Robotics Category

Teams of 2-4 students will design and build a robot, using VEX IQ or Lego robot sets. Robots must be programmed to do a number of different tasks. On the day of the competition, they will face off against other teams in 1-on-1 matches to advance through a tournament bracket to the final match.

Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal by 10:00 pm on March 1, 2025.

Common Core Standards and 4C’s:
Prepare for and participate effectively in various conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own ideas clearly and persuasively. Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking.

Designing and Programming your Robot:
Robots must be built and programmed to complete several different “missions” on the course. Robots will be required to complete each mission autonomously, not remote-controlled for this event. Missions may be completed in any order and attempted multiple times during the 3-minute match. Teams may choose to swap out parts and reprogram the robot during the match.

Course Layout:

The course will be built on a 6 X 8 foot VEX course each team will compete on one side. There will be 3 main missions to accomplish, popping a balloon, rescuing a figure, and scoring goals, as well as the option to reduce your opponent’s score by removing balls from their goal. (Detailed course measurements still to come).

Each team will have a home base area, where they are allowed to rebuild/reprogram their robot. The robot must start each mission entirely within the home base area. Each time a team’s robot fails to return to the home base by itself, there will be a 1-point penalty. It must have at least 1 wheel in the home base area to be handled without a penalty.

Technical Requirements:

• Robots must be constructed entirely with LEGO or VEX IQ pieces with the exception of 1 thumbtack, tape/glue to attach it to the robot, AND any student-designed 3D printed components. 3D printed components must be attached with VEX/Lego pieces (not tape/glue).
• Robots may return to the home base area between missions to be reprogrammed or rebuilt for another mission or they may do more than one at a time.
• A 1-point penalty will be enforced if a student touches the robot without at least 1 wheel in the home base area.
• There will be a 3-minute time limit on each match.
• Robots must complete the missions autonomously, no remote-controlled robots.
• Points will be added up at the end of each match.
• No team member may interfere with or touch the opposing team’s robot.
• The entire robot must start within the home base area for each mission attempted.
• Robots must remain on their own side of the course. A 1-point penalty will be enforced if 2 or more of the robot’s wheels cross the centerline.

Robo Rally Design Document:

Overview:

Students will create a document outlining the process of designing and testing their robot. There will be four main sections: Research, Specifications, Programming, and Testing. The document will be worth 30 points. Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal no later than 10:00 pm on March 15, 2024.

Research:

In this section, students will use the internet or other sources to search for facts and information about Robots in the Manufacturing Industry. They should provide specific examples of robots in space and cite the sources they used for their research. Finally, they should describe how this research relates to their own project.

Specifications:

In this section, students will list the dimensions of their robot (length, width, height) as well as a list of the primary components they used (motors and sensors). They will also include labeled pictures of their robot. If there are different configurations for the different missions, be sure to show those as well.

Programming:

Students will explain how they programmed their robot to complete the different tasks. Their explanation should include specific settings and screenshots of their programs.

Testing:

In the final section, students will describe the testing of their robot and what modifications they made to improve its performance on the course. This should include physical changes to the robot such as changing the wheels, modifications to the missile, or redesigning the robot. It could also include changes to the programming. Students should include a data table showing the results of different trials.

Sample Data Table: (Should have one for each Mission)

Robo Rally Live Challenge:

Missions:

• Balloon Pop (2pts): The robot must autonomously drive out and pop the balloon. Red team pops red balloon, blue team pops blue balloon. We will be using standard 12” balloons taped vertically to the top of a VEX cube attached to the course.
• Figure Rescue (4pts): The robot must autonomously drive over to rescue the yellow figure and then drop it in the target area. (4pts for center of target, 2pts for yellow area, 1pt for the outer section). Only part of the figure needs to be inside the target area to score points.

Scoring Goals (4pts): Teams may attempt to score two goals with the balls provided. Each goal will be worth 2 points. The ball may be pushed or kicked into the goal area, but the robot may not cross the green centerline.

Removing Goals: Teams may also attempt to reduce their opponent’s score by removing balls from their goal. If a ball is pushed out of the goal, it will be replaced on the white stands.

Sudden Death: If there is a tie-in score at the end of the 3-minute match, sudden death will be enforced, where the first team to score a point wins. The entire course will be reset for the sudden death round.

Robo Rally Reward Points:

Teams will advance through the tournament bracket in an attempt to make it to the championship round and win the final match. 1^st place will receive 70pts and each subsequent rank will receive 3 fewer points than the prior rank:
(2^nd = 67pts, 3^rd = 64pts, 4^th = 61pts and so on).

Getting Help:

Coaches visit the Robo Rally Support Files Page to see a sample Design Document and Event support files and our new YouTube Channel to view tutorials to help prepare and practice.

Contact Chris Fuge at Chris.Fuge@fresnounified.org or Celeste Avedikian at Celeste.Avedikian@fresnounified.org if you have any further questions regarding this event.

Robo Rally Design Document Scoring Rubric

Robo Rally Rank Scoring Rubric

Teams of 2-4 students will design and build a robot, using VEX IQ or Lego robot sets. It will need to navigate a blind maze using a live video feed and then find 3 randomly placed objects, remove them from the maze, and drop them into the target zone.

Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal by 10:00 pm on March 14, 2025.

Common Core Standards and 4C’s:

Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own ideas clearly and persuasively. Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking.

Designing and Programming your Robot:

Design Specifications:

Your robot will need to be able to drive around on a course and attempt to pick up and carry 3D printed figurines from their elevated base (3-inch tall green blocks) and then drop them into the target zone. The figurines will vary in size and shape.

Course Layout:

The course itself will take up a space of 4ft by 8ft and will be curtained off from the participants. The figures to be rescued will rest on top of the three green blocks in the specified locations (see diagram above). The green blocks will NOT be secured to the course. There will also be blocks placed as obstacles (red/blue). The obstacle blocks WILL be secured to the course with 4 VEX pins underneath. The 3D figures can be downloaded from the TOT site and 3D printed.

Technical Requirements:

Robots must be constructed entirely with LEGO or VEX IQ pieces AND any student-designed 3D printed components. 3D printed components must be attached with VEX/Lego pieces (not tape/glue).

The robots may be controlled with remote control for the main challenge but must be programmed for the autonomous round.

Your robot will need a way to stream a live video feed. This can be accomplished with a cell phone, a GoPro camera, or another small video recorder. Apps to stream include Google Hangouts, Skype, Robocam, and others.

Time will start as soon as the robot enters the course and time will stop as soon as it drops the 3^rd figure, or 10 minutes have passed.

Teams will have 10 minutes to complete the course. They may make multiple attempts within the allotted 10 minutes. The score and time combination from the best attempt will be used to calculate the FINAL SCORE (see scoring section).

Search and Rescue Design Document (Online Portion):

Overview:

Students will create a document outlining the process of designing and testing their robot. There will be four main sections: Research, Specifications, Programming, and Testing. The document will be submitted and scored prior to the tournament and will be worth 30 points. Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal by 10:00 pm on March 15, 2024.

Research:

In this section, students will use the internet or other sources to search for facts and information about Robotics in Emergency Services. They will need to provide specific examples of emergency response robots (such as DARPA, search and rescue bots, etc.) and cite the sources they used for their research. Finally, they should describe how this research relates to their own project.

Specifications:

In this section, students will list the dimensions of their robot (length, width, height) as well as a list of the primary components they used (motors and sensors). They will also include labeled pictures of their robot.

Control:

Students will explain how they controlled their robot to complete the task. They should include a diagram of their controller to show how they mapped their motors/ports as well as a picture of the configuration screen from the brain if they adjusted any of the default settings for the remote control. Students will explain how they set up their video feed: describing both technologies used, and apps/software used.

Testing:

In the final section, students will describe the testing of their robot and what modifications they made to improve its speed and accuracy. This should include physical changes to the robot such as changing the wheels or redesigning the robot. It should also include changing the setting of the remote-control program. Students should include a data table showing the results of different trials.

Sample Data Table:

We only included times of trials that were completed successfully without dropping any blocks or knocking down any of the starting towers.

Search and Rescue Live Challenge:

Scoring:

Scores will be a combination of the points awarded from successfully rescuing the figures AND from the time it takes to finish. Time will mostly be used to help split ties, along with points from the Autonomous Round and the Design Document.

Points from Figures:

Up to 15 points will be awarded for each figure based on its position in the target. Teams may reposition the figure after it has been dropped. If any part of the figure is on a higher scoring zone, it will receive a higher score. When the robot leaves the target zone, the score will be recorded, and the figure moved to the scoring bins.

Points from Time:

Up to 10 points will be awarded based on your time as a ratio to the best time of all competitors. The time used will be from whichever attempt scored the most points from the course.

Autonomous Round:

Prior to attempting the Search and Rescue Course, teams may choose to compete in a pre-programmed autonomous (NO remote-control driving) event for an additional 15 points. Teams will write code to make their robot drive forward from the green corner (5pts), remove the figure from the green base (5pts) and drop it in the target (5pts center red, 3pts yellow, 1pt outer red). The course will be reset after the autonomous round. More detailed course measurements to come.

Search and Rescue Reward Points:

Getting Help:

Coaches visit the Search & Rescue Support Files Page to see a sample Design Document and Event support files to help prepare and practice.

Contact Chris Fuge at Chris.Fuge@fresnounified.org or Celeste Avedikian at Celeste.Avedikian@fresnounified.org if you have any further questions regarding this event.

Rescue Design Document Scoring Rubric

Search & Rescue Course Scoring Rubric

Search & Rescue Time Scoring Rubric

Search & Rescue Autonomous Scoring Rubric

Teams of 2-4 students will design and build a robot, using VEX IQ or Lego robot sets. Robots must be programmed to do a number of different tasks. On the day of the competition, they will face off against other teams in 1-on-1 matches to advance through a tournament bracket to the final match.

Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal by 10:00 pm on March 14, 2025.

Common Core Standards and 4C’s:
Prepare for and participate effectively in various conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own ideas clearly and persuasively. Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking.

Designing and Programming your Robot:
Robots must be built and programmed to complete several different “missions” on the course. Robots will be required to complete each mission autonomously, not remote-controlled for this event. Missions may be completed in any order and attempted multiple times during the 3-minute match. Teams may choose to swap out parts and reprogram the robot during the match.

Course Layout:

The course will be built on a 6 X 8 foot VEX course each team will compete on one side. There will be 3 main missions to accomplish, popping a balloon, rescuing a figure, and scoring goals, as well as the option to reduce your opponent’s score by removing balls from their goal. (Detailed course measurements still to come).

Each team will have a home base area, where they are allowed to rebuild/reprogram their robot. The robot must start each mission entirely within the home base area. Each time a team’s robot fails to return to the home base by itself, there will be a 1-point penalty. It must have at least 1 wheel in the home base area to be handled without a penalty.

Technical Requirements:

• Robots must be constructed entirely with LEGO or VEX IQ pieces with the exception of 1 thumbtack, tape/glue to attach it to the robot, AND any student-designed 3D printed components. 3D printed components must be attached with VEX/Lego pieces (not tape/glue).
• Robots may return to the home base area between missions to be reprogrammed or rebuilt for another mission or they may do more than one at a time.
• A 1-point penalty will be enforced if a student touches the robot without at least 1 wheel in the home base area.
• There will be a 3-minute time limit on each match.
• Robots must complete the missions autonomously, no remote-controlled robots.
• Points will be added up at the end of each match.
• No team member may interfere with or touch the opposing team’s robot.
• The entire robot must start within the home base area for each mission attempted.
• Robots must remain on their own side of the course. A 1-point penalty will be enforced if 2 or more of the robot’s wheels cross the centerline.
   

Robo Rally Design Document:

Overview:

Students will create a document outlining the process of designing and testing their robot. There will be four main sections: Research, Specifications, Programming, and Testing. The document will be worth 30 points. Design Documents must be converted to a PDF file before uploading to the TOT App Submission Portal no later than 10:00 pm on March 14, 2025.

Research:

In this section, students will use the internet or other sources to search for facts and information about Robots in the Manufacturing Industry. They should provide specific examples of robots in space and cite the sources they used for their research. Finally, they should describe how this research relates to their own project.

Specifications:

In this section, students will list the dimensions of their robot (length, width, height) as well as a list of the primary components they used (motors and sensors). They will also include labeled pictures of their robot. If there are different configurations for the different missions, be sure to show those as well.

Programming:

Students will explain how they programmed their robot to complete the different tasks. Their explanation should include specific settings and screenshots of their programs.

Testing:

In the final section, students will describe the testing of their robot and what modifications they made to improve its performance on the course. This should include physical changes to the robot such as changing the wheels, modifications to the missile, or redesigning the robot. It could also include changes to the programming. Students should include a data table showing the results of different trials.

Sample Data Table: (Should have one for each Mission)

Robo Rally Live Challenge:

Missions:

Balloon Pop (2pts): The robot must autonomously drive out and pop the balloon. Red team pops red balloon, blue team pops blue balloon. We will be using standard 12” balloons taped vertically to the top of a VEX cube attached to the course.

Figure Rescue (4pts): The robot must autonomously drive over to rescue the yellow figure and then drop it in the target area. (4pts for center of target, 2pts for yellow area, 1pt for the outer section). Only part of the figure needs to be inside the target area to score points.

Scoring Goals (4pts): Teams may attempt to score two goals with the balls provided. Each goal will be worth 2 points. The ball may be pushed or kicked into the goal area, but the robot may not cross the green centerline.

Removing Goals: Teams may also attempt to reduce their opponent’s score by removing balls from their goal. If a ball is pushed out of the goal, it will be replaced on the white stands.

Sudden Death: If there is a tie-in score at the end of the 3-minute match, sudden death will be enforced, where the first team to score a point wins. The entire course will be reset for the sudden death round.

Robo Rally Reward Points:

Teams will advance through the tournament bracket in an attempt to make it to the championship round and win the final match. 1^st place will receive 70pts and each subsequent rank will receive 3 fewer points than the prior rank:
(2^nd = 67pts, 3^rd = 64pts, 4^th = 61pts and so on).

Getting Help:

Coaches visit the Robo Rally Support Files Page to see a sample Design Document and Event support files and our new YouTube Channel to view tutorials to help prepare and practice.

Contact Chris Fuge at Chris.Fuge@fresnounified.org or Celeste Avedikian at Celeste.Avedikian@fresnounified.org if you have any further questions regarding this event.

Robo Rally Design Document Scoring Rubric

Robo Rally Rank Scoring Rubric