Game Manual

Documents & Info

Manual and API

RetroSPHERES Manual (Latest: v3.1.0)
RetroSPHERES API

Q&A Sessions

10/22/2012
Session I
Session II

Draft Day

Overview Document

ZR 2012 RetroSPHERES Finals Scoresheet

US & EU Scoresheet

ZR Finals Simulations

Link to ZR 2012 Finals simulation match matrix.

2D Original Scores

The 2D Competition scores have been updated on the 2D Competition page as a result of a bug fix in the Leaderboard scoring system. The scores listed here are the original final results and will be preserved until the end of the 3D competition. Any team that would have made it into the alliance phase with the scores listed here will be accepted to participate in the alliance phase

Final Results

Alliance Seeding US

The following table shows the final normalized alliance seeding scores from the 2D and 3D competition. The final score was calculated using:

No additional teams qualified as a result of using the scores listed on the 2D Original page.

NOTE: EU results are available on the ESA tournament page.

If you are one of the top 54 teams, please use the Alliance Confirmation form to indicate your intent to participate as soon as possible. You must respond to participate in the Alliance phase.

Alliance Confirmation

Official US Alliances

ISS Finalists

EU

USA

ISS Preparation Tips

The following two tests are from a recent ISS test session where we demonstrated several elements of the game. We have selected these two tests to show the diferences between simulation and ISS

Cloud Maneuvering and Gravity

This test shows two satellties navigating in Zone 3. After moving to their initial positions SPH1 (Blue) moves towards a fixed target using setPositionTarget. SPH2 (RED) turns off all control and is gradually pulled into the cloud.

Animations:

Simulation
ISS
Side by side screen capture (ISS on right)

Finish Maneuver

This test shows the satellites completing the finish maneuver in Zone 3.

Animations:

Simulation
ISS

Items to note:

• Overall, estimation noise is similar to the simulation.
• You may see the blue satellite jump forward then correct backwards slightly. In this case, the satellite's actual CO2 tank was starting to get low. At each time step the internal positioning algorithm expected the satellite to be slightly farther ahead, then measurements corrected the position.
• Timing of motion is not exactly the same. The crew on the ISS sets a pressure regulator on top of the satellite control the force produced by the thrusters. If there is some error in the setting due to the accuracy of the pressure guage or changes in the tank level, there can be some variation in the satellite thrust.
• To make sure your code can tolerate variations in thrust and estimation noise, make sure you do not have overly strict timing requirements to arrive at a particular location and make sure to incorporate measurements to correct for errors in the expected motion.

ISS Finals Info

Contents

• Schedule
• About MIT
• Hotels
• The MIT/Cambridge/Boston Area
• Code of Conduct

Schedule

Thursday, 2013-Jan-10

Friday, 2013-Jan-11

NOTES:

* Times for activities aboard the ISS are approximate.

** There will not be a full dinner, only snacks, please plan accordingly.

Saturday, 2013-Jan-12

About MIT

Map

Directions: There are several ways to get to MIT from Logan Airport. See this page for details. Depending on where you stay, the T subway and bus system is likely your best transportation option.

MIT has a comprehensive online interactive map.

The Zero Robotics events locations are highlighted at:

• 10-250
• Lobby 13
• 37-372
• MIT Museum
• 33-116

Links

• Main Website
• Admissions
• Aero/Astro Department
• Space Systems Laboratory

Hotels

Below are the hotels around MIT for which MIT has some price arrangements. If a hotel does not give you the MIT rate, feel free to book and then contact Jimmy Kontoravdis at Mit's Travel - Sourcing & Procurement Services (Email: jravdis@mit.edu, Ph: 617 253 2756) to help you correct the rates. Do check "weekend" rates (or other promotions) which might give even better prices than MIT rates.

• Kendall Hotel
  350 Main Street
  Cambridge, MA 02142
  Phone: 617-577-1300
  Fax: 617-577-1377
  http://www.kendallhotel.com - enter "MIT" in the "Promo Code"
  MIT Rate: Jan 1 - Jan 14 = $159
• Cambridge Center Residence Inn
  6 Cambridge Center
  Cambridge, MA 02142
  Phone: 617-349-0700
  Fax: 617-547-8504
  Toll Free Reservations: 800-331-3131
  http://www.cambridgeresidenceinn.com (or http://www.marriott.com - code MT2 in "Corporate/Promotional Code" box)
  MIT Rate: Jan-Mar = $199 (1-14 nights; cheaper if longer)
• Cambridge Marriott
  2 Cambridge Center
  Cambridge, MA 02142
  Phone: 617-494-6600
  Toll Free:800-228-9290
  Fax: 617-494-0036
  Email: info@marriottcambridge.com
  http://cwp.marriott.com/boscb/mit/ (or http://www.marriott.com - code MT2 in "Corporate/Promotional Code" box)
  MIT Rate: Jan-Mar = $209
• Courtyard by Marriott
  777 Memorial Drive
  Cambridge MA 02139
  Phone: 617-492-7777
  Toll Free: 866-323-4149
  Fax: 617-492-6038
  http://www.cambridgecourtyard.com (or http://www.marriott.com - code MT2 in "Corporate/Promotional Code" box)
  MIT Rate: Jan-Mar = $129
• Hyatt Regency Cambridge
  575 Memorial Dr
  Cambridge, MA 02139
  Phone: 617-492-1234
  http://www.cambridge.hyatt.com - code 33395 in the "Corporate/Group #" box
  MIT Rate: Jan-Apr = $160
• Le Meridien
  20 Sidney St
  Cambridge, MA 02139
  Phone: 617-677-0200
  MIT Rate: Jan-Apr = TBD
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Boston-Cambridge
  250 Monsignor O'Brien Hwy
  Cambridge, MA 02141
  Phone 617-577-7600
  http://www.hiecambridge.com - Corporate ID 100216750
  MIT Rate: Jan-Mar = $109

These are the hotels closest to MIT (within walking distance) that have some form of MIT pricing (again, not necessarily the best, sometimes online rates will be better).

The MIT Official address is:

• 77 Massachusetts Ave
  Cambridge, MA 02139

so that you can search for hotels too.

Unfortunately MIT does not have any dormitory-style housing available for guests, you will need to find accommodations off-campus (all the listed hotels are within a mile or so of campus).

The MIT/Cambridge/Boston Area

Tours

Museums

Areas

Universities (other than MIT)

Code of Conduct

• Borrowing from the excellent credo of FIRST Robotics, please exhibit "Gracious Professionalism" at all times.
• In that spirit, refrain from the use of profane, insulting, harassing or otherwise offensive language, especially during the competition.
• Students should make sure their chaperones and/or advisors know where they are, who is with them and when they will return when leaving the general area of the event.

ZRHS Finals Attendance

ZR2012 Finals Handout

Link to donwload the Finals Handout.

ZR2012 Final Results

ISS Finalists

9 US and 6 EU alliances competed aboard the ISS in the Zero Robotics RetroSPHERES championship competition. Congratulations to the following ISS Champions:

US (ISS) Champions

Alliance Mira Loma (ALLIANCE2012 #24)

• Mira Loma Matadors from Mira Loma High School, C A
• y0b0tics! from Montclair High School, N J  
• Green Wrenches from Evergreen School District, W A  

EU (ISS) Champions

Alliance Kathe in Space (ALLIANCE2012 #4)

• Kathe in Space form Kaethe Kollwitz Oberschule, Germany
• Sunday Programmers form Liceo SS E.Fermi,  Italy
• Herder-Berlin from Herder-Gymnasium Berlin, Germany

Simulation Winners

Along with the ISS competition, a simulated bracket was performed with the same structure as the ISS competition. Congratulations to the Alliances that came first in the simulation tournament:

US (Simulation Tournament) 

Alliance Betaware (Alliance2012 #16)

• Betaware from Battlefield High School, V A
• Haverhill Robotics from Haverhill High School, Haverhill, MA and Whittier Tech
• Plasma Robotics from Mesa Public Schools, AZ

EU (Simulation Tournament)

Alliance Crab Nebula (Alliance2012 #7)

• Crab Nebula from Liceo Cecioni, Italy
• Sui Generis from Ramiro de Maeztu, Spain 
• EPM Miguel de Guzmán from Escuela de Pensamiento Matemático Miguel de Guzmán, Spain

Full round robin match visualizations are available here.

Virtual Finals

5 teams submitted code to compete in a virtual competition broadcast live during the ISS event. The champion from the virtual finals is:

• HAWK'S EYE

ISS Match Details

The following tables show the official results of the ISS finals matches. The "ISS Visualization" link provides an animation of the match while the "Simulation" link shows a comparison to the match in simulation. The code for each of the finalist implementations has been posted in the final tables.

EU Tournament  ISS Matches

Bracket 1

Bracket 2

Championship Match

USA Tournament ISS Matches

Bracket 1

Bracket 2

Bracket 3

Championship Match

Virtual Final Matches 

Alliance Code

EU

US