Students program the VEX or Lego EV3 robots to complete pre-set tasks autonomously.
Event Description
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 25, 2024.
Common Core Standards and 4-C’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
Robots must be built and programmed to complete a number of different “missions” on the course. For this event, robots will be required to complete each mission autonomously, not remote-controlled. Missions may be completed in any order and may be 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.
Missions
Balloon Pop (2pts): The robot must autonomously drive over and pop the balloon. The red team pops the red balloon, blue team pops the blue balloon. We will be using standard 12” balloons taped vertically to the top of a brick.
Figure Rescue (4pts): The robot must autonomously drive over to rescue the figure and then bring it back to the home area. The figure will be replaced on the starting towers if it falls off the brick.
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.
Sudden Death: If there is a tie in the final 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.
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.
Reward Points
Teams will advance through the tournament bracket in an attempt to make it to the championship round and win the final match. 1st place will receive 70pts and each subsequent rank will receive 3 fewer points than the prior rank:
(2nd = 67pts, 3rd = 64pts, 4th = 61pts and so on).
| Points from Rank | 70 | 70 – 3 (Your Rank -1) |
| Points from Design Document | 30 | See Design Document on next page |
| TOTAL POINTS | 100 |
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 13, 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)
| Trial | Time | Adjustments |
| 1 | 4.2 s | First successful completion of balloon pop mission. |
| 2 | 3.2 s | Increased the power on the motors to 100% |
| 3 | 2.7 s | Used the larger wheels on the robot. |
Getting Help
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.