INTO THE DEEP Game and Basic Rules

INTO THE DEEP was the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) game for the 2024-2025 season. It was themed around underwater exploration and research, with teams competing to collect and analyze samples, and then ascend a submersible.

Official INTO THE DEEP introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewlDPvRK4U4.

"Welcome to the First Tech Challenge 2024-2025 season game INTO THE DEEP presented by RTX. A team consists of up to two driver operators, a human player, a coach, and a robot. Each match is played with four randomly selected teams, two per Alliance but each Alliance is allowed one human

player. Your opponent for one match may be your partner for another. Robots must be built from materials specified in the competition manual and fit within an 18in sizing Cube. After the match starts, robots may expand but may never horizontally exceed a 20x42in rectangle. The primary scoring element is a plastic sample 1 and 1/2 Square by 3 and 1/2 long. There are 20 samples for the red Alliance, 20 for the blue Alliance, and 40 yellow Alliance neutral samples. Another game element is the clip. Each Alliance has access to 20 clips. Human players may attach clips onto samples to create specimens. The game is played on a 12ft Square playing field with a foam tile floor and 1ft high walls. A submersible structure is located in the center. Within the submersible are the barriers, low rungs, high rungs, low chambers, and high chambers. In opposite corners are low and high baskets. Below the baskets are the taped off net zones. On the other corners are taped off observation zones. On both sides of the submersible are the ascent zones near the front and back walls are the taped off red, blue, and alliance neutral preset sample zones. April tags are located on the field walls to aid in navigation. Blue and red alliance areas are on the left and right sides of the field. Before each match six samples are randomly arranged in the submersible zone. 20 clips are positioned outside of each observation zone and 12 samples are positioned on the preset sample zones. Teams place their robots on the field touching the sidewalls. Each robot can start the match with either one specimen or one sample on the field. Players are now ready.

The match begins with a 30-second autonomous period. During auto robots may attempt to score using preprogrammed instructions and sensor inputs. Following auto is the 2-minute teleoperated period robots score using driver inputs. There are many ways to score during the auto and teleop periods. For example, scoring a sample into the net zone earns two points and scoring a sample into the low basket earns four points or eight points for scoring into the high basket. Robots may bring alliance specific samples to the observation zone. Human players can attach clips to the samples, turning them into specimens. Scoring a specimen on the low chamber earns six points or 10 points if scored on the high chamber. Sample colors may be neutral or alliance specific but specimen colors must be alliance specific.

The last 30 seconds of the teleop period is the endgame. Robots may continue scoring but have protected access to their ascent zones. Each robot contacting the low rung earns three points. If a robot achieves a low-level ascent it earns 15 points but a high level ascent earns 30 points. When the match ends, a robot parked in the observation zone earns three points.

There are many ways to score in INTO THE DEEP but there are also rules that if not followed will result in points being added to the opposing alliance's score. A robot cannot enter the observation zone. If a human player is in that zone, scoring elements may not be launched. During endgame robots may not interfere with other robots in their alliance's ascent zone.”

This has been a summary of this season's game INTO THE DEEP presented by RTX. For complete rules please read the competition manual and check the Q and A forum and always remember the most important rule of the First Tech Challenge: Gracious Professionalism.

Good luck teams and have a spectacular season.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1momEImqfQe2FOGEUFVflp7GS-RbxErnb/view?usp=sharing