Robofest 2003 Rules

Lawrence Tech's Robofest (Robotics Festival) is an open contest in which the participants can show off their robots while learning problem solving techniques, mathematics, logic, creativity, team work, physics, electronics, mechanics, manufacturing, mechatronics, and computer programming & technology. The LTU Robofest 2003 has the following six contests in two categories:

• Competition
  1. Lego Robot Competition
  2. Advanced Robot Competition
  3. Laptop Robot Competition
• Exhibition
  1. Lego Robot Exhibition
  2. Advanced Robot Exhibition
  3. Laptop Robot Exhibition

The competition: A teams of students competes to accomplish robotics missions emulating real world environments. Robofest competition has some unique features. Robots must be fully autonomous, with no radio controls. The game rules are simple, as is the construction of the playing fields. However, the dimension of the playing field, as well as a part of the game rule, is unknown until the day of the competition. Any sensors, motors, and software environments / programming languages may be used. The game for Lego robot and advanced robot division, "Mission Possible - HTML" (or pdf-539KB, MS word-2,340KB) will require cooperation between two robots. There is also a competition division for college teams using laptop robots with on board CCD camera(s). The challenge this year is "LaptopBot Race - HTML" (or pdf - 91KB, MS word-40KB). More information about the competitions is summarized in the following table.

Division Name	Robot Type Used	Programming Languages	Grades	Team Size	Challeges	# of Robots per Team
Lego Robot Competition	Lego Mindstorms or Lego Dacta Team Challenge Sets	RCX code or RoboLab	5-12	2-7	"Mission Possible"	2
Advanced Robot Competition	Lego; Handy Board, Handy Cricket, or Other robots	High-level lang. such as Java, C++, VB. NQC for Lego. IC for Handy Board; Assembly lang.	8-12	2-7	Advanced "Mission Possible"	2
Laptop Robot Competition	Laptop robot with camera(s)	Any high-level lang. such as Java, C++, VB, or Python	College students	1-4	"LaptopBot Race"	1

The exhibition: The robotics exhibition is a great way for students to show off their creativity. Each team has complete freedom to create autonomous robotics projects such as robot pets, robot artists, dancing robots, storytelling with robots, robots for scientific experiments, and practical robotics applications. Robots may be of any size and can use any material. More information about the exhibitions is summarized in the following table.

Division Name	Robot Type Used	Programming Languages	Grades	Team Size	# of Robots per Team
Lego Robot Exhibition	Lego Mindstorms or Lego Dacta Team Challenge Sets	RCX code or RoboLab	5-9	Min: 1 Max: 1+2 x #Robots	Any
Advanced Robot Exhibition	Lego; Handy Board, Handy Cricket, or Other robots	High-level lang. such as Java, C++, VB. NQC for Lego. IC for Handy Board; Assembly lang.	8-12	Min: 1 Max: 1+2 x #Robots	Any
Laptop Robot Exhibition	Laptop robot with camera(s)	Any high-level lang. such as Java, C++, VB, or Python	College students	1-4	Any

Exhibition teams are required to submit the following items to Prof. Chung via email at chung@ltu.edu. These items must be submitted after registration before Sat., April 5., noon.

• An approximately one page description of the robot in a MS word file, text file, or HTML file. This description must include functionalities of the robot, robot type used, the number and types of sensors and motors used.
• 2 to 4 jpeg files of the robot along with a file describing the photos, if necessary. (If this is not possible, you must bring your robot to LTU before April 5 for a pre-demo. This pre-demo can be arranged by appointment. To make an appointment, send an email to chung@ltu.edu.
• mpeg files of the robot in action, if possible.
• Program source file(s)
• Other information requested by the committee, if necessary.

• All the files should be sent in one zip file.
• Submitted information may be posted on the web.
• Robofest 2003 committee will select teams for the exhibition. On the Robofest day, each exhibition team will be given a table on which to demonstrate the robot at any time. They will also have an official chance (up to 3 minutes) to demonstrate their robot(s) to the public. Teams must bring all the necessary materials for the demo. For example, if the robot performs a dance to music, the team must bring a CD or audio cassette tape. The sound system in the LTU gym will be available to play your audiotape or CD.

General Registration Rules

• Thanks to many sponsors and volunteers, there is no registration fee. The event is open to the general public. Admission is free.
• A team can register only one contest division. If a team wants to do both competition and exhibition, then the team must be registered separately for each division with different team number.
• A team must have an adult "coach". A detailed job description of the "coach" will appear in the next section below.
• Any organization such as a school, home school, civic organization, etc. can form teams.

Team Coaches

• The coach will register team(s) and enter team information on the web at www.robofest.net. The coach must have a valid email address and must check the email account periodically. The email is the primary and official communication method between the team and the Robofest organizer. Also, the team coaches are responsible for facilitating and overseeing team members.
• A teacher, parent, college student, professor, tech specialist, or scientist/engineer can be the coach.
• A coach can register more than one team from one organization. (However, a coach can represent only one organization, which means a coach cannot enter teams from different organizations.)
• It is recommended for coaches to have/invite technology mentor(s), if necessary. New for Robofest 2003, certificates of appreciation will be printed up to three volunteers for each team. The coach is responsible to enter volunteer names and their roles.
• The coach is responsible for entering and updating the team data on the web. Please note that certificates will be printed based on the information on the website. Robofest organizer will not reprint certificates, if the data on the web is wrong.
• Robofest has been attracting lots of media attention. Coaches must collect release forms from team members. These must be submitted to LTU during check-in.
• Another important role of the coach is to find sponsors for the teams. The Robofest website will list up to three sponsors per team on the web. A Certificate of Appreciation will also be given to the sponsors on the day of Robofest.
• Before and after Robofest, please contact newspapers, radio, TV stations to recognize your teams efforts and achievments.

Team Members

• Must be students in April 2003.
• Must solve problems by themselves.
• It is recommended that a student should participate in only one team.

Team Volunteers

Common Sense Rules for Education

Team's Responsibility on Robofest Day

• All the teams must check-in by 9:30am. The check-in begins at 8:30am in the LTU Don Ridler Field House on Sat. April 26.
• Must bring a computer per team.
• Must use the team table assigned by the organizer. Do not change the team tables.
• Must pass inspection and take a team photo for the certificate before noon.
• During the judging period, at least one team member must stay at the team table. Judges will visit team tables during the judging period at any time for possible interviews with team members.
• If your team is doing "Mission Possible", you need to implement new additions for the unknown missions and adjust your programs to allow for the variation in the new environment.
• You need to check the light values for the black line, white area on the shelves, and light bulb in the gym.
• Remember, robots are working in the real physical world! Even if flash lights are forbidden inside the gym, cameras and camcorders using auto focus function are emitting infra red lights. Students will learn the difficulty of creating robust systems in the real-world environments.
• It is the team's responsibility before the game, to ensure the track is in satisfactory condition. Remember, pieces of all-purpose shelves are being used. There may be big cracks even if referees have checked the track before each game. Therefore the team members should also check the playing field before the game.
• Whenever new programs are downloaded, both your robot and the IR tower MUST be covered by a box. If not, you may damage other robots and/or your program may be corrupted. Do not forget to bring a cardboard garage to house your robots to prevent interference from another RCX while downloading programs. It is suggested to cover RCX's infrared sensor with electric tape after downloading a program in order to prevent it from receiving somebody else's program.
• There will be judges/proctors in the gym. If any adults want to give some help to their teams for any reason, the adults must get permission from the judges/proctors.

General Rules

• No food or drink are allowed inside the gym
• Only team members with badges are allowed in the pit (team table) area. For security purposes, the coach with a badge may stay in the team table area especially when the team plays.

Judging and Prizes

Tentative Schedule

• Jan. 18 - Draft rules will be announced on the web
• Feb. 8 - Informational Meeting at LTU. Two identical meetings are planned: one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Details will be annunced thru Robofest Mailing list.
• Before Feb. 22 - Official finalized Rules will be announced
• Feb. 24 at noon - Official registration begins on the web (First come first serve basis - Max. 70 teams from all six divisions)
• Mar. 15 - 2nd Informational Meeting
• Mar. 22 - Lego with Java Programming Class
• Apr. 5 - Exhibition team documents submission due
• Apr. 26 - Robofest 2003. Doors open at 8:30am. (Opening Ceremony at 10:00am)