Hogg Middle School – December 6, 2003

1. Fall 2003E.A.R.L.Y.Engineering And Robotics Learned Young*Formerly known as: Simple Machines Robotics Challenge Hogg Middle School – December 6, 2003 The 2003 FALL EARLY Competition is here! The residents of Sunset Island need your help in rebuilding after the hurricanes! Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

2. What is the EARLY Program? • The EARLY is a LEGO-Based robotics competition for elementary schools in the Houston, Austin and San Antonio area. The competition will be held on December 6th at Hogg Middle School at the same time as the FIRST Lego League Competition. • Why Participate in EARLY? • The EARLY is a great stepping stone for student and mentors to be involved with two other robotics competitions. • FIRST LEGO League – Nationwide Lego-based Robotics competition for Middle Schools • Competition to be held on the same day and same location as the EARLY Competition • BotBall – LEGO-based robotics competition for Middle Schools. • FIRST Robotics – Nationwide Robotics competition for High Schools. • Great experience for the students – promotes early exposure to science and technology in hopes that it will encourage them, at a young age, to pursue a career in one of the many technology industries. • ITS FUN!!!! Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

3. What Is Needed In Order To Participate In EARLY? • Must register by November 1 (contact Lucien.Junkin@jsc.nasa.gov) • Must Purchase 4 Simple Machines Lego Kits (for information, follow the link at http://www.ghg.net/jfox/lego or http://www.houstonrobotics.org) • At least 1 (preferably 2 or 3 or more) Team Mentors willing to ‘coach’ the students and help them build a competitive robot. • A small group of fun-loving, interested students (approximately 5-10 students is ideal for a team) • We have found that, although LEGOs are traditionally a ‘boys toy’, both boys and girls equally enjoy playing with LEGOs and participating in EARLY. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

4. Beach Robot Base 12 in 15 in 4 ft Town Dock River 15 in Safety Rail ¼" x ¾" Molding Encloses the Dock and Ship Ship 15 in 15 in Warehouse 15 in 15 in Ship Deck 15" x 15" x ¾" Plywood Platform Warehouse Hill 15" x 15" x ¾" Plywood Platform 4 ft The Arena - Robot Base – Robots start here - Town – This is where all of the Supply Pods are located at the beginning of the game. - Warehouse – Located in Town. Elevated ¾”. Contains Supply Pods at start of game. - River – Obstacle. In order to score points, Supply Pods must cross the River - Beach – One of the three Scoring Zones – Fewest points - Dock – One of the three Scoring Zones – More points - Ship – Elevated ¾”. One of the three Scoring Zones – Most points *** For “Perfect Score”, all Supply Pods will end the game in Ship. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

5. The Supply Pod Carriers – Details Supply Stand - Supply Bin Supply Chain Supply Platform Supply Lift Supply Trolley Supply Rover Supply Wheel Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

6. Robot Base Town River Warehouse The Supply Pod Carriers – Starting Locations 8 Types of Carriers - Supply Chain - Supply Stand - Supply Bin - Supply Wheel - Supply Rover - Supply Trolley - Supply Platform - Supply Lift Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

7. Playing the Game – Scoring • Scoring • The team’s score is determined at the end of the 2-minute mission. • If a Supply Pod is moving when time expires, the judge will wait until the Pod has stopped moving before determining it’s scoring position. • 5 Points for each Supply Pod on the SHIP’S DECK. • 3 Points for each Supply Pod on the DOCK. • 1 Point for each Supply Pod on the BEACH. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

8. Playing the Game – Rules • The team has 2 minutes to complete the mission. • There will be 30 Supply Pods on the playing field at the beginning of each mission. • There will be 5 Supply Pods in the ROBOT BASE at the beginning of each mission. If they chose, the human players may place these Supply Pods onto their robot after the start of the mission (see rule 24). • The team scores 5 points for each Supply Pod on the SHIP’S DECK. • The team scores 3 points for each Supply Pod on the DOCK. • The team scores 1 point for each Supply Pod on the BEACH. • The team’s score is determined at the end of the 2-minute mission. • If a Supply Pod is moving when time expires, the judge will wait until the Pod has stopped moving before determining it’s scoring position. • A Supply Pod counts as on the SHIP’S DECK if it is breaking the inside plane of the SHIP’S RAIL. • A Supply Pod counts as on the DOCK if it is breaking the inside plane of the DOCK’S RAIL (if a Supply Pod is on the BEACH and is resting against the DOCK RAIL, it scores 1 point). Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

9. Playing the Game – Rules (Continued) • A Supply Pod counts as on the BEACH if any part of the Supply Pod is breaking the plane of the zone between the BEACH and the RIVER. • The ROBOT BASE is part of the TOWN. • The team’s robot/robots and all parts must start inside of the ROBOT BASE at the beginning of the 2‑minute mission. • The ROBOT BASE is the 12” x 15” boundary extended vertically (i.e. the robot can not hang over the line at the beginning of the mission). • The line indicating the ROBOT BASE is part of the ROBOT BASE. • The team can touch their robot without penalty when the robot is partially inside the ROBOT BASE but after touching, the robot must be completely inside the ROBOT BASE to continue the mission. • The team’s robot/robots must start inside of the ROBOT BASE every time it is returned to the ROBOT BASE during the mission (i.e. no part of the robot can be breaking the plane of the ROBOT ZONE line after being touched by a team member). • A penalty of 5 points will be assessed if a team touches their robot, including parts that have become separated from the robot, that is outside of the ROBOT BASE. • If a robot is touched, the robot must be returned to the ROBOT BASE to continue the mission. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

10. Playing the Game – Rules (Continued) • The controller and wire are NOT considered part of the robot. • The robot shall not have any elastic stored energy (i.e. stretched rubber band) when the mission begins or when the robot is returned to base but elastic stored energy can be generated from activating a motor. • The controller and wire can ONLY be used to provide electrical power to robot motors (i.e. it can not be used to drag the robot, corral Supply Pods, etc.). • If a controller or wire are used illegally (judges call), the team will be required to immediately place the robot back in the ROBOT BASE to continue the mission. • A team may touch any playing piece, including Supply Pods, COMPLETELY inside the ROBOT BASE without penalty. • If a playing piece is illegally touched, the playing piece along with any Supply Pods it is holding will be removed from play for the remainder of the mission. • A playing piece is NEVER considered part of the robot. • Relief supplies are very valuable. A penalty of 5 points will be assessed for each Supply Pod that leaves the playing field. • All judge’s rulings are final and may not be appealed. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

11. How to Prepare – Designing and Building • Designing and Building the Robot • You may want to spend one or two meetings with the students explaining the very basics about: • Gears – Gear ratios and connecting them • Levers – mechanical advantage of levers. (see-saw, wheel barrel, etc.) • Pulleys • Wheels and Motors – How to connect the wheels to the motors • First connect directly to the motor and make a demonstration. • Then introduce Gears into the wheel-motor system in order to change the direction and speed of the rotating wheel • Steering – Decide if your robot should have the capability to steer and if so, how? • Tank steer – left side wheels spin one way while the right side wheels spin the other. • Automobile-type steering – front (or back) wheels turn left or right • Casters – i.e. a grocery cart. • Always give examples so that the students can relate: • When explaining levers, explain why they are used? • Ex. Why does a wheel barrel allow a person to carry a heavier load? • Gear Ratios • Ex. Why are automobile transmissions used? Different speeds and power • Wheels and Motors • Ex. How does the power from a car motor make the car drive down the road? • Give ‘homework’ – ex. Ask the students come think of 3 examples of where gears are used in everyday life. Have them to list those examples at the beginning of the next meeting. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

12. How to Prepare – Designing and Building • Designing and Building the Robot • Helpful Hint: After the entire team understands the game (scoring, tasks, penalties, etc.), have the team discuss several possible ‘game strategies’ and then choose the best one for your team**. • ** IMPORTANT:THIS DECISION WILL DETERMINE WHAT YOUR ROBOT WILL BE DESIGNED TO DO. • Possible game strategies: • Drive behind the Supply Carriers and PUSH them to the scoring zone. • You will need to design a PUSHING robot. • Drive to the Supply Carriers and HOOK on to them and then PULL them to the scoring zone. • You will need to design a HOOKING and PULLING robot. • Drive to the Supply Carriers and scoop them up and carry them to the scoring zone. • You will need to design a dumptruck-like robot. • etc. • Does the robot require steering in order to fulfill the chosen game strategy? Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

13. How to Prepare – Designing and Building • Designing and Building the Robot • Determine what components (subsystems) your robot will require. • Chassis (with or without steering)? • Scooping tool? • A ‘bulldozer’ tool on the front for pushing? • A hook for picking up transporters? • A compartment for carrying transporters (a dump truck bed)? • Suggestion: After you determine what ‘subsystems’ your robot will need, then divide the students into groups in order to build each part. • example: Have half of the students build the chassis (motors, gears, wheels, etc.) and have the other half of the team build the ‘tools’ (scooper, hook, etc.). This will require some work between the groups to determine how one subsystem will attach to the other subsystem. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

14. How to Prepare – Practicing • In order to facilitate practicing, it is VERY helpful to build a replica of the playing arena, including Supply Carriers and Supply Pods (marbles). • You can make a mock-up of the playing arena with: • four 2 x 4’s • 4 ft x 4 ft of 3/8” plywood • Standard 8 ft. strip of 1/4” x 3/4” screen molding • 4 ft x 4 ft of 3/4” plywood • Can of Marbles • It is very important to get AT LEAST one meeting session for nothing but practicing match strategies and scenarios. • Have each student drive the robot for an entire 2 minute match period under actual match conditions (with penalties), if possible while other students are running the stop watch and adding up the points. • Be sure to go over all of the rules (scoring, penalties, etc.) with the team. • It is not uncommon for the team to decide that they need to change the design of the robot AFTER practicing with the first (or second or third) version built. • YOU CAN NEVER PRACTICE TOO MUCH! • YOU CAN NEVER PRACTICE TOO MUCH! Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

15. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Do we need to bring the Supply Carriers to the tournament? A: No, you only need to bring your robot. There will be 2 complete playing arenas set up for the competition. There will most likely be another ‘unofficial’ arena set up for the teams to practice with throughout the day. Q: How many rounds/matches will we compete in? A: Each team will have a minimum of 3 rounds in which they compete. A2: Depending on the number of teams that enter, more rounds may be scheduled, but all teams will compete in the same number of rounds. Q: Does the Supply Pod count as “in a zone” if the carrier which it resides is “in the zone”? A: The Supply Pod must be in the zone (i.e. beach, dock, or ship) for it to score. The supply pod carrier location does not matter. Q: Can the team modify a robot while it is in the ROBOT BASE? A: Yes, they can add or subtract without penalty as long as the "stuff" they bring to the table is not from more than 3 Simple Machine kits. They can also load (Supply Carriers and Supply Pods that are in base) without penalty. Remember, all of the "stuff" must fit in the ROBOT BASE at the beginning of the mission. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

16. Frequently Asked Questions Q: If the Supply Carriers fall apart, is there a penalty? A: No, it is not a penalty but intentional destruction is not allowed. If destruction (intentional or unintentional) is occurring AND the team does not heed a warning given by the judge (ex. "Hey guys, please quit running the carrier into the wall like that", the judge will instruct the team to retrieve the robot (with penalty) and sit out the remainder of the mission. Finally, some of the carriers will be "glued" together but none of the Supply Pods will be glued to the carriers. Q: Do we have to use 3 Simple Machines Kits to build our robot? A: The total sum of parts available in 3 Simple Machine Kits can be used in any combination to build your robot. You do not have to use all of the parts. You may not use additional Lego parts from any other Lego kits. Q: May we glue our Robots together? A: NO! There should be no materials other than that of the 3 Simple Machines Kits used. Please remember that these kits have to be used for future competitions. Q: May we modify the LEGOs? A: No, LEGO bricks and parts cannot be modified in any way. Even the strings can not be cut to make shorter strings. Please remember that these kits have to be used for future competitions. Q: Should our Robot be built BEFORE we arrive at the competition on December 6th? A: Absolutely, show up at Hogg Middle School ready to start competing. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

17. Online Help • Official EARLY webpage - This site has the Official rules and regulations and all you need to get started. • http://www.houstonrobotics.org/EARLYChallengeFall2003/EARLYchallengeFall2003.htm • There is an online message/discussion board at: www.ghg.net/jfox/lego • Feel free to use this webpage for an open discussion forum for rules clarifications, hints, tips and other information. • Competition Officials will attempt to check this board often to answer any questions that are posted. Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young

18. Review and Q&A Fall 2003 Engineering And Robotics Learned Young