Overdrive is played on a 27 by 54 foot carpeted field, in which two alliances with three teams each move around the track moving track balls. The alliance players, which are composed of drivers, a coach, and a robocoach, are located at the end of the field from where they control their robots. The robocoach uses the four function Infrared Board to control the robot during Hybrid mode, giving a signals the initiate a serious of commands for the robot to complete. Robocoaches are located at the corners of the track. The robots start against their alliance wall.
The game pieces for FIRST Overdrive are 40-inch diameter inflatable balls known as Trackballs. There are two trackballs for each alliance.
The Overpass spans the center of the track and is six and a half feet above the floor. A six-foot tall Lane Divider runs down the midline of the track. The two structures help define the Finish Lines on the red and blue lanes of the track.
The objective of Overdrive is to have each alliance move their robots and Trackballs around the track as rapidly as possible and gain points each time they cross their Finish Lines. Bonus points are earned every time a Trackballs passes over the Overpass. Trackballs are randomly placed on the overpass at the start of the match. The match starts with a 15 second hybrid mode, in which robots can autonomously navigate around the track and score points each line they cross. Also during the hybrid period, bonus points are awarded for each of their trackballs that is removed from the overpass. In tele-operated period, robots race around the track and score points each time they cross their finish line. Robots may bump and herd trackballs under the overpass, or the trackballs can be captured, possessed, and hurdled over the overpass. Trackballs score each time they go over or under the overpass. A bonus is award for trackballs that are placed back on the overpass at the end of the match.
Scoring
Hybrid Period:
Each Robot: 4 Points for EVERY line crossed
(4 lines equal 1 lap, 16 points per full lap) Each Trackball:
8 points for removing off the overpass
2 Points for crossing UNDER overpass
8 Points for crossing OVER overpass
Tele-operated Period:
Each Robot: 2 Points for every time it crosses the Alliance Finish Line
(2 points per lap) Each Trackball:
2 Points for crossing UNDER overpass
8 Points for crossing OVER overpass
