BIOBUZZ presented by RTX Game Animation

Game storyline / objective

BIOBUZZ™ (FIRST Tech Challenge 2026–2027 Season), presented by RTX is an alliance-based robotics game. Teams build robots to collect and launch scoring elements to tip hives and score additionally by placing elements into flowers (“garden”).

Robots must be built to fair-play specifications in the Competition Manual and must start each match within an 18-inch sizing cube (they may expand after the match starts within limits).

Match setup (field + key objects)

Field

• 12-foot square playing field
• Foam tile floor
• 1-foot-high walls

Objects

• Red Alliance Hive and Blue Alliance Hive
• Four Flowers
• Scoring elements:
  • Pollen
    • Robots may start holding up to 4 Pollen
    • Additional Pollen are staged in:
      • Each Flower: 4 each
      • Tile floor: two sets of 4
  • Nectar
    • Starts:
      • 3 red and 3 blue in the upward-facing cell of their respective colored hive
    • Availability:
      • 5 Nectar per alliance start in each Alliance Area

Robot start + aiming aids

• Robots start each match touching the wall on their side.
• AprilTags are located on the bottom of each hive cell to help robots aim and detect the tipping direction.

Scoring mechanics (core gameplay loop)

Hive tipping (launching scoring elements)

Autonomous (first 30 seconds)

• Robots run autonomously and can launch scoring elements into the upward-facing cell of their hive.

Tipping and points

• When enough scoring elements are launched into a hive:
  • The hive tips
  • The launched elements then drop to the floor
  • The tipping alliance earns points for the tip

Pollen vs. Nectar

• Nectar is larger/heavier than Pollen and can tip the hive faster.

Nectar “into play” rule (per tip)

• For each hive tip, the alliance is allowed to enter one of their five off-field Nectar into play.

Additional scoring sources

Robots can also score by collecting and placing elements from:

• Tile surface
• Flowers

Additional points are awarded for:

• Leaving starting location during Auto
• Parking in their Loading Zone

With enough points from:

• Auto (leaving start) + Parking (Loading Zone) an alliance earns a SWARM Ranking Point.

Rankings from tipping (Pollinator points)

Across the full match, alliances can earn:

• POLLINATOR 1 ranking point for achieving enough tips
• POLLINATOR 2 ranking points for even more tips

Flower / garden scoring (last 60 seconds of Teleop)

During the last 60 seconds of Teleop, robots can also score Pollen and Nectar in the Flowers.

• Nectar in flowers
  • Is larger than Pollen
  • Cannot be removed once scored into a flower

End-of-match flower scoring

Alliances earn points based on which Nectar is lowest and topmost in each flower:

• Having the bottom-most Nectar earns points.
• Having the top-most Nectar earns points for every Pollen and Nectar in that flower, regardless of color.

Also:

• Nectar and Pollen scored in the Garden count toward flower scoring.

Phases of the match

• Autonomous: first 30 seconds

  • Goal: launch elements into hive cells to cause tipping.

• Teleop: next 2 minutes

  • Drivers control robots to continue tipping hives (more launches).
  • Friendly defense is expected; intentional damage should be avoided.

• Final 60 seconds of Teleop

  • Continue tipping with hive scoring
  • Also score Pollen/Nectar in Flowers

Strategy notes / key tips mentioned

• Prioritize fast hive tipping
  • Use Nectar when speed matters because it’s heavier.
• Use AprilTag-based aiming
  • Improve launch accuracy and help predict tipping direction.
• Plan for scoring across multiple phases
  • Auto hive launches + Teleop hive launches + endgame flower scoring.
• Defense is part of play
  • But teams should not intentionally damage each other.
• Aim to secure Ranking Point thresholds
  • SWARM: Auto leaving start + Loading Zone parking
  • Pollinator: thresholds achieved through total hive tips

End-of-match outcome + tournament impact

• The alliance with the most total points wins the match and receives 3 Ranking Points.
• Earning more Ranking Points improves tournament seeding.

Gamers / sources featured

• BIOBUZZ presented by RTX
• FIRST® Tech Challenge
• No individual gamer/team names were mentioned in the provided subtitles.