Science and Mathematics Education Institute
CANCELLED
April 2, 2020 Lego Robotics Competition
⇒Deadline to register March 5, 2020
WELCOME
FHSU is hosting our 14th annual Lego robotics competition. The competition is open to all area middle school students (grades 5-8).
$20 entry fee per school, unlimited student participation.
This event will be held at the campus of Fort Hays State University on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The event will start at 10:00 a.m. (registration 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.
OVERVIEW
Each team of students will compete in at least one event and up to as many as they wish (there will be a total of 5 events). A team may consist of 1-5 members. Multiple teams from one school are permitted.
Each competing robot must be constructed solely from parts found in a standard Lego robot kit: either NXT, or NXT 2.0, or EV3 (retail or educational) kits may be used (sumo bots may use parts from multiple kits). Also, all events require that the robots be autonomous. Teams with robots found to be in violation of the rules will be disqualified. If competition courses are set up outside of the main event areas, teams may use them for practicing. However, teams may not practice on courses set up in the competition area unless given permission by the judges. Remember, due to time constraints this is purely a competition event. Students are expected to have fully working programs upon arrival.
It is expected that all robots will be programmed to begin competing at the press of the center orange (NXT) or center grey (EV3) button. Calibrations of sensors (e.g. black/white light/color sensor intensity calibrations) will be allowed (and is encouraged). The contest will begin upon the final pressing of the orange/grey button (sometimes a delay between pressing the button and robot motion will be required—see the Sumo bot event!). Teams will get only two chances to successfully start their robot. This means that if the wrong program is started by accident the team can tell the judges and have one more chance to start their robot. Note that teams must use their “second chance” immediately; no additional programming can be done once the team has been called to compete. It is not required for the robot to automatically stop at the completion of an event unless otherwise specified; when the judges have finished they will indicate that the robot can be picked up and deactivated.
Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places in each event, as well as an overall traveling trophy for the team that acquires the largest number of total points (first place team award). Second and third place team awards will also be given. Points will be awarded for the top-five ranked teams in each event: 1 pt for 5th place, 2 pts for 4th place, 3 pts for 3rd place, 4 points for 2nd place, and 5 pts for 1st place. Exception: only the top 4 teams will be awarded points in the Sumo Bot event. No points will be awarded to teams who place below the top five in each event. The school with the most points (total earned by all its teams) will be awarded a plaque.
The event’s final arbiter will decide any eventualities that arise which are not discussed herein.
For questions please contact G.G. Launchbaugh 785-628-4538 or gglaunchbaugh@fhsu.edu
Registration for April 2, 2020 FHSU Lego Robotics Competition
Schools may submit more than 2 teams. Register 2 teams at a time.
Rules and Events 2020:
smei/lego-robotics/2020-western-kansas-lego-robotics-competition.pdf
(pictures included)
1) Line Follower
This event is a combination of a line-following race and obstacle detection. The goal is to follow the track (0.75 in. wide black electrical tape placed on a white board) as rapidly as possible. Robots must leave the start area and traverse the line course. The line forks into two lines. The fork is symmetric with an angle value of 90°. Once the robot reaches the fork in the road, it should choose the direction towards an obstacle box (17 oz Honey Nut Cheerios box, unopened), which is placed 6 in. beyond the end of the line. The distance between the fork and the box will be less than or equal to 24 in. No other obstacles will be present within a 48 in. range from the fork. The robot should follow the line towards the box, then turn around at the end of the tape without touching the box and go back to the start position. Teams may only use one light or color sensor, and one ultrasonic sensor. An example line following course is depicted at the right. When a team is ready to begin (just before pressing their robot’s start button) the judges will randomly place the Cheerios box at one of the two possible end-of-fork positions. The robot that traverses the course in the least amount of time will be awarded first place. Point scores for the first five teams will be given; 1st place (quickest robot) gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points, etc.
2) Maze Madness
The goal of this event is to traverse a maze (with wooden walls) as quickly as possible. The physical characteristics of the maze are shown in the figure below. The event will be timed; each robot will be given a total of 3 minutes to solve the maze. The robot which transverses the maze from start to finish in the shortest amount of time wins. Bumping into the maze walls is permitted; they are sturdy and will not give way. Teams will position their robots at the start such that the back of the robot is within 1” of the wall. To finish, the robot must make physical contact with the final dead end wall (it does not have to stop; the judges will stop their stopwatches when they see contact). If a team’s robot does not reach the finish line before 3 minutes is up, it will be disqualified. Point scores for the first five teams will be given; 1st place (quickest robot) gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points, etc.
3) Whoops
The goal of this event is to traverse a series of whoops as quickly as possible. The event will be timed; each robot will be given a total of 90 seconds to traverse the course. The robot which transverses the course from start to finish in the shortest amount of time wins. Robots are allowed to have up to four motors. The whoops will be “ladder” rungs made from nominal 3/4 in. white pvc pipe, supported at the ends by pvc tees. The “ladder” will be laid flat on the ballroom floor (waxed wood surface). Note that the bottom of the ¾ in. pipe rungs will not be touching the floor due their ends being inserted into tees (which are touching the floor). There will be a total of six rungs in the “ladder”. The center-to-center distance between ladder rungs will be 12 in., and the rung lengths will be 12 in. Teams can position their robot anywhere in front of the first rung (the robot cannot be touching the rung). The judges will start their timers when the robot starts, and stop their timers with the robot comes off of the last ladder rung to rest completely on the floor. Judges will hold the “ladder” down during the run so that it does not slide on the floor. If a team’s robot doesn’t complete the course before 90 seconds is up, it will be disqualified. Point scores for the first five teams will be given; 1st place (quickest robot) gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points, etc.
4) Marshmallow Catapult
The goal is to throw one standard size marshmallow as far as possible in the direction indicated. Mechanical power for the Marshmallow Thrower must come only from the motors of the Lego unit. The size restriction is that the contact points of the robot must lay within a standard 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper, but the robot can have stabilizing appendages extending beyond this size. A 1-meter length of 5lb test fishing line is the only other ancillary part allowed to be used by your machine. Each team will place their marshmallow throwing device at the marked launching position, aimed in the direction indicated. The team will place a marshmallow onto the launcher and press the orange button to launch. The Launcher must be programmed to launch 5 seconds after pressing the orange button. No other inputs are allowed. Each team is only allowed one launching attempt. Once the marshmallow is launched, your machine must come to a state of rest. Machines that fall over during or after throwing will be disqualified.. If a team’s robot doesn’t complete the launch before 90 seconds is up, it will be disqualified. Marshmallows that do not fly straight ( off target by more than 45 degrees, left or right of direction indicated to be thrown) are disqualified. Point scores for the first five teams will be given; 1st place (marshmallow launched farthest distance) gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points, etc.
5) Sumo Bots
Two robots (from opposing teams) will face off in an elimination style Sumo match! The robots must be autonomous (not externally controlled). The robots will be placed on a painted wood regular octagon (see figure below). The white area in the center is surrounded by a 4” wide black strip, or “danger zone”. Teams will probably want to make use of light (or light/color) sensors (for making sure the robot avoids the “danger zone”) and the ultrasonic sensor (for finding the enemy robot). The robots will start back-to-back (with 14” between them), and they must be programmed to start moving 5 seconds after pressing the orange button. Note that “back-to-back” implies that the robot’s initial motion may only be to spin (rotate), or move in the direction opposite the enemy robot. Any robots starting before 5 seconds has elapsed will be disqualified! Up to two light/color sensors may be used on a robot, but only one ultrasonic sensor may be used. Up to three motors may be used. Parts from multiple kits may be used. Robots with a mass greater than 907.2 g (weight of 2.000 lbs) will be disqualified; the robots will be massed before competing. The robot playing surface will be slightly elevated above the floor; the first robot to fall off the playing surface and touch the floor loses. Also, if any piece of a robot detaches and hits the floor first, that robot loses the match. If both robots are still on the mat after 90 seconds have passed, the robot with the smaller mass will advance. Point scores for the top four teams will be given; (the losers of the semifinal round will face off to get 3rd and 4th place, while the final round will determine 1st and 2nd place). First place gets 5 points, 2nd place gets 4 points, etc.
Lego FAQs 2020