Lego Robotics Competition

SMEI Lego Robotics Competition

Western Kansas Lego Robotics Competition
March 31, 2025

FHSU is hosting our 19th annual Lego robotics competition. The competition is open to all area middle school students (grades 5-8).

This event will be held at the campus of Fort Hays State University on Monday, March 31, 2025. The event will start at 10:00 a.m. (Check In begins at 9:00 a.m.) in the Ballroom of the Memorial Union. The event will end by 3:00 p.m. after the completion of the award ceremony.

Competition Events and Rules 2025

Overview

Students are expected to have fully constructed devices and working programs upon arrival at FHSU.

1. Each competing robot must be constructed from parts found in a standard Lego robot kit.
2. All events require that the robots be autonomous, unless otherwise noted in the event description.
3. Calibrations of sensors are allowed and encouraged prior to the start of each event.
4. Students may use courses for practice and calibration with a judge’s permission.
5. All robots must be programmed to begin an event at the pressing of the activation button.
6. No additional programming can be done once the team has been called to compete – UNLESS THE EVENT SPECIFIES OTHERWISE.
7. Teams will get up to two chances to successfully start their robot.
8. If a wrong program is started by accident, the competitor must notify the judge promptly.
9. Poor placement of robot on event mat/surface – notify the judge promptly.
10. Teams *must* use their “second chance” immediately; no additional programming is allowed.
11. Robots may begin movement immediately unless specified by an individual event rule.
12. The robot is not required to stop at the completion of an event unless specified by an individual event rule.
13. The robot can be picked up and deactivated only when prompted by the judge(s).

Teams

1. ** For logistical reasons, a maximum of 5 teams per school may be entered. **
2. Each team may have up to 10 students.
3. A team may choose to compete in up to five (5) possible events.
4. ** Any single robot should NOT be used for the same event for multiple teams, unless otherwise declared to the judges that it is an alternate program is running. Judges may inspect the code at their discretion. **
5. Registration fee for 1 or 2 teams is $25.
6. Registration fee for 3, 4, or 5 teams is $50.

Awards

1. Points will be given to the top five robots in each event.
   1^st place (5 pts), 2^nd place (4 pts), 3^rd place (3 pts), 4^th place (2 pts), 5^th place (1 pt)
2. Points will be given to the top five placing teams.
   1^st place (5 pts), 2^nd place (4 pts), 3^rd place (3 pts), 4^th place (2 pts), 5^th place (1 pt)
3. Tie breakers   1^st - Most points with the fewest teams (average points per team)
                             2^nd - School with the greatest number of first place events
                             3^rd – School with the greatest number of second place events.

***The event’s final arbiter will decide any eventualities that arise which are not discussed herein. 

   4. Combination of event point values are used to determine team and school scores.

*** The SumoBot event does not contribute to the overall team score.

   5. Individual scores Medals will be given for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place robots in each event.
       A. Team scores Plaques will be given to 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place teams.     
       B. School scores Plaques will be given to 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place to schools with the most points.
       C. 1^st place School also receives Traveling LEGO Trophy (to be returned next year)

Partially supported through a grant for the
Kansas NASA Spacegrant www.nasa.gov 

For questions contact Ann Noble at 785-628-5449 or amnoble@fhsu.edu