Shocker MINDSTORMS Challenge
Table Runner
Apprentice Mission ( Beginner and Beginner II Teams)
Description:
Can you use touch sensors to help your robot feel the edge of the table without falling off? The field is simply a standard folding table approximately 6 ft by 2.5 ft. Your robot will start in the center of the table. The center of the table will be marked with masking tape forming an "X". The center of the robot "brain" will need to be placed on this "X" at the beginning of the run. Your robot including wires must not be larger than 10 inches in any direction.
Your robot will need to be in motion while remaining on the table during the entire run. Your robot will need to touch each side of the table multiple times, in a short amount of time, in order to score maximum points.
The purpose of this Apprentice Mission is to utilize the touch or force sensor capability of the robot. You must therefore show satisfactory evidence to the course Judge that the unit is utilizing a touch sensor to direct its motion and change of direction when reaching the edge of the table.
A. Stay in Motion on the Table
Your first challenge is to keep your robot unit in motion without falling off the table. If your robot is still for more than 5 seconds after starting the challenge, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied. Maximum time limit for an official run is 3 minutes. The run will end at 3 minutes and teams will receive the score earned up to that time.
B. Touch the edge of the Table without Falling Off
Your second challenge is to stay on the table while touching each side of the table. If your robot falls off the table, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied. Touching the edge will be determined if the activation of the touch sensor at the edge of the table causes the direction of motion to be changed without the unit falling off the table.
C. Touch Each Side of the Table Two Times
Your third challenge is to touch each side of the table two times. You can touch the sides of the table in any order, however, you cannot score points for touching the same side of the table two times in a row. See Examples below.
D. Scoring
The first touch of each side of the table earns 75 points for each side. The second touch of a different side of the table earns an additional 75 points, and so on. An additional 200 points are scored for completing all eight touches (each side two times) in less than 45 seconds. If the eight touches are completed between 45 and 90 seconds, 100 points will be added to the total. If the unit takes longer than 90 seconds to complete all eight touches, no additional points will be added. Your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied once all sides have been touched two times or at the end of 3 minutes, whichever comes first. If, in the judges considered opinion, sensors are not being used, a score of zero will be recorded for the run.
Bill of Materials:
6' x 2.5' folding table (or a similarly sized table)
Soft mats or cushions to catch the robot if it falls*
*TIP: Put the table on the floor without unfolding the table legs. Your robot will still have an edge to feel, but if it falls off the edge of the table, the fall will be much shorter than if you unfold the legs and set the table up.
Scoring:
First touch of side A - 75 points
Second touch of side A - 75 points (cannot be consecutive touches)
First touch of side B - 75 points
Second touch of side B - 75 points (cannot be consecutive touches)
First touch of side C - 75 points
Second touch of side C - 75 points (cannot be consecutive touches)
First touch of side D - 75 points
Second touch of side D - 75 points (cannot be consecutive touches)
Less than 45 seconds = 200 pts
45 seconds - 90 seconds = 100 pts
Greater than 90 seconds = no additional pts
Maximum time limit = 3 minutes
Examples of Scoring Possibilities: (not all inclusive)
A + B + C = 225 pts (3 sides touched 1 time each)
A + C + D + B = 300 pts (4 sides touched 1 time each)
A + B + B + D = 225 pts (3 sides touched once, no points for touching B twice in a row)
A + B + C + D + C + B + A + D = 600 pts (all 4 sides touched twice - no sequence)
A + B + C + D + D + D + D + D = 300 pts (4 sides touched once, no additional points for consecutive touches of D)
(2)A + (2)B + (2)C +(2)D less than 45 seconds = 800 pts
(2)A + (2)B + (2)C +(2)D greater than 45 seconds but less than or = 90 seconds = 700 pts
(2)A + (2)B + (2)C +(2)D greater than 90 seconds = 600 pts
Drawings:
Table Runner Schematic (pdf)