Changing from Time Based to Attempt Based Competition

 

The creator and the judges of the IARC (International Aerial Robotics Competition) recommended a change to the teams regarding the way the competition is administered and solicited team feedback which was favorable from all teams responding. From the early days of the IARC, the teams were allotted one hour to perform all that they could during the competition. There are numerous advantages to changing to an attempt based approach.

 

• The teams would have more time to repair or modify their systems between attempts.
• The time pressure would be reduced.
• A small failure that takes more than one hour to repair would not terminate the team's effort for that year.
• If a team successfully demonstrates a level of performance they would not be time-limited in their ability to move on to the next level.
• The activity would continue throughout the day.

 

In the attempt based approach, each year the teams will be allotted 4 attempts for each level of performance. For example, a team would have 4 attempts at accomplishing level 1. If successful, the team would have up to 4 attempts to demonstrate level 2, and so on.

 

As in the past, the team scoring the most points during the static judging would be able to select its place in the performance sequence. In addition, the highest scoring team would be awarded one additional attempt. However, due to the fact that the contest is no longer time based, the team would not be able to choose what time of day it would be making its attempt-- only its place in the sequence. After an attempt has been made, the team can choose to continue and make an additional attempt (within 10 minutes) or leave the arena and reenter the performance sequence. If a team is not ready to make an attempt when in sequence, it is allowed one "free pass" but must be prepared the next time or the lose one attempt. Each team will be allotted 15 minutes to start an attempt. The team captain will declare to the judges the start of an attempt. The attempt is not concluded until the vehicle is removed from autonomous flight. If in the opinion of the judges an attempt fails due to a situation beyond the team's control, it will not count against the team's remaining allotment of attempts.

 

All transmitters will be impounded the night before the day of the competition. They will be issued before taking the arena and must be returned upon completion of the attempts. If a team requires a transmitter on a potentially conflicting frequency between attempts, the team in the arena has priority.