Technology for Seniors

Using Technology to Improve the Quality of Life of Senior Citizens

Maryland State 4-H Robotic Challenge 2014

LEGO Robotics 4-H Challenge

Through the Technology for Seniors, 4-H members involved in robotics

will create LEGO robots that complete tasks related to improving the

quality of life of senior citizens on a 4 ‘ X 4’ board. NXT based LEGO robots

will automate wheelchairs, bring 4-H members and technology to senior

centers and sort medicine. Teams will also complete a service project that

will assist seniors in their community with technology.

1.0 Teams

1.1 Teams will consist of three to eight 4-H members.

1.2 Teams will register through the county extension offices with

the State 4-H Robotics Committee from February 1st to July

31st. Once a team is registered through the county, the county

can order game pieces ($30 per set). Team coaches will also

be added to a list serv to receive information and updates

about the game and state contest. The registration form is

found on the Maryland State 4-H Robotics Challenge web

page http://extension.umd.edu/4-h/4-h-program-

areas/robotics-0

1.5 State Fair Competition

1.5.1 Up to two teams from each county and Baltimore City can

be selected by each county/city to participate in the state

competition in each age division of Junior, Intermediate and

Senior.

1.5.2 County Extension educators will enter the team(s) into the State

Fair Competition by July 31st.

1.5.3 There will be a $20 registration fee for the state fair competition per team.

Checks should be made payable to the “Maryland 4-H Foundation”.

1.5.4 The State 4-H Competition will be held on the first Sunday of

the Maryland State Fair. Teams will be provided with a

scheduled time for their project and technical presentations.

1.5.5 Each team will be provided with a 6’ or 8’ pit table space. The team should use the table to present their service project.

1.5.6 Teams will be divided into one of three divisions according to

the three 4-H age divisions as of 1/1/14 (Jr 8-10 years old ,

Intermediate 11-13 years old, Sr. 14-18 years old). Mixed age

division members will be allowed to compete in the age

division of the oldest member. All age divisions will compete

in the same contest with awards given in each age division.

2.0 The Game

Team members will construct a robot out of LEGOS that is controlled

by an RCX, NXT or EV3 controller. The robot will autonomously

perform specific tasks. The team will have 2 minutes and 30 seconds

to perform as many tasks as possible.

2.1 Competition Kit

The competition mat will be the Race Against Time Mat

(NX990974) available from LEGO Education. LEGO parts and

instructions to construct field mission models will be available

once the team is registered through the county. Competition

kits can be shared among multiple teams and remain the

property of the local UME 4-H Youth Development Program.

2.2 Playing Field

The field will be constructed of a ½” thick sheet of plywood with 2”X4” on edge to create a playing area of 45” X 45” (inside the 2 X4 frame). The mat (48” X 48”) will be installed between the 2X4 edge and the plywood. The field includes the 14.5” X 14.5” base area. The playing field will be on a table 28” to 32” tall.

3.0 Robots

3.1 Allowed Materials

Robots must be constructed using the LEGO RCX, NXT or EV3

controllers and any additional official LEGO parts. Non-LEGO

parts will not be allowed. The robot must be programmed with

LEGO Mindstorms, RoboLab, NXT, or EV3 software (any version)

to perform the task autonomously. A maximum of the

following motors and sensors may be used:

a. 2 – touch sensors

b. 2 – light sensors

c. 1 – Ultrasonic sensor

d. 1 - Lamp

e. 3 - rotation sensors (RCX only)

f. 3 – motors

The following may not be used:

a. Paint, tape, glue, and oil

b. Stickers are not allowed

c. Remote controls of any type

3.2 Robot Size

The robot must fit completely inside of the base area of the

board which measures 14.5” X 14.5” and must not be taller

than 14.5”. After the robot leaves the base area, it may

expand to any dimension.

3.2.1 Robot in the base area (green outlined area – in the southeast corner of the mat.)

3.3 Robot Operation

3.3.1 Handling the Robot

The team members may only handle the robot while the

robot is in the base area. Once the robot leaves the base

area the members cannot touch or in any way influence

the movement of the robot until it comes back to base

without penalty.

3.3.2 Robot in Base

While in base, members may change programs or

change parts of the robot. The robot will be considered

in base as soon as any part of the robot crosses into the

base.

3.3.3 Mission Objects in Base

Any objects that are to be brought back to base must

cross into the base before a member touches the robot.

Any mission that was in progress will be terminated if a

member touches or in any way interferes with the robot

or LEGO model. Teams may re-run the mission, but game

pieces will remain where they are when the robot was

touched. The robot may leave base and return as many

times as time allows.

3.3.4 Touch Penalties

If the robot is touched outside of the base area it must be

brought back to base immediately and will be assessed a

touch penalty (see 5.8 for details on touch penalties).

4.0 Game Rules

4.1 Mission Models

Mission models will be provided as part of the competition kit.

Instructions for construction of mission models will be

provided. It is the team’s responsibility to construct mission

models correctly. The field(s) at the state competition may not

be altered (consideration will be given if discussed with the

referee). Mission models will be provided at the competition,

therefore teams should not bring mission models to the

competition table.

4.1.1 Starting Field Set Up

4.2 Robot Rounds

Each robot will play three rounds with the highest score of the

three rounds counting toward the final awards. Each robot

round will last for 2 minutes 30 seconds. The round will be

started at the referees call and the referee at the end of the

round will turn off the robot. Teams will be given a minimum

of 10 minutes between rounds.

4.3 Robot Operators

Two members will be allowed at the table during the robot

rounds. Additional team members must stand in the

designated area and may tag in and out during the round.

5.0 Missions

Missions are described as the following:

5.1 Retrieve Wheel Chair

Robot must bring the wheel chair back to the base area. The wheel

chair in base will be worth 15 points.

5.1.1 Wheel Chair starting location

5.2 Picking Up Black Medication

Robot must collect 7 square LEGO pieces that represent

medication. Each piece in base is worth 3 points.

5.2.1 Black Medication in Starting Position (can be

anywhere inside of the oval outlined shape)

5.3 Picking Up Blue Round Medication from Auto Dispenser

Collect the round blue LEGO pieces from the platform connected

to the far wall of the table. Each med is worth 5 points in base.

Blue medication left in the auto dispenser at the end of the

match will be worth 3 points each. PENALTY: Any blue

medication that not in the auto dispenser, in base or in the daily

medication container will be assessed a 5-point penalty.

5.3.1 Auto Dispenser (18” from the inside of the west wall)

5.4 Round Up 4-H Members

Robot must bring the four LEGO mini figures back to base.

Each mini figure in base at the end of the match is worth 10

points each.

5.4.1 4-H Members in starting position – mini figures will start in the upright position and can be located anywhere on the thick round circle.

5.5 Robot Moves Wheelchair into Van

The wheelchair must be delivered to and placed through the

door of the van. In order to receive the points, the entire

wheelchair must be inside the van. The wheelchair inside the

van will be worth 30 points.

5.5.1 Wheelchair in scoring position (van will be 5 inches from the inside of the west wall).

5.5.2 Wheelchair not in scoring position

5.6 Robotic Medication Sorting

The robot is to put one black and one blue medication in the

each of the slots in the daily medication container. Each slot in

the container that has one blue and/or black med will be scored

10 points per medication. If two or more of one color is in a

slot no points will be awarded for medications in that slot. If all

seven slots have one black and one blue medication a bonus of

20 points will be awarded. If at least one medication is in the container, the team will receive an additional 20 points for closing the container lid.

5.5.1 Black and blue medications in the container – This picture

would be worth 120 points.

5.5.2 Blue and Black meds in container – This picture is worth 60 points – 10 points for each medication circled.

5.5.3 Lid closed on the med container

5.7 Transport 4-H Members to Senior Center with iPads.

4-H members must be delivered to the platform in the center of the

board. The mini figs must be supported by the platform or LEGOS that are

touching only the platform. No part of the mini figs can be touching the

mat or connected to LEGOS that are supported by the mat. Each member

on the platform will be worth 20 points

5.7.1 Platform Starting Position (18inches from the inside of the

south wall and 20 inches from the west wall)

5.7.2 Mini-figs in scoring position

5.6.1 Three mini-figs in scoring position

Not in scoring position

5.7 Robot at the Senior Center

At the end of the match the robot must be completely supported by

the ramp for 20 points. If the ramp is leveled out and the robot is

completely supported by only the ramp the team will receive 40

points.

5.7.1 Robot Completely on the Ramp (20 POINTS)

5.7.2 Robot Completely on Ramp and Ramp level (40 POINTS)

5.8 Robot Touch Penalties

Each time a touch penalty is incurred, a blue round medication will be

removed from the table by the referee. Medication in the Auto

Dispenser will be removed first followed by blue medication in base

and finally blue medication in the daily medication container. Any

medication in a penalty position will not be removed.

5.9 Technical Presentation

Each team will be assigned a 15 minute time period prior to the robot

rounds to explain their robot’s design. The presentation should

include information on the teams design features, game strategies

and programming. The team may utilize the game table to

demonstrate the robot completing missions. A panel of 2-4 judges will

rate the team’s technical presentation based on the Technical Rubric

(Appendix A). The team will be assigned a numerical score between 0

and 100.

6.0 Service Project

6.1 Project Overview - Through the service project the team should

learn more about assisting senior citizens using technology. It is

suggested that the team meet with professionals involved with the

assistance of senior citizens. The team should then identify a service

project that will assist senior citizens that involves technology in some

way.

6.2 Project Display – The teams should create a tabletop display

that will explain the service project. The board will be displayed

during the competition on the team’s pit table.

6.3 Project Presentation - The team will present a 3-5 minute

presentation about their project to a panel of judges. The judges will

be given 5 minutes to ask the team questions.

7.0 Team Notebook

Each team should document the building of their robot in a journal.

Each day that the team meets: record plans for the day, pictures and

diagrams of robot building process, and ending reflections. The

notebook will be shared with the judges during the technical

presentation.

Mission Description Point Value

Wheelchair

Robot must bring the wheelchair back to base. The robot may place the wheelchair in back of the van for additional points.

15 points for wheelchair in base at the end of the match.

or 30 points for the wheelchair completely in the van at the end of the match.

Black

Medication

Robot must bring the black medication to base. The robot may place one black medication in each cell of the daily medication container. If more than one black (or blue) medication is in a cell no points are awarded for the medication in that cell.

3 points each for a total of 21 points if in base at the end of the match or 10 points each for a possible of 70 points if in the daily medication container at the end of the match

Blue

Medication

Robot must bring the blue medication to base. The robot may place one blue medication in each cell of the daily medication container. If more than one blue (or black) medication is in a cell no points are awarded for the medication in that cell.

3 points each for a possible total of 21 points if left in auto dispenser or

5 points each for a total of 35 points if in base at the end of the match

or 10 points each for a possible of 70 points if in the daily medication container at the end of the match

Daily Medication Container

A bonus will be awarded if all 7 of the daily cells contain exactly one blue and one black medication. Points will also be awarded if the robot closes the container lid if at least one mediation is in the container

20 points if all 7 of the cells in the daily container have one blue and one black medication 20 points for closing the lid on the container

4-H Member

Round Up

Robot must bring the 4 mini figures back to base.

The robot may place the mini figures on the platform for

additional points

10 points for each for a possible of 40 points for each mini figure in base at the end of the match

or 20 points for each for a possible of 80 points for each mini fig on the platform at the end of the match

Robot on Platform

The robot must be supported by the platform at the

end of the match.

20 points if the robot is completely supported by the platform or 40 points if the robot is completely supported by the platform and the platform is leveled out

Penalties

A penalty will be assessed if any of the blue medications are left on the field in any location except the auto dispenser, the daily medication container and the base area.

-5 points for each blue medication not is a

designated location

Total Possible 330 points