2014 Freescale Cup - USA Regional Rules

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Official rules of the USA Regional Freescale Cup!

New in 2014 - Roll-out of leagues:

Depending on region there will now be three leagues.  To advance to the Global race you must use stock league vehicles.

Stock League - Race using approved components, less customization allowed

Custom League - Race with less restrictions and custom hardware

Innovation League - More than just racing.  Complete an objective or task to score points and win. (Scheduled 2015 for USA)

Notes
You can view this document in PDF format using the Action Menu bar. The Worldwide challenge is only open to the stock (unmodified) challengers at this time.  A team may run in both leagues, but the car must comply accordingly. If you have ANY questions about these rules, post them in the comments section below.  If you have questions about regional rules, ask in your regional group.

Section 1: Team Requirements

1. Four person maximum team size.
2. A team may have only one graduate student.
3. Cars will be designed and constructed by students ONLY.
4. Participants, advisers, and audience are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship. Any inappropriate behavior or cheating may result in disqualification.

Section 2: Event Registration

1. One person from the team must register the entire team for the worldwide challenge no later than January 31st.

Section 3a: STOCK LEAGUE - Equipment Requirements

Each team shall use the same basic kit of parts as described below.  The following requirements are in place to keep the playing field level.  You must use one of the approved controller and motor driver boards.  If any standard component of the car model is damaged, then the same replacement component should be used.

Mechanical

1. The original and unaltered equipment must be used in the entry.
   • Outer tire treads and rim
   • Drive - DC motors
   • Transmission Ratio of Drive Motor
   • Servo Motor
2. Allowed modifications and restrictions:
   • You may not change the wheel base (distance between wheels)
   • No part of the car shall exceed dimensions of 250mm/9.85in (W) x 400mm/15.75in (L)x 305mm/12in.(H)
   • You may drill holes and mount auxiliary pieces on the chassis assuming it is contained within the above dimensions.
   • You may change the orientation of the servo motor and related linkages.
   • You may add a "skin" to the car but it must be removable during inspection.
   • You may adjust or remove springs, linkages, and other non-essential pieces.
   • You may adhere the tread to the rim.

  Electrical

1. Battery (purchase separately)
   • 7.2V, <=3000mAh, rechargeable NiCd or NiMH

• Only one (1) battery at a time may be used to power the vehicle and any attached hardware

1. You must use one of the approved boards below to control your car.
   1. Control System
      1. FRDM- series of boards
         1. The FRDM-KL25Z is included but not mandatory to use.
      2. TRK- series
      3. Kinetis based TWR- series
   2. High Voltage Motor Control and Interface
      1. TFC-SHIELD
         1. The TFC-SHIELD is included but not mandatory to use.
      2. The Dual Motor Control Board from Landzo technologies.
2. Allowed modifications and restrictions:
   1. One processor - No auxiliary processor or other programmable device is allowed.
   2. The car must use a optical sensor to navigate
   3. DC-DC boost circuit may not exceed battery voltage.
   4. Total capacity of all capacitors should not exceed 2000 uF.
3. Sensor Limits
   1. You may use additional cameras.
   2. Maximum of sixteen (16) sensors
   3. Examples of sensor count:

• IR Transmitter/Receiver pair is 1 sensor
• A CCD sensor is 1 sensor
• The provided Line Scan Camera is 1 sensor
• A hall effect sensor on two rear wheels is 2 sensors
• An encoder mounted on one wheel is 1 sensor
• A display (is allowed) does not count as a sensor

Section 3b: CUSTOM LEAGUE - Equipment Requirements

The custom league allows for greater customization of the vehicle.  There is still a set of standard components that must be used.  If any of the standard component of the car model is damaged, then the same replacement component should be used.

Mechanical

1. The original and unaltered equipment must be used in the entry.
   • Outer tire treads and rim
   • Drive - DC motors
   • Transmission Ratio of Drive Motor
   • Servo Motor
2. Allowed modifications and restrictions:
   • You may not change the wheel base (distance between wheels)
   • No part of the car shall exceed dimensions of 250mm/9.85in (W) x 400mm/15.75in (L)x 305mm/12in.(H)
   • You may drill holes and mount auxiliary pieces on the chassis assuming it is contained within the above dimensions.
   • You may change the orientation of the servo motor and related linkages.
   • You may add a "skin" to the car but it must be removable during inspection.
   • You may adjust or remove springs, linkages, and other non-essential pieces.
   • You may adhere the tread to the rim.

  Electrical

1. Battery (purchase separately)
   • 7.2V, <=3000mAh, rechargeable NiCd or NiMH
   • Only one (1) battery at a time may be used to power the vehicle and any attached hardware
2. Allowed modifications and restrictions:
   1. One Freescale processor to control everything- No auxiliary processor or other programmable device is allowed.

1. You may build your own controller board and/or high-voltage (motor) driver board.
   
2. The car must use a optical sensor to navigate
3. DC-DC boost circuit may not exceed 12V.
4. Total capacity of all capacitors should not exceed 2000 uF.
1. Sensor Limits
   1. You may use additional cameras.
   2. Maximum of sixteen (16) sensors
   3. Examples of sensor count:

• IR Transmitter/Receiver pair is 1 sensor
• A CCD sensor is 1 sensor
• The provided Line Scan Camera is 1 sensor
• A hall effect sensor on two rear wheels is 2 sensors
• An encoder mounted on one wheel is 1 sensor
• A display (is allowed) does not count as a sensor

Section 4: Vehicle Inspection

Before the race, the judges will perform a technical inspection of all entries. This includes vehicle specifications, dimensions, and equipment requirements listed in Section 3.

1. All cars must be placed in the Inspection area on or before the designated time.
2. Once in the Inspection Area, you may not touch car until you are called to race!
3. In the event of any violations, the organizing committee may disqualify the corresponding team.

Section 5: Timed Race Procedure

1. Race order will be determined by a random drawing.
2. When your team is called you may remove your car  from inspection area.  You will have two (2) minutes to prepare the car.
   1. Approved Adjustments - You may:
      • Configure parameters via on-board interfaces. (Switches, Knobs, etc.)
      • Alter the angle of your camera
      • Change batteries
   2. Disallowed Adjustments -You may not:
      • Reprogram your processor
      • Configure parameters via wired or wireless communications.
3. There shall be only one team member on the track at any given time. (excludes testing times)
4. Before the 2 minute expires you must signal “Ready” to the referee before starting car.
5. After the referee confirms “Ready”, the vehicle should leave the starting area within 30 seconds.
6. Teams have THREE attempts to complete ONE lap.  The FIRST (not the best) completed time will be recorded.
   1. Example:

• Attempt 1 – Vehicle goes to fast around a curve and goes off track.  Time is not recorded.
• Attempt 2 – Vehicle makes it around track successfully.  Time is recorded.
• Attempt 3 – Is forfeit because FIRST time (Attempt 2) has been recorded.

7. After each attempt you have two minutes to make approved (see above) adjustments to vehicle.
8. After the attempts, the team shall return the vehicle to inspection area.
9. Event displays will post the times after each team races.

Section 6: Race Day Schedule

1. Practice Time - Prior to final race, a test track will be available. Final calibration may be made at this time.  This will be organized with team slots and/or “free-time”.

  2. Reconfigure practice track to final track.

3. Vehicle Inspection (see section 4)
4. Timed Race
5. Awards Ceremony

Section 7: Event Personnel

Organizing committee – A committee of senior judges and Freescale event organizers.  Will coordinate event day activities and mediate and resolve any disputes.

Referees -  Responsible for on-track activities. This includes race track management such as starting and stopping vehicles, as well as timing and scorekeeping. Comprise up of of faculty, student, and/or Freescale and industry employees.

Judges  - Interpret and enforce rule compliance.  This will be comprised of Freescale employees and members of contributing industry sponsors.

Event Personnel shall not aid any one specific team. Communication shall be open to all teams and shall not disclose any information that might compromise the fairness of the competition.

Section 8: Fouls, Failure and Disqualifications

The rules will be interpreted by Freescale and the organizing committee of the event.           

Foul, is a minor infraction, which results in time penalties.

Failure, results in the current attempt time not being recorded. Subsequent attempts are allowed.

Disqualification is a major infraction which results all times not being recorded.

1. Referee will determine whether the racing car ran out of the race track and assign time penalties.
2. Any of the following conditions will be considered a foul and will result in time penalty added:
   1. The race car fails to leave the starting area within 30 seconds after beginning of the race [+1 second].
   2. The race car fails to stop 2 meters/6 feet or leaves the track after crossing the finish line [+1 second].
3. Any of the following conditions will be considered a failure and no time will be given:
   1. Three or more wheels leave the race surface.
   2. The racing team fails to get prepared for the attempt within the two (2) minutes allotment.
   3. The player touches the race car after the technical inspection without consent of the referee.
   4. The race car fails to finish within 120 seconds after leaving the starting area.
   5. Touching the car at any time between start and finish.
      1. "Start" - Once the vehicle crosses the starting line.
      2. "Finish" - Once the vehicle crosses the finish line.
4. Any of the following conditions will be considered a disqualification:
   1.   Any off track equipment or behavior that may influence or impede cars.
   2.   Doing a Disallowed Modification anytime after Inspection.
   3. More than one team member in the playing field.
   4. Any cheating during the competition.
   5. Failure to pass the technical inspection.
   6. Equality and fairness will be ensured as much as possible on the condition of actual feasibility.  Disputes will be resolved by a vote of Freescale, members of the organizing committee, and judges.

Section 9: Timing/Scoring

1. Time will be captured using an electronic gate and/or handheld timer.
2. Time starts and ends when the first part of the racing car breaks the start/finish line.
3. Fouls will result in the time addition to the car’s lap time.
4. Disqualifications and Failures will result in no score.

Section 10: Parameters of the Racing Track

1. A test track made from the same material as the final track will be made available on the day prior to the final race for calibration and design modifications.
2. The actual layout of the final racing track will be unknown to competitors until competition day.
3. Width of the racing track shall not be less than 600mm/24in.
4. Material and dimensional specifications can be found on the community.
5. Surface of the racing track is matte white, with a continuous black line (25mm/1in wide) in the center of the track.
6. The racing track can intersect with a crossing angle of 90°.
7. The racing track can have inclines, declines,  and tunnels.

The rules and conditions are subject to change by Freescale if necessary. Freescale reserves the right in their sole discretion to cancel, suspend and/or modify The Freescale Cup race at any time. These official rules are drawn up in the English language. If these official rules are provided in any other language and there is a conflict in the text, the English language text shall prevail.

Freescale and the Freescale logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 2014