Robofest 2007 Informational Meeting “Inspiring Young Minds to Master the Machine.”

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Robofest 2007 Informational Meeting

“Inspiring Young Minds to Master the Machine.”

Updated on Jan. 8, 2007

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Welcome to Robofest 2007Little robots, Big Missions

Dr. David Bindschadler, Chair of Math / Computer ScienceDr. CJ Chung, Founder and Director of Robofest,

Associate Professor of Computer ScienceMr. William Drummond, VITRC and LTU Online

Ms. Lori Birman, Robofest Coordinator

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Agenda• Overview of Robofest• 2007 Regional & International Competition Sites• Robofest 2007 General Rules• Robofest 2007 Game Rules• Robofest 2007 Exhibition Rules• Robofest 2007 VEX Pentathlon Rules• Pilot Program Competitions for 2007• Rules for Video Submission Site• Coach & Team Resources: Robotics Classes for

Educators and Free workshops• 2007 Schedule & Warm-up Competition• Q & A

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What is Robofest• Annual ‘autonomous’ robotics competition• no joysticks or remote controls are allowed• Students 5th - 12th grade• Offers three major categories for teams to

compete: Games Exhibition Vex Pentathlon

• Offers three pilot categories* for teams to compete: RoboSumo RoboFashionShow Collegiate Challenge – Mini Urban Missions

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Robofest is growingNumber of students participants

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100

200

300

400

500

600

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800

900

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

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Goals of Robofest• To spark young students' interest in

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

• Promote students’ creative, innovative and critical thinking skills

• Challenge and advance the scientific and engineering skills & knowledge of students

• Promote good teamwork and work ethics • Build our future technical work force• Recognize students' achievements

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Game Competition Category• Unknown Problems – “Hands-on test”• Students are challenged to accomplish

missions using two fully autonomous robots they have created and programmed to work cooperatively

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• Each team has complete freedom to show off any type of creative autonomous robotics project

• Exhibition robots have danced, played music, dressed in costumes, performed mathematical calculations, etc.

• Exhibition is limited only by the student’s imagination!

• New: Entrepreneur mindset is promoted

Exhibition Competition Category

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Age Divisions for Games & Exhibition• Junior Division, open to students in 5–9

grade, easier problems, we suggest icon-based programming language

• Senior Division, open to students in grades 9–12 , more difficult problem, we suggest programming language such as C or Java

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• Teams compete in 5 field events using autonomous VEX Robots

• VEX robots will sense and search for light and objects, navigate different paths, manipulate objects and pull loads

• Limited qualifying locations• Age division for VEX: Senior (9-12 grades)

recommended

VEX Pentathlon

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2007 Robofest Qualifying and International Competition Sites• ELPMIS International, Singapore, November 21-25, ‘06• Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea, Jan. 26, ’07• Windsor Outlet Mall – Block Robotics Learning, La Salle, Ontario

Canada, March 3.• Manatee Elementary, Viera, Florida, March 10, ‘07• G.S. Lakie Middle School, Lethbridge, Alberta Canada, March 10• Delta College, University Center (Bay City) MI, March 17• University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, Detroit, MI,

March 23• St. Clair County RESA, Marysville, MI, March 24• Woodland High School, Woodland, CA, March 24• Sky Valley Education Center, Monroe, WA, March 24• Hill Country Middle School, Austin, TX, March 31• Macomb Intermediate. School District, Clinton Township, MI,

March 31

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2007 Robofest Qualifying and International Competition Sites – Cnt’d• Hillside Middle School, Northville, MI, March 31• Chayrl Stockwell Academy (RoboSumo only), Howell, MI, March

31• Video Submission Site – Submit Video by April 13• St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Houston, TX, April 14• Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI, April 20• Canton Charter Academy, Canton, MI, April 21• Macomb Christian Schools, Warren, MI, April 21• Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School, Detroit, MI, April 21• Carman-Ainsworth High School, Flint, MI, April 22• VEX Pentathlon Qualifiers, LTU, Southfield, MI, April 27• Pilot Competitions of RoboSumo, RoboFashionShow, and

Collegiate Mini Urban Challenge, LTU, Southfield, MI, April 27• World Robofest 2007 Championships, LTU, Southfield, MI,

Saturday, April 28

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World Robofest 2007 Championship on Sat. April 28, ‘07• Top Teams at each Regional and

International Competition Site will qualify to move on to compete at World Robofest at LTU in Michigan

• Members of the top teams at the World Robofest Championship in Game, Exhibition, and VEX Pentathlon will receive $2,000 LTU Annual Renewable Scholarships

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How many Teams Advance to the World Robofest 07 Championship• Plan to invite 30 Game Teams, 15

Exhibition Teams, 8 VEX Teams, 8 RoboSumo Teams, 8 RoboFashionShow Teams, and some Collegiate Mini Urban Challenge teams to the Championship.

• The total number teams advancing from each site will be decided in proportion to the number of teams registered at each site. This number will be determined after registration closes.

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How to Register Teams – New Coaches1. Read 2007 rules2. Go to www.robofest.net3. Complete/Submit online Coach Registration Form

Confirm the registration email sent to your email address – If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact [email protected]

4. Log onto coach account using your ID & Password (your web browser must accept cookies)

5. Starting in January, you can register teams & student names; you will select one qualifying competition site and one competition category per team

6. Pay registration fee of $40 per team (online) using PayPal or by sending a check to Robofest

7. Upload team and robot photo, and update team info as necessary

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How to Register Teams – Veteran 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Coaches1. Read 2007 rules2. Use your Coach ID and password from previous

years. Contact [email protected] if you have forgotten them.

3. Log onto coach account using your ID & Password4. Starting in January, you can register teams & student

names; you will select one qualifying competition site and one competition category per team

5. Pay registration fee of $40 per team (online) using PayPal or by sending a check to Robofest

6. Upload team and robot photo, and update team info as necessary

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Team Coaches• Can be any teacher, school administrator,

parent, college student, professor, technical specialist, or scientist/engineer eligible to coach.

• Email to Coaches is the primary and official communication method between teams and the Robofest organizer.

• Coaches must agree to and abide by the 2007 Coach’s Pledge

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Roles of Coaches• Responsible for facilitating and overseeing

team members • Recruit team volunteers including

technology mentors• Provide at least one volunteer for either

setup or cleanup at the hosting site • Responsible for entering/updating the team

data and uploading team photos• Collect Consent & Media Release Forms to

submit at Competition check-in

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Robofest Teams• Teams are comprised of two to seven

members• Teams may be formed from any type of

organization, public school, private school, home school, civic group, neighborhood group, club, etc.

• Teams can work in both the classroom and/or after school programs

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Age Division Waiver Requests• Any exceptions to the Age Divisions

must be submitted by the Team Coach in writing to Robofest for approval using the Age Division Waiver Request Form.

• Other team members and their parents must provide approval as well.

• Robofest will notify the coach of approval or disapproval of request.

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Common Sense Rules for Education• Construction of the robot and

programming should be done by students only. Any direct participation of adults is a violation of the rules.

• Only team members will be allowed in the Team Pit area after the unveiling of the unknown problem. Coaches must receive Judging Proctor approval to enter the Team Pit area.

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Team's Responsibility on Robofest Day Prior to Opening Ceremony• All the teams must observe the check-in times

set by the host organizer for each site.• Turn in your signed Consent & Media Release

form for each participant• Turn in $20 check in-fee if site requires• Teams must use the team table assigned by the

organizer. Please do not change the team tables.

• Note: No robot inspection or program code inspection for 2007

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Things to bring on Robofest Competition Day• A laptop or PC for each team• A power strip and power cord• Only for exhibition teams: poster boards to

introduce the exhibition description and all the necessary materials for the exhibition.

• Cardboard box/garage to cover your robot and IR tower when downloading (Lego RCX teams only)

• Extra batteries • Signed Forms & (Site Fee, if required)

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Rules for Video Submission• Participation by Video Submission is available for

teams who do not have a competition site in closed proximity

• Available for Competition Categories of Game, Exhibition, VEX Pentathlon, and RoboSumo and RoboFashionShow.

• Coaches must register for the Video Submission Site on-line, pay $40 registration fee.

• Coach must submit signed Robofest Video Submission Form with the video, postmarked by April 13, 2007. (Additional details on the web.)

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RoboTag2000

FireFighter Race2000

RoboMessenger 2001

RoboRescuers2002

Previous Robofest Games

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Mission Possible2003

Unknown challenges introduced

Earthquake Challenge2004

RoboRelay 2005 Toxic Waste Cleanup

Challenge 2006

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8th Robofest 2007: Miner Rescue Challenge• Streaming Video on the web at

www.robofest.net• Game scenarios animations on the web at

www.robofest.net

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Miner Rescue Challenge

The brightness of the competition area is unknown

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Tunnel & Playing Field Setup: • Tunnel will be located on the left-side straight line of

the mine field from the ramp • Exact location and the opening/orientation of the

tunnel will be unveiled on the competition day (one of 4 possible cases).

• The orientation/location of the tunnel will be fixed for the day of competition.

• The tunnel is taped on the board completely. It should not move during play. A judge may need to hold down the mine structure if a robot is too powerful.

• All the edges (not the center area) of the shelves will be taped together using transparent packaging tape (2” width). If your robot is using skids, make sure they can slide over the tape.

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Setup Balls (Miners)• Placed by the judges right after the game starts.

Exact location of each ball is unknown.• No. 1 is placed somewhere on the black circle line

(not on the curve, but on the straight line).• No. 2 is placed somewhere in the center of the

circle line, not on the black line.• No. 3 is placed at one of the two corners decided by

game MC. (The ball cannot be placed at the corner on the ramp. Placed not on the black triangle)

• No. 4 is placed somewhere inside the tunnel not on the black line. It is not touching the wall (Junior division).

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Junior & Senior Division

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First Round Game Procedures• Unknown problems will be unveiled right after

opening ceremony• If your team has solved the unknown problem,

and is ready to do the Miner Rescue game, come to the on-deck circle (staging area) with the robots only during the first round

• Each team member must introduce her/his name, grade, and role using a microphone to Game Judges & the public

• Introduce their Robot solution to find and rescue the trapped miner

• MC will ask a question selected at random; The team needs to answer the question within 45 sec

• Demo of the unknown problem• MC will assign a competition track

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2007 Game Rules in Detail• The successful rescue of a miner occurs

when the ball touches or passes over the center black line on the base station with the robot. (no throwing allowed)

• 2 minutes per game are given• 2 chances (rounds) are given for each team• Only 2 players are allowed in the official

playing field. • Staring orientation can be any direction• Robots can start at the same time and in any

order, multiple times. The role of each robot is determined by the team students

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In Case of Any Failure (when a robot goes crazy…)• If a robot is touched outside the base area,

the robot must be restarted from the base station.

• If the tennis ball was moved by the (crazy) robot, judges must reset the ball closed to original location, after two robots are back to the base station.

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Robot Specifications:• No size limitation as long as it stays alone on the

base board. • Only one robot controller (computer) for each robot. • You may use any number of sensors / sensor types.• You may use any number/type of motors/servo

motors.• You may use any material to construct your robot.

You may use tape, glue, bolts and nuts, etc.• You may use any programming language.• One robot must have a LCD to show at least 3 digits• The robot must have a mechanism to store more than

one program. (one for the game, the other for the UP)

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Unknown Problem (UP) Details• After opening ceremony, each team will be

given a sheet with the description for the UP.• The UP will not be a part of the game missions,

but instead it will be a discrete task.• One of the game robots should be used to show

the problem. You will not need to make any mechanical changes

to robot, assuming you are using a light sensor facing down and a touch on your robot.

Bring both if you are not using!!Bring both if you are not using!!• Especially for Senior Division, the UP will

require a LCD to display at least 3 digits.• The score and the rank of this UP will be used

for tie-breaker.

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Flash Extra Points for Unknown Problem (UP):The purpose is to encourage teams to tryearly!

• The team that solves the problem first time will get 3 extra UP points

• The team that solves the problem 2nd time will get 2 extra UP points

• The team that solves the problem 3rd time will get 1 extra UP points

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Miner Rescue – Junior vs. Senior Division• Everything will be the same, except the

following: Senior Division Unknown Problem will be

harder including a math related problem The 4 balls for Senior Division will be

placed at more difficult locations. For example, at the corner in the tunnel, touching the wall is a possible difficult location.

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Robofest 2007 Game Judging• Simpler!

No robot inspection No code inspection

• Introducing Unknown Problem (UP) May not be directly related to the game mission Can only be completed in First round

• No final matches

• Comprehensive score is based on Unknown Problem (UP) - 20% Oral Presentation (OP) – 10% Performance – 70%

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Judging and Prizes:• Everyone is the winner: All students will receive

medals and framed certificates.• 25% of the total number of teams at each

qualifying site will win large trophies. Performance Awards Programming Awards Presentation Awards (Special) Judges Awards: Innovative solutions,

best platform (if needed), etc.• The tie breaker is the result and rank of the

unknown problem• A team will win only one award trophy

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How Game Competition Judging is Scored:

n: number of teamsm: number of official tracks

Score Keeper(Spreadsheet)

Round 1 Round 2

m

Game Judges

PRteamID Score_____ __________ __________ _____

OPteamID Score_____ __________ __________ _____

…UPteamID

Score

UPteamID

Score

…

n n

PSteamID

Score

PSteamID

Score

… PSteamID

Score

PSteamID

Score

…

n

Performance AwardsProgramming AwardsPresentation AwardsJudges Awards

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Game Judging Criteria: Judges will check the following during the oral presentation which includes team and robot introduction & unknown problem demo

• Reliability• Originality• Creativity• Innovative solutions• Functionality• New technologies used• Durability• …

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Game Competition Oral Presentation (OP) Award Criteria (10% of the comprehensive score)

• Team introduction (10%)• Robot introduction (10%)• Answer a question (70%)• Presentation delivery (10%)

Eye contact Loud enough Clear Spoke extemporaneously Time used effectively Etc.

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2007 Exhibition Competition• Exhibition team member must introduce her/his

role and accomplishments using a microphone to Judges & the public

• They will have 4 minutes for the presentation and demonstration of the project.

• After the demo, they will also answer a question from the Official and they will have 45 seconds to answer.

• Wireless host computer control is allowed• Teams must bring all necessary materials such

as music, display boards, easels, etc.

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Recommended topics for Robofest 2007 Exhibitions:• Practical Household robots• Using data logging capabilities of robots • Robot pets• Robots for scientific experiments• Practical robotic applications• Robotics for Entrepreneur Business

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Exhibition Judging

Score Keeper (in Excel)

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Exhibition Judges(Working as a group)

teamID Score comments_____ ____ _____________ ____ _____________ ____ ________

Judge’s awards

Judges Awards

Comprehensive Score is used to decide teams to advance

25% will win awardtrophies

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Exhibition Competition Comprehensive Score is based on:• Public Demonstration Performance (reliability) -

35%• Originality (creativity) - 25%• Team Public Presentation and Answer of

Question - 10%• Source Code Inspection - 10%• Complexity and Number of Functions - 5%• Usefulness / Practicality - 5%• Entrepreneur ideas and mindset – 5%• New Technologies Used and Other Factors - 5%

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VEX Pentathlon• Skeeball: to launch from a distance balls into the

buckets for points. • 1600 Meter Dash: Robot runs 4 laps counter-

clockwise around an oval track• Tug of War: This event would pit one robot

against another in a tug of war. • Slam Dunk: To deliver softballs into 24” goal• Bottle bowling: The robot pushes pre-arranged

bottles off of a field

• Organized by Cranbrook Schools• Online registration required

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Pilot Competition Categories for 2007• RoboSumo• RoboFashionShow• Collegiate Challenge – Mini Urban

Missions

Special Competitions• Digital Video Editing and Production (after

World Robofest)• Team Photo

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RoboSumo• Junior Division: 30” ring, max weight 1kg (2.2lb)• Senior Division: 48” ring, max weight 2kg (4.4lb) • Detailed rules is available at www.robofest.net• Online registration required

TechClubs.org by Computer Challenge

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RoboFashionShow• A team of robots will

use the whole stage to show off their costume, walk (driving), and performing dancing motions to music.

• Detailed rules on the web

• Online registration required

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Collegiate Mini Urban Challenge Highschool Division• Using L2Bot with a camera• Detailed rules on the web• Online registration required• Registration fee $280 includes the

L2Bot platform

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Special Competitions: Team Digital Video Editing and Production• Submit a digitally edited video journal of

your 2007 team• Submission form online• No pre-registration is needed• No registration fee• Postmarked by May 10, 2007

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Special Competitions: Team Photo• Best team photo will be selected from the

uploaded team photos.• No registration is needed once team photo

is uploaded• Selection Criteria:

showing team spirit, unity, harmony, and, uniqueness, etc.

Time of photo uploading (earlier the better) All members are in the picture?

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Coach & Team Resources• Free workshops at LTU for registered coaches

and teams only: in January & February NXT, RCX Code, RoboLab 2.5, LeJos Java,

NQC, and Java for L2Bot. Check out www.robofest.net

• On-line resources to help teams including some streaming videos of the workshops

• Autonomous Robotics Classes for Educators at Lawrence Tech

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Autonomous Robotics Classes for Educators at Lawrence Tech• Master of Educational Technology program• Teaching Math and Science with LEGO

NXT • 10 week schedule (3 credit hours)

Tue: 7:20pm-9:10pm (On campus) Thu: 7:20pm-9:10pm (Online)

• The first class starts on Tue Jan 23rd

• Partial Scholarship available• Planning 100% online class from Fall 2007

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2007 Robofest Schedule• December 14 -- Unofficial 2007 Rules announced • Early January -- Official Rules posted in January on

the Robofest website, date is TBD, but will be e-mailed to Coaches

• Early January - Coaches can register teams and select a competition location, exact date TBD

• January & February – Workshops for Teams• March 10 -- Warm-up Competition at LTU for new

Teams, for Site Hosts and Judges• March & April -- Regional Qualifying Competitions• April 27 – Qualifiers for VEX & some Pilot Programs• April 28 -- World Robofest 2007 Championships at

LTU Campus

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2007 Warm-up Competition:• Saturday, March 10 at LTU – all Teams

will need to pre-register with LTU. • Any team, both Games and Exhibition,

and possibly some pilot categories• Host organizers should attend (or watch

video) for on-site practice• Judges and volunteers should attend for

Practice & Training

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Questions? Please Contact Us• Visit www.robofest.net• Contact Dr. CJ Chung, Robofest Director,

[email protected] • Lori Birman, Robofest Program

Coordinator [email protected] Phone: 248-204-3566

• Visit us in our new location, M-219 of the Buell Management Building, LTU

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Reordering Certificates and Trophies – A new service!• to provide certificate re-printing services

with minimum charge• winner teams can order multiple trophies

with individual names on a fee basis

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Robofest Little Robots, Big Missions

Thank you for Participating!