Kick-off Info Meeting December 5, 2012 , 3:00 pm ESTDecember 7, 2012, 6:30 pm EST

December 15, 2012, 10:00 am ESTJanuary 12, 2013, 10:00am EST

Please download the kickoff zip file containing Robofest 2013 rule documents at http://www.robofest.net/13.htm

The (webinar) meeting will begin shortly.

14th 2013

The Zipped file contains the following files:

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Welcome to Robofest 2013Little robots, Big Missions

• Dr. CJ Chung, Prof. of Computer Science, Founder and Director, chung@LTU.edu

• Dr. Chris Cartwright, Associate Prof. of Math, Program Manager

• Dr. Joe DeRose• Dr. Kurt Meister• Prof. Keith Bozin• Many other LTU professors

• Teri Dubois, Associate Coordinator, tdubois@ltu.edu, 248-204-3568

• Dr. Sarah Burcon• Susan Latos• Wendy MacLennan• Bill Power• Chris Parker• Many LTU student

assistants

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Kick-off Info Meeting Agenda• Overview of Robofest• 2013 Rules for each Main Competition

category• Introduction to Associate Competitions• 2013 Registration• Schedule• Q & A

Please join the Robofest eNews list at robofest.net!

• Get students interested in STEM subjects and careers

• Increase preparedness for successful college education by increasing knowledge of STEM topics

• Promote students’ innovative and creative thinking

Goals of Robofest

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Features of Robofest• Autonomous – Sensors required• Challenging - dynamic playing fields, unknown

factors, and no direct adult help allowed • Any robotics system • Affordable (reusing old kits; reg. fee: $50)• Pre and Post Assessments (on-line)• Qualifiers, Regionals & World Championship• Age Divisions

Jr. Division: 5th – 8th

Sr. Division: 9th – 12th

• Associate Competitions for more opportunities6

2013 Season Opportunities• Main Competitions

GameExhibition including Fashion & Dance

• Associate Competitions Vision Centric Robot Challenge (VCRC) Bottle RoboSumo (aka RoboShove)

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Main Competitions

Competition Category

Age Division

Team Size

Robot Unknown factors

Assessment

Game – RoboSRC2

Jr. & Sr.

Max 7 Any Yes Yes

Exhibition Jr. & Sr.

Max 7 Any No Yes

8Team Registration Fee: $50

3 levels of Main Competition

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One World Championship

3 Regional Championships including video RC

Over 20 Local Qualifiers

May 18, 2013 at Lawrence Tech

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2013 Qualifying Sites • United States: MI, HI, TX, FL, MN, OH, IN,

MO, …• Video Submission Site (see next slide)• International: Canada, China, Hungary, India,

Korea, Mexico, …• Check out the complete list at robofest.net

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Submitting a Qualifier Video• Video Submission in Games and Exhibition

is available to teams who do not have a Robofest Qualifier in close proximity

• Game teams: contact robofest@LTU.edu prior to the submission to get unknown factors

• When submitting a video, the coach must include the signed submission form available at www.robofest.net / 2013 link

• All videos must be received by Friday, Apr 12, 2013, Noon, EDT.

• Video link highly recommended

Recognition of Video Submission Teams• Medals and Certificates will be

mailed to each coach• Winners will be decided by

Judges appointed by Robofest office

• Winner’s trophies will be shipped to the coach

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Early date qualifying sites will advance more teams than later date sites!

Regional Championships (RC)• Top teams from each qualifier will advance to a RC

Asia-pacific RC: Early Spring, Korea Michigan RC: April 27, Lawrence Tech, 60 team slots

available Video RC (non-Michigan and other international sites)

• No video required for Game teams (scores from Qualifiers to be used)

• Exhibition teams must provide video sharing site link by Noon, Friday, Apr 19, 2013, EDT

• No action needed for teams through Video Qualifier• Skype/phone interview possible

• Number of World Championship team slots allocated to each Regional will be determined in March.

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Online Assessment for Math and Science (anonymous)• Pre-assessment: Instructions will be

emailed to coaches in January.• Post-assessment: After the qualifier,

instructions will be emailed to coaches in early April.

• We need control groups (non Robofest students). If interested, please email Dr. Cartwright, ccartwrig@LTU.edu

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World Robofest Championship• Lawrence Tech, Southfield, Michigan• 60 teams will be invited from Regional

Championships• Friday, May 17, 2013 – Robofest 14th

Anniversary dinner• Saturday, May 18, 2013 World Robofest• Associate Competition

VCRC

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Team Photo Contest (Game, Exhibition, and Sr. VCRC teams)

• A team picture needs to be uploaded within 3 weeks after the team registration and at least 10 days prior to the Qualifier.

• Selection criteria: team spirit, unity, harmony, uniqueness, etc.

• Winners will be announced during the World Championship

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• Complete freedom to show off any type of creative autonomous robotics project

• Must employ sensors• Human to Robot, Robot to Robot interaction

strongly encouraged• A suggested idea for 2013 year is interactive

kinetic arts employing math, physics, and science concepts.

• Sharing online videos (such as YouTube) is highly recommended.

Exhibition Competition Category

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• Visit www.robofest.net and click on Exhibition link.

• Videos and pictures• All the top winners since 2002

Exhibition Competition Example Projects

Exhibition Judging• The application of math and science

theories that is appropriate to the team members’ age level is a strong plus for judging (25% - highest).

• Not appropriate to the age level: OK, but it may not give any advantages for the judging.

• Wow! factor & demo performance – 20%• Originality & Creativity – 20%• …

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SRCC (Search, Rescue, Cleanup, and Collect Data) – 2013 Game

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Remove (clean up) the white toxic boxes from the table Bring the black box out of the contaminated area to Home Measure the size of the contaminated area in square millimeters and

report the number Return to the Home Base.

2013 Game “SRCC” Animation – 3 ways to watch• Go to www.robofest.net and click on

“2013” link. You will find YouTube video icons.

• Go directly to the following link: http://youtu.be/TJRfrNqsouo

• Play SRCC.wmv file in the downloaded zip file.

Playing Field Layout (Jr. Division)

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a: at least 25cmb, b’: at least 15cmc: at least 20cmMin diameter: 30cm

# of boxes: 3 ~ 4Black box always on the top

Playing Field Layout (Sr. Division)

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a: at least 25cmb, b’: at least 15cmc: at least 20cmMax θ: 45 degrees

# of boxes: 3 ~ 5Black box location: unknown, but not on the bottom

• 2 rounds, 2 minutes per round• Playing field unknown factors for each

round will be different.• Teams will be given 30 minutes after the

playing field is unveiled and some playing field parameters are given.

• All teams must submit their robot to the impound area when 30 minutes has expired and after their 2 minute round has been completed.

Rounds

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• Judge (or Emcee) will specify which way (orientation) the robot will face.

• Can be placed in the Home Base area as long as part of it is on or over the foil tape and it meets the size requirements

• May hang over the edges of the table. • Players may pick up and modify their robot without penalty only when

any part of the robot is on or over the foil tape.

• Robot must start with any part on or over the Home Base plate (aluminum tape)

• Width & Length: max. 35 cm• It may hang over the edges of the table.• Players may touch / modify only when the robot is on or over the

aluminum tape

How to start the robot

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• Tower is reset• If any part of the robot is touched by a

player outside of Home Base The robot must be re-started from Home Base

using the same start orientation The team may (1) start without reset OR

(2) request full-reset of the tower. (Red Card!)

Red Card (-5): max two times

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Scoring Sheet (1)

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Scoring Sheet (2)

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• Max width and length: 35cm x 35cm (May expand automatically after starting.

• Height and weight limitation: none• Only one robot controller for each robot• Any number of sensors/sensor types • Any number/type of motors/servo motors • Any material/robot kit may be used to

construct your robot including tape, glue, bolts and nuts, rubber bands, etc.

• Team ID tag

Robot Specifications

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FAQs (1)• Can teams adjust the height of the robot

after the tower information is unveiled? Yes. Teams may need to bring additional parts.

• Is there a required sequence of missions? No, but “the come back to Home” task must be the last action. (In other words, when the game ends, the robot must be at Home to get the 10 points for returning home.)

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FAQs (2)• Can we ask for a reset of the tower when the

robot is in action? No, only when the robot is at the Home Base.

• Can we ask for a tower reset without penalty when the robot is over Home Base? No. Whenever the tower is reset, a Red Card is given, if max Red Cards not given.

• It brought the black box back to Home. Can a player remove the box from the robot in order to try remaining missions? Yes, after getting Judge’s confirmation that the black box was saved. Give the box to Judge.

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FAQs (3)• My robot brought the black box back to

Home Base. Can we ask a partial reset of the tower without the black box? No.

• My robot brought a white box back to Home (-10 points). Can we ask a full reset? Yes.

• I grabbed my robot. Can I restart my robot without the tower reset? Yes.

• Must the robot stop at Home Base? No. It is desirable to make it stop. A player may pick it up at Home Base without penalty.

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FAQs (4)

• Do the Judges stop the clock to reset the tower? No.

• Can a robot still display the area after the 2 minute time runs out? Yes.

• Can a player reset the tower? No. It must be done only by Judges. Remember: you will be asked to restart if you touch the tower boxes. A penalty will be assessed.

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2013 Associate Competitions• June 8-10 at Oakland University during

IGVC (www.igvc.org)• VCRC and RoboShove • First come, first served. Space is limited.

Register and pay reg. fee early!

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Associate Competitions

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Competition Category

Age Division

Team Size

Robot Unknown factors

Assessment

Vision Centric Robot Challenge (VCRC)

Sr. Max 3 L2Bot or Any*

Partly yes No

College Max 2 Any* Yes No

RoboShove Jr. & Sr. Max 3 Any Yes No

Registration fee: $50 (*) need pre-approval

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VCRC 2013

• Vision-based robot competition

• Senior and College Divisions

• More challenging than previous years

Go to robofest.net/collegiate for 2013 Rules and to watch a video of past competitions

2013 VCRC course

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RoboShove (aka Bottle RoboSumo)The objective of the game is to either be the first robot to find and intentionally push a 2 liter bottle (filled with 1 liter of water) off the table OR be the last robot remaining on the table.

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How to Register a Team for both main & associate competitions

1. Read 2013 rules; if you are a returning coach, go to 4 below.

2. Go to robofest.net, click on 2013 button, and submit New Coach Registration form

3. Confirm the registration at your email account – If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact robofestoffice@gmail.com

4. Log on to the coach account at robofest.net 5. Select a qualifying site and a category per team6. Register team(s)7. Pay registration fee online using PayPal (or send a

check)8. Upload team photo; update team info as necessary

Registration FAQ

• Can a coach register multiple teams at a site: Yes

• Can a coach using one coach ID register teams in multiple sites? Yes

• Can a student be a member of multiple teams? Yes, but not the same category

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Registration Deadline

• 21 days (3 weeks) before the Qualifying Competition date

• If a division at a site does not have 5 teams or more, teams registered at the site may be moved to another site; or teams can enter via video submission

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Becoming a Team Coach• Any teacher, school administrator, parent,

tech specialist, or scientist/engineer is eligible to be a coach.

• Coaches must be adults without criminal record.

• Please note: email is the primary and official communication method between the team and the Robofest organizer.

• Coaches must agree to and abide by the 2013 Coach’s Pledge

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Roles of Team Coach• Recruit team volunteers, including tech

mentors and assistant coaches, if needed• Find sponsors• Responsible for facilitating team meetings• Responsible for entering/updating the team

data and uploading team & robot photos• Collect Consent & Release forms to submit

at all event check-ins• Coordinate online pre & post assessment

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Age Division Waiver Requests:• Coaches must submit the Age

Division Waiver Request Form by email or fax, if there is any age exception.

• Robofest will return the form to the coach with approval or disapproval.

• Usually, playing up is permitted.

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Things to bring on Competition Day

• Check-in fee (if required by the qualifying host)• A laptop or PC for each team• Exhibition teams:

Hard copy of programs to give to judges, optional Poster boards to introduce the exhibition description

and all the necessary materials for the exhibition Video sharing link Your own stage, music file and player for Fashion &

Dance• A power strip and power cord• Extra batteries or battery charger• Signed Consent & Release forms

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2013 Main Season Schedule• Dec 5: Rules announced & posted on the web;

Team registration begins• Late December: finalization of Rules; watch for

eNews announcement• Jan ~ Feb, 2013: Technical workshops, On-

site workshops, pre-assessment• Feb 23: Warm-up at LTU (Judge Training)• Mar ~ early Apr: Qualifiers, post assessment• April 12: Video Qualifier deadline• April 27: Regional Championships completed• May 19: World Robofest Championship

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Technical Workshops at LTU (& Webinar): watch for URL by email

Date: Time: Workshop: Location: Instr.Sat. Jan. 12 1-4p NXTG for Game LTU, M218 Prof. Bozin

Sat. Jan. 19 9a-12p NXTG for Game LTU, M218 Dr. Cartwright

1-4p NXTG for Game LTU, M218 Dr. DeRose

Sat. Jan. 26 9a-12p RobotC for Game LTU, M218 Dr. Cartwright

1p-4p RobotC for Game LTU, M218 Dr. Brauchler

Sat. Feb. 2 9a-12p “NXTG for Game” LTU, M218 ?

Sat. Feb. 9 9a-12p NXTG for Game LTU, M218 ?

1p-4p NXTG for Exh LTU, M218 ?

On campus workshops are only for registered teams

NXT-G or RobotC workshop

• Mainly for SRCC game• Bring a pre-assembled Lego NXT robot

that can follow the edge of white table with one light sensor

• Attach another light sensor to detect a box• Bring a laptop with NXT-G software

installed• Do not forget to bring a USB cable

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SRCC Game Field Kits may be available for purchase• Robofest office M219 in Jan ~ Feb.

• Table: Price TBD• SRCC kits - $10

• 2 Shapes• 4 Kleenex boxes• Aluminum foil tapes

• Tape Measures, protractor - TBD• robofestoffice@gmail.com • We will ship SRCC Game kits for each

official host site

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Miscellaneous Info

• PVSA (President's Volunteer Service Awards)

• More Lawrence Tech Scholarships!• Free Android Robofest Timer. Use

keyword “Robofest Timer”• GRAF (Global Robot Arts Festival in fall

2013) – RoboParade, Robot Music, Dance, and Interactive Kinetic Sculptures

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Questions?

Send robofest@LTU.edu questions, comments, corrections, and suggestions