Block Party!
Block Party!, released on September 7, 2013, is the 2013–2014 robotics competition for FIRST Tech Challenge. In the competition, two alliances, each consisting of two teams, compete to score blocks in plastic crates atop alliance-colored pendulums. Block Party! is the ninth FTC challenge.
Announcement
The contest rules were announced at the headquarters of PTC in Needham, Massachusetts on September 7, 2013. A live audience of about 200 high schoolers and their mentors watched the unveiling by David Price, Loretta Bessette, Don Bossi, John Stuart, and Lisa Freed. The event was also live streamed.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. Alliances are selected randomly prior to the start of each competition.Field
The field for the competition is a square measuring 12 feet by 12 feet, which can be constructed by teams for practising prior to competitions. In the centre of the field there is a wooden "bridge" with a metal pipe that robots will hang on. On each side of the bridge, there are pendulums with crates. Under the pendulums, there are floor goals that are alliance-specific. On two of the corners, there are flags on PVC poles. In the other two corners, there are trapezoidal areas with plastic cube scoring objects. The field is also divided into two triangular halves, one red and one blue.Scoring
There are three sections to the game: the Autonomous Period, the Driver-Controlled Period, and the End Game. The criteria for scoring is different during each segment.;Autonomous Period
In the Autonomous Period, robots run autonomously for thirty seconds. Infrared beacons are placed randomly under a crate on the pendulum prior to the start of the match, but after autonomous programs have been selected. Each robot is allowed to begin with one preloaded block. Unscored blocks are left in the robot after the Autonomous Period ends. An infrared sensor is available to aid in autonomously locating the IR beacon. Robots can also earn points by being either partially or fully on the bridge in the center of the field.
| Method | Points |
| Scoring autonomous block in the crate above the IR beacon | 40 points each |
| Scoring autonomous block in any crate | 20 points each |
| Scoring autonomous block in a floor goal | 5 points each |
| Being partially on the bridge | 10 points |
| Being fully on the bridge | 20 points |
;Driver-Controlled Period
During the two-minute Driver-Controlled Period, teams can use standard gamepad controllers, each with two joysticks to operate their robots.
| Method | Points |
| Scoring a block on the floor goals | 1 point each |
| Scoring a block in one of the inner crates | 2 points each |
| Scoring a block in one of the outer crates | 3 points each |
;End Game
The final thirty seconds of the Driver-Controlled Period are referred to as the End Game. During End Game, teams are permitted to attempt to score points for special tasks, but these tasks must not begin before the start of End Game.
| Method | Points |
| Raising the alliance flag in the corner of the field | 20 points in the "low" position, 35 points in the "high" position |
| Hanging on the metal bar in the center of the field | 50 points |
| Balancing the pendulum | 50% increase in points scored from blocks |
Advancement Criteria
During tournaments and championships, match wins are not the largest part of the advancement criteria. For example, the winner of the top judged award ranks higher than the winner of the competition-based component. Winning lesser judged awards also plays a part in the advancement order.For the Block Party challenge, a type of qualifying competition has been introduced in the United States. After qualifying at a regional competition, teams advance to a "Super-Regional", consisting of teams from many different states. There are four regions in the United States, and each region has a "Host Location" where the actual competition will be held.