Robofest 2006 Informational Meeting “Inspiring Young Minds to Master the Machine.”

1. Robofest 2006 Informational Meeting “Inspiring Young Minds to Master the Machine.” Lori Birman and CJ Chung Lawrence Technological University

2. Welcome to Robofest 2006Little robots,Big Missions Dr. David Bindschadler Chair of Math/Computer Science Dept.

3. Agenda • Overview of Robofest • 2006 Regional & International Competition Sites • Prior Robofest Games • Robofest 2006 Game & 2006 Rules: • 2006 Game: Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge • 2006 Exhibition Competition • Judging and prizes, How Teams Advance to World Robofest • General Registration Process • Team Coaches, Student Team Members • Common Sense Rules for Education • Team’s Responsibility on Robofest Day • Rules for Video Submission Site • New Pilot Program Competitions for 2006 • Coach & Team Resources: Robofest Academy, Autonomous Robotics Classes for Educators, Tips on Starting a Team • 2006 Schedule & Warm-up Competition • Q & A

4. What is Robofest • Annual ‘autonomous’ robotics contest • no joysticks or remote controls are allowed • Students 5th - 12th grade • Offers two categories* for teams to compete: • Games and • Exhibitions (*2006 Pilot Categories will be discussed later during 2006 Rules.)

5. Robofest is growing Number of students participated

6. Goals of Robofest • To spark young students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) • Promote students' creative and innovative and critical thinking skills • Challenge and advance the scientific and engineering skills of students • Promote good teamwork and work ethics • Build our future technical work force • Recognize students' achievements

7. Game Competition Category • Students are challenged to accomplish missions using two fully autonomous robots they have created and programmed to work cooperatively. • The day of competition, they will be given the “unknown” portion of the mission.

8. Exhibition Competition Category • Each team has complete freedom to show off any type of creative autonomous robotics project • Exhibition robots have danced, played music and games, dressed in costumes, performed mathematical calculations, etc. • Exhibition is limited only by the student’s imagination!

9. Age Divisions There are two Age Divisions in both the Games and Exhibition competition categories of Robofest: • 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

10. 2006 Robofest Competition Sites • Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea, December 17 • Hillside Middle School, Northville, Michigan, April 1 • Macomb Intermediate School District, MISD, Clinton Township, Michigan, April 1 • Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 7 • Herlong Cathedral School, Detroit, Michigan, April 8 • Evergreen High School, San Jose, CA, April 8 • West Melbourne, Florida, April 8 • St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas, April 22 • Carman Ainsworth Junior High, Flint, Michigan, April 22 • Canton Charter Academy, Canton, Michigan, April 29 • Woodland High School, Woodland, California, April 29 • Erle Rivers School, Milk River, Alberta, Canada, April 29 • Ann Arbor Trail Magnet Middle School, Detroit, MI, April 29 • Sky Valley Education Center, Monroe, WA, April 29 • Robotech Center, Nashua, New Hampshire, May 7 • World Robofest, LTU, Southfield, Michigan, May 13

11. FireFighter Race RoboTag 1st Robofest, 2000

12. 2nd Robofest, 2001 RoboMessenger Registration had to be closed early… Handy Board Division for High School Teams was introduced

13. 3rd Robofest 2002 Challenges:RoboRescuers

14. 4th Robofest 2003 Competition Unknown challenges introduced Mission Possible

15. 5th Robofest 2004 Competition Earthquake Challenge

16. 6th Robofest 2005 - RoboRelay Junior Division Senior Division No Line

17. 7th Robofest 2006: Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge

18. 7th Robofest 2006: Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge Resources • Streaming Video on the web • Mpeg file will be available soon on the web • Game scenarios animations will be available on the web

19. Toxic Waste Cleanup ChallengeJunior Division The brightness of the competition area is unknown

21. 2006 Game Rules • Unknown missions will be unveiled right after opening ceremony. It may require physical interaction between two human players. • For each round, whenever the team is ready to compete, come to the on-deck circle, staging area with the robots • 2 minutes per game are given • 2 chances (rounds) are given for each team • Only two players are allowed in the official playing field. One minute will be allowed for setup before each round

22. In Case of Any Failure • Team may start the first robot from the beginning for perfect score, or • Team may retry only the second robot by starting it manually

23. Extra Points • If all missions are completed in a sequence from the beginning till the end without any human help, then extra 5 points will be given. • Flash Extra Points: To encourage teams to try early in the first round, the first match teams will get 2 extra points. (If there are two official playing fields, then two teams will get the extra points). The second match teams will get 1 point.

24. Robot Specifications: • You must use only one (8 bit micro-processor based) robot controller for each robot. • You may useany 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; we recommend an icon-based graphical programming language for the Junior division.

25. Playing Field Construction • Final shape, angle, and length will be unveiled on the competition day • 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.

26. Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge - Senior Division

27. Rules for Senior Division: Same as the Junior Division

28. 2006 Exhibition Competition • Each team has complete freedom to demonstrate any type of autonomous robotics project • Teams will have five minutes to explain and demonstrate their project • Each team will answer one question from the Official • Wireless host computer control is allowed • Teams must bring all necessary materials such as music, display boards, easels, etc.

29. Recommended topics for Robofest 2006 Exhibitions • Practical Household robots • Using data logging capabilities of robots • Robot pets • Robots for scientific experiments • Practical robotic applications

30. Judging and Prizes: • Everyone is the winner: All students will receive medals and framed certificates • 30% of the total number of teams at each Regional and International site will win large award trophies. • Game Competition • Performance Awards • Presentation Awards • Judge’s Awards • Exhibition Competition • Judge’s Awards

31. … … … … PR teamID Score _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ PS teamID Score PS teamID Score PS teamID Score PR teamID Score _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ PS teamID Score PS teamID Score PS teamID Score m n n Game Competition Judging Model Inspection Judges (Working as a group) Game Judges Round 1 Round 2 Final R&CI teamID Score comments _____ ____ ________ _____ ____ ________ _____ ____ ________ Judge’s awards m 1 • Performance awards (based on PSs) • Judge’s Awards (based on R&CI) • Presentation Awards (based on PR) World Competition Advancement list (based on weighted overall data) Score Keeper (in Excel) n: number of teams m: number of official tracks

32. Game CompetitionPerformance Award Judging • Game Competition Final Round Teams will be determined by the average of each team’s first and second round scores. • Game Competition Performance Winners will be decided by the average of their best two score. (The Final Round teams will have three scores, we take their best two scores to decide winners)

33. Game CompetitionJudge’s Award Judging • A team of judges inspects Robots and Program Codes. Inspection items are: • Program code structure and readability • Adaptability • Reliability • Originality • Creativity • Functionality • Durability • New technologies used • … • Inspection Judges work off Judging Rubrics that are not made public • Presentation Awards are decided by the average of the scores by m Game Judges

34. World Competition Advancement list (based on weighted overall data) Exhibition Judging Exhibition Judges (Working as a group) teamID cat1 cat2 … catn Score Comments _____ ___ ___ … ___ ____ ________ _____ ___ ___ … ___ ____ ________ (See Exhibition Competition Advancement Rules for categories) 1 Score Keeper (in Excel) Judge’s Awards

35. World Robofest 2006 Championships: • Top Teams at each Regional and International Competition Site will qualify to move on to compete at World Robofest • May 13, 2005 at Lawrence Tech in Michigan

36. How Teams Advance to the World Robofest 2006 Championships: • We plan to invite 16 Junior Games Teams, 14 Senior Games Teams and 10 Exhibition Teams to the World Robofest • 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.

37. Game Competition Advancement is Based on the Following Data with Weights: • Average Performance score - 80%* • Team Public Presentation and Answer of Question - 10% • Robot & Code Inspection and Team Interview - 10% *Finalist Teams will use the average of their best two rounds

38. Exhibition Competition Advancement is Based on the following data with weights • 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 - 7% • Usefulness - 7% • New Technologies Used and Other Factors - 6%

39. Team Coaches: • Can be any teacher, school administrator, parent, college student, professor, technical specialist, or scientist/engineer eligible to coach. • Email to the coach is the primary and official communication method between the team and the Robofest organizer. • Coaches must agree to and abide by the 2006 Coach’s Pledge

40. 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

41. 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.

42. How to Register Teams – New Coaches • Read 2006 rules • Go to www.robofest.net from Wed. Dec.14th, 2005 • Submit the online form • Confirm the registration at your email account – If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact chung@LTU.edu • Team registration will begin tentatively on Jan 5, 2006. Exact time will be announced by emails to registered coaches • Log on the coach account • Select one regional site • Register team(s) • Pay registration fee ($35 per team) online using PayPal (or by sending a check) • Upload team and robot photo, and update team info as necessary

43. How to Register Teams – Veteran 2003, 2004, 2005 Coaches • Read 2006 rules • Make sure your coach ID and password • Team registration will begin tentatively on Jan 5, 2006. Exact time will be announced by emails to registered coaches • Log on the coach account • Select one regional site • Register team(s) • Pay registration fee ($35) online using PayPal or by check • Upload team and robot photo, update team information as necessary

44. 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 mission. Coaches must receive Judging Proctor approval to enter the Team Pit area.

45. Team's Responsibility on Robofest Day Prior to Opening Ceremony • All the teams must check-in by the time set by the host organizer. Usually 8:30am. • Teams must use the team table assigned by the organizer. Please do not change the team tables; judges may visit the team tables • Game teams must have inspection before the competition begins. Submit the hard copy of your program to judges during the inspection

46. Game Team's Responsibility During Competition • In the competition round 1, Each team member must introduce her/his name, grade, and role using a microphone to Game Judges & the public within 15 seconds. • Emcee will ask a question selected at random. • The team needs to answer the question within 45 seconds

47. Exhibition Team's Responsibility During Competition • They will have 5 minutes for the presentation and robot demonstration of the project • The 5 minute presentation must include the introduction of each team member’s role and accomplishments using a microphone to Judges & the public • After the demo, they will also answer a question from the Official; they will have 45 seconds to answer.

48. Age Division Waiver Requests: • Any exceptions to the Age Divisions must be submitted by the Team Coach in writing to Robofest for approval. • Coaches must use the Age Division Waiver Request Form. • Other team members and their parents must provide approval as well. • Robofest will notify the result to the coach

49. Things to bring on Robofest Competition Day: • $20 check-in fee (if required by the regional host) • A laptop or PC for each team • Hard copy of programs to give to judges • Only for exhibition teams: poster boards to introduce the exhibition description and all the necessary materials for the exhibition. • A power strip and power cord • Cardboard box to cover your robot and IR tower when downloading (Lego teams only) • Extra batteries • Signed Consent & Media Release forms

50. Rules for Video Submission Site: • Video Submission in both Games and Exhibition is available to teams who do not have a Robofest Competition in close proximity. • When submitting video, the coach must include the signed submission form • All videos must be postmarked by April 29, 2006.