Charged Up
The 2023 FRC season, CHARGED UP presented by Haas challenges teams to place game pieces quickly and accurately. The game involves yellow cones being placed on tubes, and purple inflatable cubes being placed on shelves. In the first 15 seconds of a CHARGED UP match, robots are autonomously operated using programming and sensors to navigate the field. After the autonomous period, drivers take the controls for 135 seconds in which they attempt to score more game pieces and balance the charging station. Detailed rules can be found in the official game manual.
The Field
Charge Station
The charge station is an elevated platform that operates as a teeter-totter. The station is used twice in the game: at the end of autonomous and at the end of the game. Teams can earn points both for getting their robot on the platform and for leveling the platform. The platform lights up when it is within 2.9 degrees of level.
Grids and CO-OP Grid
Each team is given a set of three grids on the same wall as their driver station. The lower row on the grids can hold either game piece. All other spots are designated for either cones or cubes. Points are scored by placing three game pieces in a row, creating a link.
Game Elements
The game has 54 cones and 50 cubes split between the two alliances. The game starts with max 14 elements on the field. All other elements are held behind the human player stations.
Substations (Human Player Stations)
For this game, there are three human-player positions for each alliance. Two are situated at the double substation and one at the single substation. The double substation consists of two sliding platforms where the game component is placed on the platform and pushed along a rail to be picked up by the robot. The single substation is a traditional drop chute for either game element.
Navigation Changes
This year in addition to using reflective tape for navigation, April tags were introduced as a form of object tracking and visual localization.
Scoring Points
In qualification rounds, teams are ranked by their Ranking Score or their average number of Ranking Points (RP) per match. To ensure high placement, it is important to win matches and complete the secondary objectives as well; to amass as many Ranking Points as possible. Teams can earn up to four ranking points if they win, and up to two even if they lose Point values for each action change according to when in the game they are completed.
