robot tour track

Test Exchange

Robot Tour is an event run as a Division C trial in Ohio for the 2020 season and as a Division C trial at the 2021 National Tournament . The event will be run again at the 2022 National Tournament as a Division C trial event.

• 1 The Event
• 2 Event Parameters
• 3 Construction Parameters
• 4 What The Practice Log Should Contain
• 5 The Competition
• 6 The Track
• 7.1 Layout Of The Track

Teams are tasked with building 1 programmable robotic vehicle prior to competition day, and use that robot to follow track lines to reach a target at a set amount of time as accurately and efficiently as possible. Teams must impound their robot on competition day.

Event Parameters

• If the programming unit is a laptop, then a USB Flash Drive must be impounded instead of the laptop. The USB drive must contain only one robot program that is the starting program for the robot.
• The practice log is the only paper or notes that the competitors may bring into the event area and must be impounded.
• Teams may bring tools which do not need to be impounded. Tools may include a stand-alone

non-programmable, non-graphing calculator as defined in the calculator policy found on the official Science Olympiad website .

Construction Parameters

• The autonomous robotic vehicle must be designed and programmed to follow track lines, make decisions at intersections, travel between gates, and stop at a designated target point on the track without external interactions.
• Electrical energy used by the Robot for any purpose, including propulsion, must be stored in a maximum of 8 (eight) AA 1.2 to 1.5-volt common, commercially available batteries, individually labeled by the manufacturer. Rechargeable batteries are allowed.
• Any battery containing lithium or lead acid is not permitted. Teams using these batteries will not be permitted to run and will receive only participation points.
• Batteries and robotic vehicle are to remain separate from the moment they are impounded until after the start of the team’s time slot. At Impound, the batteries to be used must be submitted in a non-metallic container free of any items that might cause a short circuit. The robot should be submitted at the same time but physically separate from the batteries. Teams violating any of these conditions will have the opportunity to remedy the situation to the satisfaction of the Event Supervisor should time allow. The Event Supervisor will instruct the teams when to install the batteries and prepare their Robot for its run.
• An approximately ¼” round wooden dowel must be attached to the front of the robot. When the robotic vehicle is in the ready-to-run configuration, the dowel must be approximately perpendicular to the floor, extend to within 1.0 cm of the floor, and extend at least 10.0 cm above the floor. The dowel must be the leading part of the Robot at all times and easily accessible by the Event Supervisor. The dowel attachment device may not extend more than 0.5 cm beyond the front of the dowel. The dowel’s front bottom edge will be the Robot’s Measurement Point for distance measurements.
• The entire Robot in the ready-to-run configuration must fit in any orientation in a 30.0 cm by 30.0 cm space of any height.
• All parts of the Robot must move as a whole; no tethers or other separate pieces are allowed. The only parts allowed to contact the floor during the run are parts already in contact with the floor in the ready-to-run configuration. Pieces falling off during the run constitutes a construction violation.
• Participants must be able to answer questions regarding the design, construction, and operation of the device per the Building Policy found on the official Science Olympiad website .

What The Practice Log Should Contain

• Teams must record the target time, run time, distance from target, and gates, if used, for at least 10 practice runs while varying (and recording) at least one Robot parameter (path taken, gates, …) for each run.
• Logs must be impounded and will be returned when the team is called to compete.

The Competition

• The start point, target point, target time, and number of gates to be passed along with their locations are chosen by the Event Supervisor (ES) and must not be announced until the impound period is over. The number of gates will be up to 3 for regionals, up to 4 for states and up to 6 for nationals. The target time will be chosen between 30 and 60 seconds.
• Only participants and the Event Supervisors will be allowed in the event area. Once participants enter the event area to compete, they must not leave or receive outside assistance, materials, or communication.
• Participants will be given an Event Time of 12 minutes to perform the following actions. The Event Supervisor will record the total event time used which may affect all scored runs. The Event Time will not include time used by the Event Supervisor for measuring. If a run has started before the 12-minute period has elapsed, it will be allowed to run to completion. The recorded event time must stop at 12 minutes.
• Teams are allowed to make programming changes to achieve the maximum points during their event time.
• If a laptop is the programming unit, then the competitors must open the single program file from the impounded USB drive in front of the Event Supervisor.
• Teams must only modify the impounded program file during the competition.
• Opening other files or referencing the Internet will result in their Final Score placed in Tier IV.
• Competitors may not use AC outlet power during their time slot
• Teams may have up to 2 successful runs or 3 failed runs (whichever comes first). Teams may ask to have the run recorded as a failed run and stop the run. Removing a Robot before the end of a run will be recorded as a failed run.
• In the ready-to-run configuration, the Robot’s Measurement Point must be over the Start Point with the Robot in any orientation. The Robot must remain at the starting position without being touched.
• Teams may adjust their Robot (ex: programming changes, physical modifications, ...) during their event time. The Event Supervisor may re-verify that the Robot meets specifications prior to each run.
• Teams must run their Robot on the track provided by the event supervisor. Running the Robot on any surface other than the event track will result in the team’s next run being recorded as a failed run for each occurrence.
• Participants may clean the track during their event time, but the track must remain undamaged and dry at all times. No wet and/or tacky substances may be applied to the track, wheels, or treads.
• Teams must start the Robot using any part of an unsharpened #2 pencil with an unused eraser, supplied by the Event Supervisor, in any motion to actuate a trigger. They may not touch the Robot to start it, hold it while actuating the trigger, or “push” the Robot to get it started. Once they start a run, the participants must not touch their Robot and must wait until notified by the Event Supervisor to retrieve their Robot.
• Run Time starts when the robot begins to move and ends when the Robot comes to a complete stop; recoils are considered part of the Run Time. If the robot does not move within 3 seconds after coming to a stop, the run is considered to have ended; the 3 seconds are not included in the Run Time. Any action occurring after that time does not count as part of the run. The event supervisor is encouraged to use three timers. The middle time of the 3 timers must be the official Run Time. The Run Time must be recorded in seconds to the precision of the timing devices.
• A Gate Bonus is awarded for each Gate crossed in any order. Each Gate may only be counted once. The

dowel rod and dowel’s attachment device must be the first part of the robot to travel across the Gate line.

• A Failed Run occurs for any run that:
• Does not finish within twice the target time
• The Robot exits the track area as determined by all Robot floor contact points being completely outside of the track’s outer perimeter lines.
• If the time and/or distance cannot be measured for a Robot (e.g., it starts before the Event Supervisor is ready, the participants pick it up before it is measured).
• If the Robot does not move upon actuation of the trigger, it does not count as a run and the team may set up for another run.
• A team filing an appeal must leave their Robot and programming unit/USB in the competition area.
• The track area will be on a smooth, level, and hard surface.
• The track area will be 4 circles with a diameter of 50cm. The circles are arranged 2 by 2 with the tangent points overlapping. The outer perimeter of the circles is connected by 4 straight lines. The track lines are approximately 1.9cm wide black lines on a white background.
• The 12 intersection points are marked by an approximately 2.5 cm wide by 15cm long black line centered and perpendicular to the intersection point.
• Event Supervisor will use an approximately 1.9 cm by 1.9 cm pieces of tape to mark the Start and Target Points, with the Start and Target Point marked in the center each piece of tape. The Start Point may be placed at approximately halfway between any two intersection points. The Target Point may be placed at any intersection point.
• Gates can be placed at approximately halfway between any two intersection points. A Gate cannot be at the same location as the Start point. The Gate is indicated by a 15cm thin line centered on the track line. The Gate line is marked by a single piece of tape 2.5 cm by 2.5cm at one end with a Gate letter (Ex: “A”, “B”, “R”, ”X”, …). There must be a gap of 6.0 cm between the Gate tape marker and all track lines.
• At the Event Supervisor’s discretion, more than one track may be used. If so, the team may choose which track they use. All runs must be on the same track.
• The team with the highest Final Score in the lowest tier number wins
• Each team’s Final Score is their highest Run Score with the lowest tier number.
• The Run Score for each run = Time Score + Distance Score + Gate Bonus + Penalties
• The Time Score is determined by:
• Run Time less than Target Time, calculated by the equation Time Score = 90 - (Target Time - Run Time) x 2
• Run Time greater or equal to Target Time, calculated by the equation Time Score = 90 - (Run Time - Target Time)
• The Distance Score = Robot Distance x -0.5. The Robot Distance is the point-to-point distance from the Measurement Point to the Target Point in centimeters measured to the nearest 0.1 cm.
• Gate Bonus = 15 points for each gate crossed in any order.
• Teams may incur the following Penalties that affect all Run Scores. Penalties do not affect Tier placement
• Recorded Event Time will incur a penalty of -1 point per each 10 seconds beyond 8 minutes.
• Incomplete Practice Logs will incur a Penalty of -250 points.
• Teams without impounded Practice Logs will incur a Penalty of -500 points.
• Tiers; the Tier with the highest number will be applied when more than one are applicable:
• Tier 1: Runs with no violations
• Tier 2: Runs with any competition violations.
• Tier 3: Runs with any construction violations.
• Tier 4: Teams that did not impound their Robot during the impound period.
• Ties must be broken by this sequence: 1. Higher Time Score on scored run; 2. Lower Robot Distance on scored run. 3. Higher Gates Bonus on scored run. 4. Lower event time used. 5. Next better non-scored run score.

Layout Of The Track

• Technology and Engineering Events
• Build events
• Trial events

Navigation menu

• A Brief History
• Awards & Recognition
• Ways to Give
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• Conen Morgan Memorial Fund
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Division: Division C – High School

Event Rules: See National Rules Manual

Event Score Sheet: Coming Soon

National Event Page: Robot Tour C

Description:

Teams design, build, program and test one robotic vehicle to navigate a track to reach a target in a set amount of time as accurately and efficiently as possible.

Each team must bring and impound one robotic vehicle, a practice log, programming unit (except laptops) and any additional/spare parts. If the programming unit is a laptop, then a USB flash drive must be impounded instead of the laptop and contain only one robot program that is the starting program for the robot. Teams may bring tools, which includes a stand alone non programmable non graphing calculator.

• Robot Tour’s rules are not limiting and are open on the type of robot. There are just a few items required: Size is less than 30cm by 30cm of any height. Larger robots will have a disadvantage in navigating the track. So smaller is better.
• Energy must come from 6 or less AA or AAA batteries. This will cause the largest number of issues at tournaments. Many robot kits come with lithium batteries which is NOT allowed. Teams have purchased kits with the lithium batteries but replaced these batteries with AA batteries before the tournament.
• Robot is NOT remote controlled. A lot of robot kits come with an optional remote controller to drive the robots. These kits are valid PROVIDED the remote controller is not used and the students can show the robot is executing their robot program.

Coming Soon

Each team’s final score is their lowest run score plus any final score penalties. Low score wins.

Event Resources

Example Robot – this can be used to build your own robot or modify purchased robot kits

Vex Robotics

Build a Robot

STUDY OVER BREAK! Tournament Day: March 2nd

Description: 

Event Type: Design & Build

In this event, teams design, build, program and test one Robotic Vehicle to navigate a track to reach a target at a set amount of time as accurately and efficiently as possible (taken from the Science Olympiad website).

Here are some links to learn more and start your research:

This Event's Official Science Olympiad Page

This Event's Science Olympiad Wiki Page

Lakeside Robot Tour Google Folder (keep all your notes here please!)

2023-2024 Robot Tour Event Rules!!!

Teacher(s) for this event:

Mr. Black, [email protected]

Students doing this event:

Iris Tang,             [email protected]

Kellan Williams , [email protected]

Anastasia Parakhina, [email protected]

Jenny Jian, [email protected]

Student Thoughts:

Robot Tour Trial 2023 Div C - Brian Hoffman

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robot tour for science olympiad

Open this page at https://yurrgh.github.io/robottour/

Use as Extension

This repository can be added as an extension in MakeCode.

• open https://makecode.microbit.org/
• click on New Project
• click on Extensions under the gearwheel menu
• search for https://github.com/yurrgh/robottour and import

Edit this project

To edit this repository in MakeCode.

• click on Import then click on Import URL
• paste https://github.com/yurrgh/robottour and click import

Metadata (used for search, rendering)

Div B Events

Div c events.

Teams design, build, and test a mechanical device, which uses the energy from a falling mass to transport an egg along a straight track as quickly as possible and stop as close to the center of a Terminal Barrier (TB) without breaking the egg.

Clarifications

Oct 27, 2023.

Section 6.d.: In the ready-to-run configuration, the pointed tip of the egg must be placed directly above the Start Point.  No part of the energy propulsion device may cross the 0.50 m Timing Line in the ready-to-run configuration or at any point during a run.  The Scrambler must remain in the ready-to-run configuration without being touched until triggered by the #2 pencil.

Oct 16, 2023

It is strongly recommended that teams using a kit impound a description of the substantial modification required by the Construction Policy to help the Event Supervisor verify they have met this requirement.

Section 3.g.: Event Supervisors at VASO tournaments will not allow the egg to be placed inside a bag.

Section 3.f.: For timing, a n approximately ¼” to ⅜” wooden dowel must be attached vertically and directly to the top of the rigid backstop. The dowel must extend at least 20.0 cm above the Track’s surface. A paper flag for the timing system must be attached to the trailing side of the dowel with the paper’s center height at 17.0cm ± 1.0 cm. The paper size must be 5.0 cm by 5.0 cm ± 1.0 cm. The paper may be any color and decorated. A paper flag may be attached to the trailing side of the dowel, but this is not required for VASO’s timing system and will not be judged at VASO tournaments. One or more violations of this paragraph counts as a single Construction Violation.

Section 3.c.: …The falling mass must not directly be prevented from contact ing, marking, or damaging the venue floor by using a pad or similar protective cushion. The pad must not be attached to the falling mass; it must cover the floor. Teams that do not adequately protect the venue floor will not be allowed to compete and will receive participation points …

Section 2.b.: Teams may share energy propulsion system between teams from the same school. Teams, even if they are from the same school, may NOT share an energy propulsion system at VASO tournaments.

VASO Scrambler Scoring Spreadsheet

Egg Holder and Backstop Diagram 2024

Track Layout for 2024

2024 Summary Scrambler Poster

General Vehicle Lessons and Tips Video

Science Olympiad TV Video - Steering Your Vehicle

Wignut Braking System Video

National Scrambler page

Student Resource Center (Scioly)

Resources from the 2022-23 Season:

2022-23 Let's Chat Scrambler video

HitchBOT the Hitchhiking Robot Embarks on Cross-Country Tour of U.S.

BOSTON -- With its thumb raised skyward and a grin on its digital face, the robotic creation of two researchers in Canada embarked on a hitchhiking journey across the U.S. on Friday. The humanoid robot named hitchBOT has already caught rides across Canada and in Europe, relying on the kindness and curiosity of strangers. But this is its first U.S. tour, setting out from Massachusetts with dreams of San Francisco ahead. Along the way, it hopes to see some quintessential American sites, including Times Square, Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon.

To start the journey, its creators set it alongside a road in Marblehead with tape wrapped around its cylindrical head that read "San Francisco or bust." Not long after, a group of German tourists picked it up and strapped it into their SUV with plans to take it to Boston or New York. The kid-size robot is immobile on its own, so it gets from place to place by being schlepped around by strangers. Travelers can pass it off to others they meet, or leave it at a gas station or shop. They just leave it seated on its kickstand with its thumb raised.

Ideally, the creators hope, drivers won't leave the bot along busy roads and will charge the battery when it runs low. Otherwise, there are no rules. "We want to see what people do with this kind of technology when we leave it up to them," said Frauke Zeller, one of the creators and an assistant professor in professional communication at Toronto's Ryerson University. "It's an art project in the wild — it invites people to participate."

HitchBOT has a bucket for a body and bendy foam limbs capped by yellow gardening gloves and matching rubber boots. "It has a really low-tech look to it, something we dubbed the 'yard-sale aesthetic,'" said David Harris Smith, the other creator and an assistant professor in communication studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. "The head is actually an acrylic cake-saver."

Designed to be a talking travel companion, the robot can toss out factoids and carry limited conversation. A GPS in the robot can track its location, and a camera randomly snaps photos about every 20 minutes to document its travels. But the team behind the robot seeks permission from people in the photos before posting them to social media. More than 30,000 people follow the robot on Twitter, and dozens have posted their own selfies with it.

Related: Welcome Home! Hitchhiking Robot's Cross-Canada Journey a Success

Researchers are culling data from social media to study how people interact with a robot that needs their help, unlike traditional robots designed to help them. Among the chief questions researchers are asking, Zeller said, is whether robots can trust humans.

During past travels, the robot has attended a comic convention and a wedding, and it had its portrait painted in the Netherlands. It once spent a week with a heavy metal band. The cross-country tour of Canada took 26 days, spanning more than 6,000 miles. As for the U.S. trip, researchers don't know how long it will take or what will happen along the way.

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Pinehurst #10 opened this week. Want to play it?

These 2024 irons impressed us the most during robot testing

In a sea of strong product offerings, picking just one favorite is never easy. But GOLF’s Fully Equipped crew still tried to highlight the models that stood out during robotic iron testing. During a wide-ranging discussion covering the data points that mattered on the latest 3-woods and irons, the episode concluded with the group selecting the irons that stood out for one reason or another.

Check out the models below, and then head to the 2024 ClubTest hub to get the full rundown on the tech behind each option. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to the Fully Equipped YouTube page to stay up-to-date on all the latest news in the equipment industry.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke and Cobra Darkspeed

Gene Parente (Golf Laboratories founder) : “I’d have to give the nod to the Cobra Darkspeed and Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke . They were both rock-solid. I’m looking at this through the prism of an average golfer, not an elite golfer. More something I’d like to personally game. It’s ultimately up to the listener to mine this and see what their characteristics are and what clubs could potentially benefit them.”

Kris McCormack (True Spec’s VP of Tour and Education): “I really like the Darkspeed , if I had to narrow it down to one. It’s a sleeper in the drawer that does really well. This year, there’s such a good variety of products out there that can work for so many players. But if you’re putting my feet to the fire, I’ll say Darkspeed because it works for a bunch of player types.”

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Custom Irons

Cobra DarkSpeed Custom Irons

Cleveland zipcore xl.

Ryan Barath (GOLF.com senior equipment editor): “They do not get enough credit for their iron designs, but Cleveland ZipCore XL irons deserve a nod. From a price-point perspective, it’s one of the most cost-effective irons on this list, which is important to note. I’ve hit them and they feel really good, and look really good. It’s an oversized XL, but when you consider the price it’s at and the performance it delivers, it is one of the best values out there. You can go to any of the ones we’ve mentioned, but the Cleveland stacks up to the rest of the pack. It’s a standard cavity-back iron with a lot going on. For a mid-handicap who’s looking for a hollow-bodied iron, it’s a good option. From the data and performance I’ve seen, they are great. If you’re looking for something to try, don’t walk past the ZipCore XL without giving it a shot.”

Cleveland ZipCore XL Custom Irons

Jonathan Wall (GOLF’s managing equipment editor): “It’s Ping G730 for me. It was inside the top 5 in ball speed, had one of the tightest heel-toe carry deltas and was one of only three irons with a single-digit carry delta on heel and toe misses. It’s a really good iron. No surprise Ping is coming out with a great game-improvement iron. It also has a clean profile with limited offset, even though it’s game improvement. It checks a lot of boxes for the golfer who’s a higher handicap but doesn’t want to play a shovel.”

PING G730 Custom Irons

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a  fitting location near  you at True Spec Golf.

Latest In Gear

Taylormade's brnr mini driver copper | first look, these limited-edition azalea golf tees are perfect for masters fans, scottie scheffler's most important club isn't what you think, how to dress for the masters: 25 stylish ideas we love, jonathan wall.

Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to joining the staff at the end of 2018, he spent 6 years covering equipment for the PGA Tour. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg Team Up To Launch Canned Cocktail Brand, Gin & Juice

Named after their 1994 collaborative track..

Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg have a new collaboration – and no, it isn’t a new song. The two musical heavyweights have teamed up to launch the canned cocktail brand, Gin & Juice.

The company gets its name from Snoop’s Doggystyle cut, “Gin and Juice,” which was produced by Dre and details the narrative of an alcohol-fueled party.

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