General Information

LINE FOLLOWING

FIRE FIGHTING

General Information

 

• Our competitions are called challenges. 

• The challenges are for autonomous robots (no Bluetooth, no remote control). 

• The robots can be any robot platform (i.e., Lego, BoeBot, Vex, etc.)

• Teams compete in either the Elementary, Middle, or High School division.  The oldest player on a team determines the age level for competition.

• While team members can play in both line following and fire fighting, each challenge requires its own robot.

• The LINE FOLLOWING Challenge is open for Elementary, Middle, and High School teams.

• The FIRE FIGHTING Challenge is open for Middle and High School teams.
• Awards are given for 1st  2nd, and 3rd place for each age level.

• You can score points before AND during the event. Activities before the event are all optional.  But total points gained before AND during the event will determine the winners, so if you come into the event with points, you have a better chance of winning.

 

How to earn points before the event (all optional activities):

	Writing	Corporate Partnership	Video	Web
Elementary	none	none	none	none
Middle	Engineering Overview (5 page template) 800 possible points	Letter and Logo: 400 possible points	90 sec.-270 sec. video: 300 possible points	Blogging between teams 100 possible points
High	Engineering Report (10 page template) 800 possible points	Letter and Logo: 400 possible points	90 sec.-270 sec. video: 300 possible points	Blogging between teams 100 possible points

How to earn points during the event:

	LINE FOLLOWING	FIRE FIGHTING
Elementary	4 heats.  Per heat: 400 possible points plus payload points	not open to elementary
Middle		3 heats. Per heat: 1000 possible points. Candle #1: 100 points Candle #2: 200 points Candle #3: 300 points Candle #4: 400 points* *Wilkinson Award awarded. link to The Event page, Awards?
High

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LINE FOLLOWING

Goal

     To make one successful run and then deliver as many balls as possible

Heats

• 3 minutes in length. 
• First heat: Practice only.  No score.
• Second through Fifth Heat: 400 possible points per heat plus 1 point per ball delivered after the first successful roundtrip.

What the robot is expected to do in each heat:

• Complete all tasks in 3 minutes.
• Use sensors to track a ¼ inch-wide black line on a white vinyl surface from HOME to TOWER (where it will deliver a payload) and return HOME.
• The Elementary School track is a continuous line from HOME to TOWER without any intersections. See photo.
• The Middle School track contains one “T” intersection between HOME and TOWER. 
• The High School track contains 2 “T” intersections between HOME and TOWER.  See photo.
• Stop at TOWER and deliver at least 1 ping pong ball. 
• Turn around after delivering payload and return HOME.
• After the first roundtrip, deliver as many balls as possible while still tracking the line to the TOWER.  Each ball is worth one point AFTER the first roundtrip.

NOTE: After the first roundtrip, the robot is not required to return back home.  It can be picked up and brought back home.

Rules

• Fun is the #1 priority.  Winning is 2nd.
• Multiple sensors and bricks are allowable.
• The overall base area of the robot cannot exceed 144 square inches.
• Touching the robot at any time requires it to be picked up and returned to HOME. 
• The robot must operate 100% by program. 
• The TOWER cannot be touched during delivery. 
• Only PLAYERS can operate and manipulate the robot during the heat.  Payload after the 3-minute heat ends is NOT counted.
• Programming and reprogramming at the track is allowable.
• Getting excited and cheering for your robot is strongly encouraged.
• Concerns or questions about any ruling must be brought to the Event Coordinators. All decisions by Event Coordinators are final.

Tracks

• Dimensions: competition area is 4 feet by 5 feet.
• The flat black line is ¼ inch wide.
• The black line is at least six inches from the border of the track.
• The tracks are made of flat white vinyl.
• Two mirror images are used as track designs.
• A frown    : (    pattern is used to turn around robots if they leave the track.
• We say, “Hit a Frown, Turn Around.”
• ALL TRACKS ARE FOR SALE AT END OF EVENT FOR $20.

 

The Elementary track is a line without any “T” intersections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Middle School track has 1“T” intersection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The High School Track has 2“T” intersections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scoring
A robot can receive 400 possible points, plus one point per ball delivered after the    first roundtrip on each heat.

Show a picture of each of the score sheets  - hold space for possible 30 sec training video.

Awards

LINE FOLLOWING	1ST PLACE	2ND PLACE	3RD PLACE
Elementary, Middle and High School	$300	$200	$100

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FIRE FIGHTING

This challenge is open for Middle and High School teams only.

Goal

     An autonomous robot must locate and extinguish, without touching, four lit candles.

QUALIFICATION to compete in the FIRE FIGHTING Challenge is REQUIRED.

• The QUALIFICATION round is held from 8:30a – Noon on the day of RoboRAVE International.
• QUALIFICATION is met when a robot can successfully demonstrate its ability to locate, approach, turn ON the extinguishing mechanism and extinguish ONE candle in direct view of the robot.
• QUALIFICATION attempts are unlimited provided they are within the QUALIFICATION period.
• Once a team qualifies for the FIRE FIGHTING Challenge, the team is free to practice on adjacent fields.

Heats

• There are three heats in the competition.
• Each heat is 3 minutes in length.

What the robot is expected to do in each heat:

Locate and extinguish, without touching, four lit candles.

Rules

• FUN is the number #1 priority over winning!
• The robot must complete the task within 3 minutes.
• The robot must be 100% autonomous during the task.
• The robot can be any robotic platform.
• The robot’s base area must be 144 square inches or less.
• The robot’s height can be unlimited.
• The mechanism for extinguishing any candle must be programmed to turn ON only after it stops at a candle and then turn OFF while it seeks the next candle.
• Cost of building the robot system, including donated and purchased material, must not exceed $1500.
• Teams must be able to produce an itemized materials list if cost is called into question during the competition.
• Concerns or questions about any ruling must be brought to the Event Coordinators. All decisions by Event Coordinators are final

The Field

• The 8’ x 16’ field is border by a 3” wide white vinyl strip containing a 1” flat black line in the middle.

The Walls

• Three candles on the field are behind walls ranging from 18” – 36” long by 16” high.

The Candles

• Will be common dinner table type (tapered at the top) ranging between 8” to 10” high
• Height will include candleholder.
• Three of the four candles will be behind unsecured walls randomly placed on the field.
• One candle will be in direct view of the robot at the start of the challenge.

Scoring

      Possible points that can be earned during the Fire Fighting event:

	Candle 1	Candle 2	Candle 3	Candle 4
Heat #1	100	200	300	400
Heat #2	100	200	300	400
Heat #3	100	200	300	400

Awards:

 

• A team that successfully extinguishes ALL four candles during a 3-minute heat wins the Wilkinson Award of $200.  A team can only win the award once a year, but more than one team can win.
• One candle must be extinguished during any heat to place.
• IF NO candle is extinguished during any of the three heats but points have been earned from the Engineering Report/Overview, Corporate Partnership Letter/Logo, Video, or Blogging, then $100 will be the maximum prize awarded.
• IF more than one team is vying for an award position without extinguishing any candles, then teams will be ranked according to point values.
• The Wilkinson Award - It will be awarded to more than one team, if each team successfully completes the task.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Winners of the Wilkinson Award (La Cueva team)

 

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Photos courtesy Joanne Schmidt, Rio Images