Walls, all on a Table. “Base” is part of the Field. For full details, see Field Setup.

D07 - Base -  “Base” is the space directly above the Field’s quarter-circle region, in the southwest. It extends southwest from the outside of the thin curved line TO the corner walls (no farther).  The thin line around any scoring area counts as part of that area.  When a precise location related to a line is unclear, the outcome most favorable for the team is assumed. (See diagram below.)
 

D08 - Launch - Whenever you’re done handling the Robot and then you make it go, that’s a “Launch.”

D09 - Interruption - The next time you interact with the Robot after Launching it, that’s an “Interruption.”

D10 - Transported - When a thing (anything) is purposefully/strategically being…

• taken from its place, and/or
• moved to a new place, and/or
• being released in a new place,

it is being “Transported.”  The process of being Transported ends when the thing being transported is no longer in contact with whatever was transporting it.

EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE, AND PEOPLE

R01 - All Equipment - All Equipment must be made of LEGO-made building parts in original factory condition.

• Except: LEGO string and tubing may be cut shorter.
• Except: Program reminders on paper are okay (off the Field).
• Except: Marker may be used in hidden areas for identification.

R02 - Controllers - You are allowed only one individual controller in any particular Match.

• It must exactly match a type shown below (Except: Color).
• All other controllers must be left in the PIT AREA for that Match.
• All remote control or data exchange with Robots (including Bluetooth) in the competition area is illegal.
• This rule limits you to only one individual Robot in any particular Match.

R03 - Motors - You are allowed up to four individual motors in any particular Match.

• Each one must exactly match a type shown below.
• You may include more than one of a type, but again, your grand total may not be greater than FOUR.
• ALL other motors must be left in the Pit Area for that Match, no exceptions.

R04 - External Sensors - Use as many external sensors as you like.

• Each one must exactly match a type shown below.
• You may include more than one of each type.

R05 - Other Electric/Electronic Things - No other electric/electronic things are allowed in the competition area for Mission-related activity.

• Except: LEGO wires and converter cables are allowed as needed.
• Except: Allowable power sources are one controller’s power pack or six AA batteries.

R06 - Non-Electric Elements - Use as many non-electric LEGO-made elements as you like, from any set.

• Except: Factory-made wind-up/pull-back “motors” are not allowed.
• Except: Additional/duplicate Mission Models are not allowed.

R07 - Software - The Robot may only be programmed using LEGO MINDSTORMS RCX, NXT, EV3, or RoboLab software (any release). No other software is allowed.  Patches, add-ons, and new versions of the allowable software from the manufacturers (LEGO and National Instruments) are allowed, but tool kits, including the LabVIEW tool kit, are not allowed.

R08 - Technicians

• Only two team members, called “Technicians,” are allowed at the competition Field at once. 
• Except: Others may step in for true emergency repairs during the Match, then step away.
• The rest of the team must stand back as directed by tournament officials, with the expectation of fresh Technicians being able to switch places with current Technicians at any time if desired.

PLAY

R09 - Before The Match Timer Starts - After getting to the Field on time, you have at least one minute to prepare. During this special time only, you may also...

• Ask the Ref to be sure a Mission Model or setup is correct, and/or
• Calibrate light/color sensors anywhere you like.

R10 - Handling During the Match

• You are not allowed to interact with any part of the Field that’s not COMPLETELY in Base.
• Except: You may Interrupt the Robot any time.
• Except: You may pick up Equipment that broke off the Robot unintentionally, anywhere, any time.
• You are not allowed to cause anything to move or extend over the Base line, even partly.
• Except: Of course, you may Launch the Robot.
• Except: You may move/handle/Store things off the Field, any time.
• Except: If something accidentally crosses the Base line, just calmly take it back – no problem.
• Anything the Robot affects (good or bad!) or puts completely outside Base stays as is unless the Robot changes it.  Nothing is ever repositioned so you can “try again.”

R11 - Mission Model Handling

• You are not allowed to take Mission Models apart, even temporarily.
• If you combine a Mission Model with something (including the Robot), the combination must be loose enough that if asked to do so, you could pick the Mission Model up and nothing else would come with it.

R12 - Storage

• Anything completely in Base may be moved/stored off the Field, but must stay in view of the referee.
• Everything in off-Field Storage “counts” as being completely in Base and may be placed on an approved holder.

R13 - Launching - A proper Launch (or re-Launch) goes like this:

• Ready Situation
• Your Robot and everything in Base it's about to move or use is arranged by hand as you like, all fitting ‘completely in Base” and measuring no taller than 12 inches (30.5 cm).
• The referee can see that nothing on the Field is moving or being handled.
• Go!
• Reach down and touch a button or signal a sensor to activate a program.

IF First Launch of the Match – In this case, accurate fair timing is needed, so the exact time to Launch is the beginning of the last word/sound in the countdown, such as “Ready, set, GO!” or BEEEEP!

R14 - Interrupting - If you INTERRUPT the Robot, you must stop it immediately, *then calmly pick it up for a re-Launch.  Here's what happens to the Robot and anything it was Transporting, depending on where each was at the time:

• Robot
• Completely in Base: Re-Launch
• NOT completely in Base: Re-Launch + Penalty
• TRANSPORTED THING WHICH CAME FROM BASE DURING THE MOST RECENT LAUNCH
• Always: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keep it
• TRANSPORTED THING WHICH DID NOT COME FROM BASE DURING THE MOST RECENT LAUNCH
• Completely in Base: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keep it
• NOT completely in Base: . . . . . . . . . . . . . Give it to the referee

The “Penalty” is described with the Missions.

IF YOU DON’T INTEND TO RE-LAUNCH – In this case, you may shut the Robot down and leave it in place.

R15 - Stranding - If the Uninterrupted Robot loses something it was Transporting, that thing must be allowed to come to rest. Once it does, here’s what happens to that thing, depending on its rest location...

• Transported Thing
• Completely in Base:: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keep it
• Partly in Base: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Give it to the referee
• Completely outside Base: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leave as is

R16 - Interference

• You are not allowed to negatively affect the other team except as described in a Mission.
• Missions the other team tries but fails because of illegal action by you or your Robot will count for them.

R17 - Field Damage

• If the Robot separates Dual Lock or breaks a Mission Model, Missions obviously made possible or easier by this damage or the action that caused it do not score.

R18 - End of the Match - As the Match ends, everything must be preserved exactly as-is.

• If your Robot is moving, stop it ASAP and leave it in place.  (Changes after the end don’t count.)
• After that, hands off everything until after the referee has given the OK to reset the table.

R19 - Scoring

• Scoresheet - The referee discusses what happened and inspects the Field with you, Mission by Mission.
• If you agree with everything, you sign the sheet, and the scoresheet is final.
• If you don’t agree with something, the head referee makes the final decision.
• Impact - Only your best score from regular Match play counts toward awards/advancement.  Playoffs, if held, are just for extra fun.
• Ties - Ties are broken using 2nd, then 3rd best scores. If still not settled, tournament officials decide what to do.

Changes for 2018 MAJOR   If you Interrupt the Robot while it’s transporting something it took from Base during the most recent launch, you can now keep that object.   MINOR   Border lines are always part of the area they define. Disputes related to the thickness of thin lines (such as the border of Base) always settle in favor of the team. You need to conform to local event standards regarding the style and size of your Storage trays and carts. It’s OK to shut off the Robot and leave it in place without penalty if it’s done with intended Missions.