[3] The year's theme was introduced by the story Late for Lunch by James Patrick Kelly,[4] which the described the life of a disabled child.

Teams were tasked with selecting a public facility and determining how accessible it is.

In each 2+1⁄2-minute match, a team competes on each field with their robot to earn points manipulating the mission models.

One of the mission models, Play ball, straddles both fields in the center.

50 points are earned by the team whose color of ball is the center goal.