EcoBot Marketing Competition Training

1. EcoBot Marketing Competition Training

2. Marketing Competition Overview • The concept of the All-Earth EcoBot Challenge Marketing Competition is related to the 2011 robotics challenges. • All presentations should incorporate the 2011 EcoBot Challenge theme of Water, Resources, and/or Power Consumption. • The tasks from the robotics challenges maybe used when developing your fictional robot and PowerPoint presentations • Each marketing team is composed of four (4) students

3. Robotic Challenges • The Mineral Mountain task will extract aluminum and utilize it in other products. Can you develop a robot to efficiently remove bauxite ore from mines? • The ECO Ship expresses the need for robots to maneuver goods to and from ships and around the Port of Houston. Will you be able to create a robot that can complete this task? Is it cost effective? • The Tidal Turbine Power Generator goal is to bring clean power to the Port of Houston with an electricity-generating system using the power of the tides. Does your robot use the gravitational pull of the moon to increase waves to generate power? • The Dredgeful Island uses erosion from ships that enter the Port of Houston to create wildlife sanctuaries. Does your robot have the capabilities to widen and deepen the Ship Channel for larger tankers to enter and help develop wildlife habitats?

4. NEW 4th Grade Marketing Challenge • For the 2011 All-Earth EcoBot Challenge, 4th grade students will be given a special opportunity to participate in the Marketing Challenge. • This opportunity will give 4th grade participants a unique introduction into the wonderful world of robotics. • Each 4th grade marketing team is composed of four (4) students. • The top 10 teams selected to present will be notified on Friday, April 1, 2011.

5. Design a Marketing Plan • Name your company. • Pick an environmental issue. • What do you want to invent? • Determine your market. • Set your price. • Devise a slogan.

6. Create a Company Name • Who are you? • A name can be very powerful. What will your name say about you? • Who is your target audience? • What type of services will your robot provide?

7. Define Environmental Need • Pick an issue that addresses the competition theme water, resources, and power consumption. • What does the environment need? For example: Clean water • How will your robot impact the environment for the future? • How will your robot be useful to the environment?

8. Explain Your Invention • What does your robot do? • Are the parts of your robot recyclable or interchangeable? • What environmental service will your robot provide? • What tasks will your robot perform? • What makes your robot different from the others already on the market?

9. Determine Your Marketing Strategy Ask yourself the following questions about your target industries: • What industries will you market to? • Where are they located? • What are their needs? • What do they value? • Why would they be interested in your product? • How would your robot be useful to their industry?

10. Set the Price • How much will your robot cost? • What is the right number that will attract industries to purchase your robot? • Is your price below or above current market value? • How much will you need to charge in order to make a profit? • Will you offer additional services, such as warranties and insurance?

11. Develop a slogan • Create a slogan that will explain your EcoBot’s mission in “Saving the Earth”. • Make sure that your slogan is catchy and easy to market. • Examples: It’s the real thing = Coke Just Do It = Nike

12. Presentation Rules • You must use Microsoft PowerPoint software and limited streamed video clips in your PowerPoint format. You will be penalized for using streamed video clips excessively. • Your presentation must contain a maximum of 5 slides. • Your presentation must not be larger than 3 MB. • You will have 5 minutes to present the PowerPoint and 2 minutes for questions from the judges. • Participants are encouraged not to read the slides.

13. Important Information If your 4th grade marketing team is selected to present at the 2011 All-Earth EcoBot Challenge and the team resides outside of Harris County, then they must follow the fee structure below. This fee must be submitted no later than April 8, 2011.   Within Harris County: Local schools and organizations within Harris County are allowed to participate free of charge. Outside of Harris County: Registration Fee for 1st team - $150.00 Registration Fee for 2nd team - $50.00 Registration Fee for 3rd team - $50.00 Additional teams that are selected from the wait list will be charged a $50.00 registration fee. Please make checks payable to: Harris County Department of Education Include the following information in the memo field: EcoBot Code: 1991-00-931-00-931-5729-0001 Please send payment to: Harris County Department of Education Attn: CASE EcoBot Coordinator 6300 Irvington Blvd. Houston, TX 77022

14. Important Deadlines • Presentations are due on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. • All PowerPoint presentations must be sent via e-mail to presentations@ecobotchallenge.com. • In order to be reviewed each presentation must be labeled with the following items in the e-mail subject line and as the title of the PowerPoint presentation: • 5th-8th grade teams: school name and team name • 4th grade teams: 4th grade, school name, and team name • Example: CASE Elementary Super Robots or 4th grade CASE Elementary Raging Robots • The top 30 5th-8th grade teams selected to present will be notified on Friday, April 1, 2011. The top 10 4th grade teams selected to present will be notified on Friday, April 1, 2011. • The 2011 All-Earth EcoBot Challenge will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the University of Houston Athletic/Alumni Center.

15. Questions? Ne’Cauje Turner CASE Models Coordinator Harris County Department of Education (713) 696-0774 nturner@hcde-texas.org