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Robofest 2006 Informational Meeting “Inspiring Young Minds to

Master the Machine.”

Lori Birman and CJ Chung

Lawrence Technological University

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Welcome to Robofest 2006

Little robots, Big Missions

Dr. David BindschadlerChair of Math/Computer Science Dept.

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Agenda• Overview of Robofest• 2006 Regional & International Competition Sites• Prior Robofest Games• Robofest 2006 Game & 2006 Rules:

2006 Game: Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge 2006 Exhibition Competition Judging and prizes, How Teams Advance to World Robofest General Registration Process Team Coaches, Student Team Members Common Sense Rules for Education Team’s Responsibility on Robofest Day Rules for Video Submission Site New Pilot Program Competitions for 2006

• Coach & Team Resources: Robofest Academy, Autonomous Robotics Classes for Educators, Tips on Starting a Team

• 2006 Schedule & Warm-up Competition• Q & A

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What is Robofest

• Annual ‘autonomous’ robotics contest

• no joysticks or remote controls are allowed

• Students 5th - 12th grade

• Offers two categories* for teams to compete: Games and Exhibitions

(*2006 Pilot Categories will be discussed later during 2006 Rules.)

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Robofest is growing

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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Number of students participated

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Goals of Robofest

• To spark young students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)

• Promote students' creative and innovative and critical thinking skills

• Challenge and advance the scientific and engineering skills of students

• Promote good teamwork and work ethics

• Build our future technical work force

• Recognize students' achievements

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Game Competition Category• Students are challenged to accomplish

missions using two fully autonomous robots they have created and programmed to work cooperatively.

• The day of competition, they will be given the “unknown” portion of the mission.

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• Each team has complete freedom to show off any type of creative autonomous robotics project

• Exhibition robots have danced, played music and games, dressed in costumes, performed mathematical calculations, etc.

• Exhibition is limited only by the student’s imagination!

Exhibition Competition Category

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Age Divisions There are two Age Divisions in both the

Games and Exhibition competition categories of Robofest: Junior Division, open to students in 5–

9 grade, easier problems, we suggest icon-based programming language

Senior Division, open to students in grades 9–12 , more difficult problem, we suggest programming language such as C or Java

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2006 Robofest Competition Sites• Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea, December 17• Hillside Middle School, Northville, Michigan, April 1 • Macomb Intermediate School District, MISD, Clinton

Township, Michigan, April 1• Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 7• Herlong Cathedral School, Detroit, Michigan, April 8• Evergreen High School, San Jose, CA, April 8• West Melbourne, Florida, April 8• St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas, April 22• Carman Ainsworth Junior High, Flint, Michigan, April 22• Canton Charter Academy, Canton, Michigan, April 29• Woodland High School, Woodland, California, April 29• Erle Rivers School, Milk River, Alberta, Canada, April 29• Ann Arbor Trail Magnet Middle School, Detroit, MI, April 29• Sky Valley Education Center, Monroe, WA, April 29• Robotech Center, Nashua, New Hampshire, May 7• World Robofest, LTU, Southfield, Michigan, May 13

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1st Robofest, 2000

RoboTag

FireFighter Race

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2nd Robofest, 2001

Registration had to be closed early…Handy Board Division for High School Teams was introduced

RoboMessenger

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3rd Robofest 2002 Challenges:RoboRescuers

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4th Robofest 2003 Competition

Mission Possible

Unknown challenges introduced

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5th Robofest 2004 Competition

Earthquake Challenge

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6th Robofest 2005 - RoboRelay

Junior Division

Senior Division

No Line

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7th Robofest 2006: Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge

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7th Robofest 2006: Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge Resources• Streaming Video on the web

• Mpeg file will be available soon on the web

• Game scenarios animations will be available on the web

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Toxic Waste Cleanup ChallengeJunior Division

The brightness of the competition area is unknown

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2006 Game Rules• Unknown missions will be unveiled right after

opening ceremony. It may require physical interaction between two human players.

• For each round, whenever the team is ready to compete, come to the on-deck circle, staging area with the robots

• 2 minutes per game are given

• 2 chances (rounds) are given for each team

• Only two players are allowed in the official playing field. One minute will be allowed for setup before each round

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In Case of Any Failure

• Team may start the first robot from the beginning for perfect score, or

• Team may retry only the second robot by starting it manually

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Extra Points

• If all missions are completed in a sequence from the beginning till the end without any human help, then extra 5 points will be given.

• Flash Extra Points: To encourage teams to try early in the first round, the first match teams will get 2 extra points. (If there are two official playing fields, then two teams will get the extra points). The second match teams will get 1 point.

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Robot Specifications:

• You must use only one (8 bit micro-processor based) robot controller for each robot.

• You may use any number of sensors / sensor types.• You may use any number/type of motors/servo

motors• You may use any material to construct your robot.

You may use tape, glue, bolts and nuts, etc.• You may use any programming language; we

recommend an icon-based graphical programming language for the Junior division.

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Playing Field Construction

• Final shape, angle, and length will be unveiled on the competition day

• All the edges (not the center area) of the shelves will be taped together using transparent packaging tape (2” width). If your robot is using skids, make sure they can slide over the tape.

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Toxic Waste Cleanup Challenge - Senior Division

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Rules for Senior Division: Same as the Junior Division

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2006 Exhibition Competition• Each team has complete freedom to

demonstrate any type of autonomous robotics project

• Teams will have five minutes to explain and demonstrate their project

• Each team will answer one question from the Official

• Wireless host computer control is allowed• Teams must bring all necessary materials

such as music, display boards, easels, etc.

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Recommended topics for Robofest 2006 Exhibitions

• Practical Household robots

• Using data logging capabilities of robots

• Robot pets

• Robots for scientific experiments

• Practical robotic applications

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Judging and Prizes:• Everyone is the winner: All students will

receive medals and framed certificates• 30% of the total number of teams at each

Regional and International site will win large award trophies. Game Competition

• Performance Awards• Presentation Awards• Judge’s Awards

Exhibition Competition• Judge’s Awards

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Game Competition Judging Model

n: number of teamsm: number of official tracks

Score Keeper

(in Excel)

Round 1 Round 2

R&CIteamID Score comments_____ ____ _____________ ____ _____________ ____ ________

Judge’s awards

m 1

Game Judges InspectionJudges

(Working as a group)Final

PRteamID Score_____ __________ __________ _____

PRteamID Score_____ __________ __________ _____

…PSteamID

Score

PSteamID

Score

…

n n

PSteamID

Score

PSteamID

Score

…PSteamID

Score

PSteamID

Score

…

m

• Performance awards (based on PSs)

• Judge’s Awards (based on R&CI)

• Presentation Awards (based on PR)

World Competition Advancement list (based on weighted overall data)

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Game Competition Performance Award Judging• Game Competition Final Round Teams will

be determined by the average of each team’s first and second round scores.

• Game Competition Performance Winners will be decided by the average of their best two score. (The Final Round teams will have three scores, we take their best two scores to decide winners)

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Game Competition Judge’s Award Judging• A team of judges inspects Robots and Program Codes.

Inspection items are: Program code structure and readability Adaptability Reliability Originality Creativity Functionality Durability New technologies used …

• Inspection Judges work off Judging Rubrics that are not made public

• Presentation Awards are decided by the average of the scores by m Game Judges

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Exhibition Judging

Score Keeper

(in Excel)

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Exhibition Judges(Working as a group)

teamID cat1 cat2 … catn Score Comments_____ ___ ___ … ___ ____ _____________ ___ ___ … ___ ____ ________

Judge’s Awards

(See Exhibition Competition Advancement Rules for categories)

World Competition Advancement list (based on weighted overall data)

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World Robofest 2006 Championships:• Top Teams at each Regional and

International Competition Site will qualify to move on to compete at World Robofest

• May 13, 2005 at Lawrence Tech in Michigan

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How Teams Advance to the World Robofest 2006 Championships:• We plan to invite 16 Junior Games

Teams, 14 Senior Games Teams and 10 Exhibition Teams to the World Robofest

• The total number teams advancing from each site will be decided in proportion to the number of teams registered at each site. This number will be determined after registration closes.

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Game Competition Advancement is Based on the Following Data with Weights:

• Average Performance score - 80% *• Team Public Presentation and Answer of

Question - 10%• Robot & Code Inspection and Team

Interview - 10%

*Finalist Teams will use the average of their best two rounds

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Exhibition Competition Advancement is Based on the following data with weights• Public Demonstration Performance (reliability) -

35%

• Originality (creativity) - 25%

• Team Public Presentation and Answer of Question - 10%

• Source Code Inspection - 10%

• Complexity and Number of Functions - 7%

• Usefulness - 7%

• New Technologies Used and Other Factors - 6%

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Team Coaches:• Can be any teacher, school administrator,

parent, college student, professor, technical specialist, or scientist/engineer eligible to coach.

• Email to the coach is the primary and official communication method between the team and the Robofest organizer.

• Coaches must agree to and abide by the 2006 Coach’s Pledge

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Roles of Coaches:• Responsible for facilitating and overseeing

team members

• Recruit team volunteers including technology mentors

• Provide at least one volunteer for either setup or cleanup at the hosting site

• Responsible for entering/updating the team data and uploading team photos

• Collect Consent & Media Release Forms to submit at Competition check-in

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Robofest Teams:

• Teams are comprised of two to seven members

• Teams may be formed from any type of organization, public school, private school, home school, civic group, neighborhood group, club, etc.

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How to Register Teams – New Coaches1. Read 2006 rules2. Go to www.robofest.net from Wed. Dec.14th, 20053. Submit the online form 4. Confirm the registration at your email account – If

you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact chung@LTU.edu

5. Team registration will begin tentatively on Jan 5, 2006. Exact time will be announced by emails to registered coaches

6. Log on the coach account7. Select one regional site8. Register team(s)9. Pay registration fee ($35 per team) online using

PayPal (or by sending a check)10. Upload team and robot photo, and update team info

as necessary

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How to Register Teams – Veteran 2003, 2004, 2005 Coaches1. Read 2006 rules2. Make sure your coach ID and password 3. Team registration will begin tentatively on Jan

5, 2006. Exact time will be announced by emails to registered coaches

4. Log on the coach account5. Select one regional site6. Register team(s)7. Pay registration fee ($35) online using PayPal

or by check8. Upload team and robot photo, update team

information as necessary

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Common Sense Rules for Education:• Construction of the robot and

programming should be done by students only. Any direct participation of adults is a violation of the rules.

• Only team members will be allowed in the Team Pit area after the unveiling of the unknown mission. Coaches must receive Judging Proctor approval to enter the Team Pit area.

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Team's Responsibility on Robofest Day Prior to Opening Ceremony• All the teams must check-in by the time

set by the host organizer. Usually 8:30am.• Teams must use the team table assigned

by the organizer. Please do not change the team tables; judges may visit the team tables

• Game teams must have inspection before the competition begins. Submit the hard copy of your program to judges during the inspection

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Game Team's Responsibility During Competition• In the competition round 1, Each team

member must introduce her/his name, grade, and role using a microphone to Game Judges & the public within 15 seconds.

• Emcee will ask a question selected at random.

• The team needs to answer the question within 45 seconds

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Exhibition Team's Responsibility During Competition• They will have 5 minutes for the

presentation and robot demonstration of the project

• The 5 minute presentation must include the introduction of each team member’s role and accomplishments using a microphone to Judges & the public

• After the demo, they will also answer a question from the Official; they will have 45 seconds to answer.

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Age Division Waiver Requests:• Any exceptions to the Age Divisions must

be submitted by the Team Coach in writing to Robofest for approval.

• Coaches must use the Age Division Waiver Request Form.

• Other team members and their parents must provide approval as well.

• Robofest will notify the result to the coach

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Things to bring on Robofest Competition Day:• $20 check-in fee (if required by the regional host)

• A laptop or PC for each team

• Hard copy of programs to give to judges

• Only for exhibition teams: poster boards to introduce the exhibition description and all the necessary materials for the exhibition.

• A power strip and power cord

• Cardboard box to cover your robot and IR tower when downloading (Lego teams only)

• Extra batteries

• Signed Consent & Media Release forms

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Rules for Video Submission Site:• Video Submission in both Games and

Exhibition is available to teams who do not have a Robofest Competition in close proximity.

• When submitting video, the coach must include the signed submission form

• All videos must be postmarked by April 29, 2006.

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New Pilot ProgramCompetition Categories for 2006• Digital Animation• Digital Video Editing and Production• Team Website Design

Test programs for Robofest 2006 recommended for students grades 9 -12. To register, you must submit the Robofest Pilot Program

Registration Form. (No online registration) These categories are best for new teams who have

interest in the above areas. (Teamwork of teams!) There are no 2006 registration fees for these pilot

categories.

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Coach & Team Resources• Robofest provides free workshops at LTU for

registered coaches and teams only. They will take place in January & February, RCX Code, RoboLab, LeJos Java, and NQC, and

Java for IntelliBrain-Bot. See tentative schedule in information packet. Plan to provide streaming videos of the workshops

• Robofest offers on-line resources to help teams.

• We plan to offer IM support, if there is a need

• Warm up competition

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New - Robofest Academy

• Pilot Program only for Metro-Detroit area

• Plan to expand to other areas

• Currently LEGO Mindstorms based, but plan to expand to other platforms

• 18 hour class

• On-site class

• www.robofest.net/academy

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Autonomous Robotics Classes for Educators• In MET (Master of Educational Technology)

program partnership with Mary Grove College

• 10 week schedule (3 credit hours) Mon: 5:30pm-8:30pm (On campus) Wed: 6:00pm-8:00pm (Online)

• The first class starts on Mon Jan 23rd

• Course fee: $1,170 (after $708 scholarship)

• Registration & admission fee, $201, waived

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How to Start a Team:• Ask us to give a presentation at your school

• Find students who may already has Lego Mindstorms or other robot kits at home

• Find parent volunteers who are interested in helping

• Multimedia tutorials available (LEGO Mindstorms); Learning by doing

• Ask students to attend free workshops at LTU

• Assign some of the team work as (group) homework

• Integration as an after-school program

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Robofest Schedule:

• Registration Coach registration open: Dec. 14 Team registration open: Jan 5 (tentatively)

• January – February Workshops for Teams

• March 18, Practice Warm-up Competition

• April/May Regional & International Contests

• May 13, World Robofest Championships

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2006 Warm-up Competition:• Saturday, March 18 at LTU – all Teams

will need to pre-register with LTU.

• Any team, both Games and Exhibition

• Host organizers should attend (or watch video) for on-site practice

• Judges should attend for Practice & Training

• Volunteers should attend for on-site practice

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Robofest Little Robots, Big Missions

Thank You