Robot Wars 2K9 Connect Four

RW2K9 is the chance for you to show your stuff. It is expected that you will exceed your current best, (and it may be necessary to improve upon that). Please be advised that these next few weeks are crucial to your overall grade, and that the only person that controls the outcome is you. There will be several milepost deadlines that will comprise your 5th 6week grade, and part of your 6th 6 week grade. The remainder, and bulk, of the 6th 6-week grade will be specifically how your individual robot performs the task at hand and how it’s component parts function. The final exam will be a double elimination tournament of the class’ machines. There will be no exemptions.The rules and deadlines for this final exam are not flexible. Procrastination will kill you, so please manage your time well. Good Luck.

The Challenge
The objective of this contest is to connect four ( by getting four of your game pieces in a row), using only the robot to manipulate the game pieces to the target and place them in the appropriate positions. When all the game pieces have been placed and not in contact with the robot, OR a robot has been disabled, OR three minutes has elapsed, the bout is over. If at the end of three minutes either side has made no score, the match will score as a double loss.

Game Pieces

Golf Ball: Red and Yellow to match your starting position
Tie Breaker: Plastic ball (half red/half yellow) Used to break ties
Green Cubes: Large wooden blocks placed randomly on field as obstacles
Rack: Place where Golf balls live
Mongo: Mongo is Mongo



Field Set Up

The field will be set with the balls in their rack (alternating colors) and the tiebreaker on its pole. Mongo will be place onto the field. We will then roll a die to determine how many green cubes will be randomly placed on the field. Each player determine their starting position (see instructions) and will then have 33 seconds to set up his/her robot.

Scoring
Ø No game pieces may be in contact with the robot at the end of play in order to be counted (with the exception of the tie breaker).
Ø If a robot is in possession of the tiebreaker at the end of regulation play AND there is a tie score (only possible if there is no connect four), then the win is awarded to that robot.
Ø In the event that there is no connect four or tie achieved, the robot with the next highest number of connections wins (i.e. three in a row, two in a row, etc).
If you win by a margin of more than twice your opponents score, congratulations.

Specifics
v Each robot will be constructed so as to fit entirely into a 12” cube when in the “cocked & ready” position. 2nd year students have 1”less height. 3rd year students must fit in an 11” cube. Final cube height will be adjusted to compensate for attendance penalties or rewards.
v Each robot must weigh in at less than 22.5 pounds.
v Power is 12 VDC and is supplied through the umbilical cord. No other electrical energy is allowed and no electrical storage devices are permitted.
v 6 joules of mechanical energy are permitted on the robot (be prepared to prove mathematically and/or mechanically the amount in storage).
v Control of the robot may only be through the umbilical. No radio, optical, audio, etc., control is permitted.
v Each student will use the control device provided and must hook up to the provided power supply. No modifications of the control unit will be permitted.
v Each student will provide his/her own 15 pin connector and the connector must be permanently mounted in such a way as to allow easy access and secure connection. The robot must be able to pull the umbilical around the field and no person may tend the umbilical. If you umbilical becomes disconnected, the round will be stopped and the robot with the disconnected umbilical will be awarded a loss, even if they otherwise would have won.
v Each robot may incorporate one pneumatic cylinder (to be distributed by raffle).
v Each robot has a $32.10 maximum budget for all parts and materials (except motors, pneumatic cylinders & solenoids provide by the school) shown on a separate excel spreadsheet at fair market value.v All components must be permanently mounted. No temporary (determined by rules committee*) or shoddy mountings will be approved. If a motor, pneumatic cylinder, or solenoid has a specific mounting point, you must use it as intended. If not sure, check first.
v Finished robots must match the approved working drawings to a tolerance of + or – 1/16” in all aspects of components and overall size.
v Students are responsible for maintaining the genealogy of their machine.
v Each design may use up to 5 power components (i.e. motors, solenoids, etc…). Components will be distributed by raffle in a round robin format until all components are given out. (This is not to say you will get any specific number or you are limited to those provided by LASA)
v All rules are subject to the interpretation of the rules committee*. All rulings are final.
v Students are responsible for his/her pneumatic cylinder, motors, solenoids from the time they receive them until they are returned after the final. If they are lost or damaged, it is the student’s responsibility to repair or replace them before the end of the semester.
v It is the collective responsibility of the classes to maintain both the classroom and the shop areas. This will include, but not be limited to, cleaning all machines, returning all tools to the proper place, storing materials properly, sweeping and picking up trash on floor daily. Failure to do so will result in a loss of work time, for the entire class, equal to two times the amount of time it would have taken to maintain the area in the first place (time to be determined by the rules committee)*.
v Any tools not returned to where they belong at the end of the day will be locked away and all classes will loose the use of that tool till the end of the semester.
v Any question asked whose answer changes, defines or clarifies the conditions of this test will become a permanent part of the rules and apply to all student robots.Additionallyv Each robot may incorporate into its design no more than 3 defensive components.
v No pyrotechnic devices, chemical or electrical discharge, liquid or foam may be used as weapon components or weapons.
v All projectiles must be permanently attached to the robot by a tether of sufficient strength not to break or separate, and not to exceed 18” long.v No attacks may be launched against the person of your opponent.v Damage to the playing field is not permitted.
v You may not attack your opponent’s umbilical cord.v Complete plans must be submitted and approved before any construction may begin.v All work must be done in school, during class time!v Those students that miss build time due to legitimate absences (i.e. AP Tests) may make up time equal to the time they missed. Since my time at school is limited we will have to work around my schedule. DO NOT come down to make up work time from other classes without written permission from that teacher. NO DEADLINES WILL BE EXTENDED due to excused absences. Since you know (or should) your testing schedule please be proactive in scheduling your make up time.
v The Mongo consists of regulation bowling ball. No substitutions are allowed.
v Each student will turn in a weekly progress report on a 4” X 6” Index Card (only on a lined card, no substitutes) provided by the student. The card must be turned in by the end of class on the last day of the week.
It Must include the following:
Name
Date
Class Period
What I did this past week?
What I will do next week?
What materials will I need to procure for next week?
What % is finished?What time-sinkholes did I encounter?
Cards turned in late will receive a maximum grade of 60
No cards will be accepted more than two calendar days late.
Those will be given a grade of zero.

v Rules committee is comprisedof:
Chairman:AnthonyJ.Bertucci
Regent: A.J. Bertucci
G.I.P.: A. Joseph Bertucci Esq.
Secretary: Tony Bertucci
Note: Rules committee will not tolerate whining.

The rules committee has decided that if an individual or individuals are, in their opinion, off task the only possible reason could be that they are waiting to be evaluated on the next phase of the final exam. Therefore, if you are not working, you will be asked immediately to produce your robot for evaluation. (i.e. if on 4/2/09 you are talking or otherwise off task, you must be waiting to demonstrate your rolling chassis to be evaluated (what other possible reason could there be?)and in an effort to best use your time you will be immediately evaluated (and graded) on your rolling chassis so you may move on)

REGULATION PLAY·
Students will randomly be placed in a competition pool within their class.·
This is a double elimination final exam. You will continue to progress until either everybody else is eliminated OR you have incurred two losses.·
Final exam grades will be determined on a sliding scale with the winner getting a 100 for the final exam grade, the last place robot receiving a 80, and every other competing robot receiving a grade between those to be determined by when they where eliminated.·
18-week grade will be determined specifically by how your individual robot performs the task at hand and how its component parts function, including compliance with manufacturing tolerances.·
Those students that do not have a working robot will not be able to participate in the final exam tournament; therefore will receive a final exam grade no higher than a 70. Your robot MUST be able to leave the starting area under it’s own power.·
Extra credit is available (see timeline)
. Students will determine their starting position on the field by engaging in a single round of rock/paper/scissors. Once the winner chooses their starting position (the color tray they prefer) they each will have 33 seconds to place their robot in the starting tray and make all connections. When the head referee gives the signal, the round will begin. When the bell/whistle blows the time will start. Each round will last three minutes.

Time Line:

Due no later than
*Work may be turned in before a deadline
March 9th Kickoff
March 12th Concept sketches due. Must include enough detail to convey all aspect of the design. Should include basic dimensions and written descriptions as needed and a story board
March 23rd Power/energy flow chart due
April 6th Working drawing packet due: Must be done using Solid works. Must include orthographic drawing for each component part that needs to be made and an assembly for each sub assembly (i.e. arm, drive-train, etc…), and an assembly drawing for the entire device. It must also include a separate wiring schematic. Working drawings do not include off the shelf items such as fasteners, motors, etc, however fastener location, type, size and quantity must be indicated as needed and included on the BOM. The packet must include a complete bill of materials cross-referenced to the working drawings and assembly notes and instructions as needed. You must submit a cut sheet at this time.The budget spreadsheet is due at the same time. This packet must be turned in hardbound (using a standard report folder) with appropriate title blocks and electronically in a clearly labeled and organized folder.
April 20th Rolling Chassis due. Components must be permanently mounted. Robot must be able to negotiate a figure 8 course using provided controller and in compliance with game rules.
May 9th Solid Works representation of robot due. This will show all component parts and their relative motion and an exploded view. To be turned in electronically and printed. (This is extra credit)
May 27th ROBOT DUE at end of class.
May 28th & 29th Robot EvaluationFinal exam is as per test schedule.

NOTE: *All deadlines are on the date specified or on the closest previous class date.*All work turned in late will incur a 5 point per day late penalty, unless otherwise noted. No student will be permitted to move onto the next step until the current step is signed off. (i.e. You may not begin manufacture before you drawings are approved. If you do so or if you work outside of class your final device will not be accepted for a grade.

Grading Rubric for 6th six week performance grade



Robot War 2K9 Grading Score Sheet
Final Six Week Rubric


Name ______________________________________________ Class 6 7 8





_____ Working Drawings (with all signed revisions)

_____ Detail Drawings

_____ Bill of Materials (with cost & cross referenced to parts)

_____ Does it meet size requirements

_____ Robot matches drawings within + 1/16” tolerance

_____ Does it meet weight

_____ Prove stored mechanical energy does not exceed 6 joules (if applicable)

_____ Can it leave starting area without assistance.

_____ All Mountings Permanent ( no tape, zip ties, wire, etc…)

_____ No More Than 5 Power Components (motors, solenoids, etc…)

_____ No more than 3 defensive components

_____ Projectiles Tethered (if applicable)

_____ All electrical connections taped and/or insulated.

_____ Can it score



ALL Pneumatic devices and connectors, motors, solenoids, and anything else on loan MUST be returned by the end of the scheduled final exam time for your class period.