High School Robotics Competition (HRC)

1. Jodrey School of Computer Science Acadia University Wednesday, Oct. 13 Karen Wilder Danny Silver Nicholas Hines High School Robotics Competition (HRC)

2. Webinar Tech Sidebar • Next to the yellow button in the upper right corner, insert your name and school • We will mute your sound to avoid feedback, W • We invite you to ask questions via the chat box on the lower right • We will occasionally poll participants with questions

3. Webinar Outline • Welcome and Introduction • LEGO NXT Mindstorms Basics • General Rules – Physical Limitations • General Rules – Programming Limitations • Can Sorting • Object Delivery • Mystery Challenge

4. Motivation for the RPC • Attracts the hearts and minds of young scientists, mathematicians, engineers and entrepreneurs • Shows our youth that they can build tomorrow’s technology today in Atlantic Canada • Stimulates interest in careers for the Digital Economy • Software Engineering – 35% expected growth in next 6 years

5. RPC Objectives • To build interest and excitement for information technology and science • To create builders of technology, not just users • To encourage kids to create hardware and software solutions • To show why math and science courses are important and interesting • To encourage and develop teamwork skills • To show that learning can be a lot of fun!

6. Feedback from Participants • Students: • “Great! Awesome! Amazing!” • “This was very fun. Took hard work and we learned a lot. Thank you!” • Coaches: • This is so exciting!  We had no idea that our students would be able to do these things so well.” • “Our students have really learned how to work as a team.”

7. Mindstorms Robot Basics • Self-paced tutorials: • NXT Software Educator Palettes • http://www.ortop.org/NXT_Tutorial/ • Brick, Inputs (sensors), Outputs (motors) • Basic Movement • Programming (Loops, Functions and Switches) • Where to get a robot … Karen

8. General Rules – Robot Physical Limitations • No more than three motors • No sensors other than the standard sensors included with the kit (touch, light… etc) • Broken sensors can be replaced with non-LEGO pieces if they serve the same purpose only without providing an advantage • Minimum height of 8” (no maximum) • Decorative items that serve no functional purpose are fine

9. General Rules – Robot Programming Limitations • All code must be written by team members • Code from previous years (legacy code) is acceptable only if written by a current member • No specifics of the competition can be programmed in before hand • Violations will result in disqualification

10. Can Sorting • http://cs.acadiau.ca/rpc/hrc/can_sorting.php

11. Can Sorting - Field • Field Dimensions - 4’ by 8’ piece of plywood with a border of 2x4’s (on their edge), the competition area is 48” by 93” and is covered by a white vinyl mat. • The competition area will be divided lengthwise by a black line with a black line across the Start Area and a grey line across the Finish Area • Start area will contain four 60 gram flat white cans and two 60 gram flat black cans

12. Can Sorting - Task • To move only the white cans into the finish zone as fast as possible (faster time = more points) • Be careful not to move the black cans over, or there will be a loss of points • 5 minutes of complete

13. Can Sorting – Rules/Judging • The robot will start in the middle of the black centre line facing the cans • The location of the cans may be randomly determined for each run • No can will be closer than 4” from the sides of the start area

14. Can Sorting - Score • 5 minutes to complete, faster time = more points. The time stops when 4 white cans are in the finish zone • 10 points: per white can is picked up/captured • 10 points: per white can delivered • -10 points: per black can is picked up/captured • -10 points: per black can delivered • Black can reductions only apply if points have been gained for white cans

15. Object Delivery • http://cs.acadiau.ca/rpc/hrc/object_delivery.php

16. Object Delivery - Field • Field Dimensions - 4’ by 8’ piece of plywood with a border of 2x4’s (on their edge), the competition area is 48” by 93” and is covered by a white vinyl mat. • There will be a 3’ by 6’ area in which a flat white jar will be placed (see object placement area on pervious slide) • The start/end area will be marked by one width of ¾” wide black electrical tape • The light will be a 4 watt night light with the filament of the bulb mounted 4 ½” above the table

17. Object Delivery - Task • To Find a container and drop a ball into it and then return to the light in the starting area • 5 minutes to complete the task

18. Object Delivery – Rules/Judging • The robot starts from the 1 ½’ x 4’ end of the table • The start location for the robot and the jar may be randomly determined for each run • The Robot will be aimed directly down the table in front of the light • The referee can relocate the robot to the start location if stuck

19. Object Delivery - Score • 5 minutes to complete, faster time = more points. Score for time only obtained if the container is found • 10 points: Finding the container • 10 points: Identifying the container with a special movement • 10 points: Depositing the ball in the container • 10 points: Robot remember home direction and turns towards it and the container was found • 10 points: If the robot finds the light

20. Object Delivery - Definitions • Finding the Container: Indicated by the robot stopping searching routines and positioning itself for delivering the object. This can be subjective but just running into the container is not considered being "found" • Special Movement: Can be a short dance or stopping and displaying a message with a sound. (Dropping the ball is not considered a "special movement".)

21. Mystery Challenge • The mission will be delivered to teams as they register on February 4, 2012 by 9:30 AM. That will provide until about 4 PM to configure the robot and program it to meet the challenge. • Two tables will be available in the morning for teams to practice on until competition time

22. Hands On Workshop • To be held at Acadia on November 19th, 2011 • Give a chance to teams to become more familiar with the changes and ask questions

23. Questions? • Resources: • http://cs.acadiau.ca/rpc/hrc/can_sorting.php • http://cs.acadiau.ca/rpc/hrc/object_delivery.php