Spring 2003 UCSD Undergraduate Programming Contest

Announcing - UCSD Software Battle Bots!

Saturday May 17th, 2003
Time: 12:00 (noon) to 7pm
Location: APM 2444

Pictures and Results from the Spring 2003 Programming Contest

This year's spring contest will be different.

For the UCSD spring programming contest will be hosting UCSD Software Battle Bots!

Registration starts at noon, and ends at 12:45.
You must be at the contest by 12:45 in order to compete.

Eat lunch before coming, because the pizza will be served at the end of the contest

Eligibility: You must be a part time (greater than 50%) or a full time UCSD undergraduate to participate. The contest is restricted to undergraduates.

Teams: Teams will consist of at max two people. You can compete individually, but you might be asked to team up if the number of contestants that show up mandates it.

Languages: Java (the contest environment only supports Java).

Editors: Emacs and Vi

How is it going to work?

Each team will program a software bot to compete head to head with other teams. The specific environment and type of bot will be kept secret until the contest.

You will be given an API to move the bot around in the environment, and other capabilities. You will use the API to achieve the specified goals for the bot to achieve when in competition with other team's bots. Capabilities include observation of the progress of other team's bots and measures that can be taken to block that progress. The winning teams bots will be determined in a game environment where they will compete head-to-head with other teams.

To compete, your team must succeed at building a basic bot. But to win, your team's strategy must be superior to that of your opponents. The technical part is easy. But, your opponents will make sure that the real challenge will be in inventing a winning strategy!

How will the winners be determined?

The contest is in two parts. The first part is the coding portion. This will start at 1:00pm and end at 6:00pm. As you code, you can test your bot in a "private simulation" or compete live with other team's bots.

At the conclusion of the coding portion there will be pizza! In addition, you will submit your bot to compete in the main competition for prizes - a tournament to determine the winners. Your team will watch the final tournament rounds, while munching on pizza.

What's the payoff, anyway?

First, and most important, the contest will be fun -- it's going to let your team put its programming skills into head-to-head competition with other teams. In addition, there will be great prizes as always

Prizes: The top 10 teams will receive cash prizes sponsored by The Dini Group .

1st - $1000,
2nd - $700,
3rd - $500,
4th - $300,
5th - $200, and
6th through 10th - $100 .

Additional door prizes will be given out. Each team will split the prize evenly.

Food: Pizza and pop will be provided for everyone at 6:00pm.

How to sign up?

Use the the on-line electronic form . Sign up early, because the signup is limited to the first 200 people. Teams consist of at most 2 people, or individuals. BOTH members of a team must sign up individually to compete. Sign up individually, and show up as a team at the contest during registration. Remember, the programming contest is in Java only.

List of Everyone Signed Up

Make sure you bring your graphics, algorithm, math, geometry, graphics, and Java reference books and notes with you to the contest. You cannot use any on-line material or help system on the web or the computer. You can only use written material you bring with you. Your bots will definitely benefit from being able to predict the trajectory of other bots and objects and their potential for collision.

Results from Fall 1999 Contest

Results from Spring 2000 Contest

Results from Fall 2000 Contest

Results from Spring 2001 Contest

Results from Fall 2001 Contest

Results from Spring 2002 Contest

Results from Fall 2002 Contest

Contact Brad Calder (calder@cs.ucsd.edu), if you have any questions, or would like to help out with the contest.