Theme: 2024-2025 “Cube it Up” - basic idea - move cubes from supply zone to score zone, stack them      

Up to 4 teams per site

4-6 teams per team

FIELD AND SCORING

• Use existing Vex competition fields, 6 foot by 8 foot field

• Supply zone will be 2 feet long by 6 feet wide, scoring zone will be 2 feet long by 6 feet wide, on the opposite side of the stage

• 2-inch cubes are randomly placed and spread out in supply zone

• Each cube moved completely into the scoring zone is one point

• Each stack is 5 points per level

• Teams are scored on their average score

• Robots should not damage or leave parts behind on the field

• Link to field and measurements

First Place: 20 points

Second Place: 10 points

Third Place: 5 points

ROBOT CONSTRAINTS

• Robots start anywhere in the middle of the field, not in the scoring zone or supply zone

• One CPU, six motors max, one wireless controller

• Robot dimensions must remain within 11 inches wide x 20 inches long x 15 inches high

• Robots need a plate for identification purposes, school-team, for example MapleA. On the safe side for now, up to 6 teams per school. Register your teams before April 1st. 

• All functional parts of your robot must be Vex IQ parts, you may add on other things that are nonfunctional, like plastic ducks or paper for aesthetics

STUDENT CONSTRAINTS

• Teams have one minute of drive time, they can swap drivers if they wish

• Students may not touch the objects or the field during the competition

• If a “robot” needs help, they must put the controller down, remove any game objects touching their robot from play, return their robot to the starting area

• Students are expected to demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship and professionalism

PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

• iEXPO battle bots and race bots will be student designed and managed

• Minimal adult support, minimal copying from online resources

• Original ideas and builds are expected, credit sources when necessary

• An engineering journal  is necessary

  • Dates and time of meeting, attendees, goal or problem of the day, proposed solution, quick sketch on each page. This is primarily to avoid adult created last minute robots. The iEXPO coordinator would like to see measurable progress over time and multiple iterations of design that document the team’s journey. This does not need to be super formal.

NEW COACHES

• Create a drivetrain, left side motor for your robot goes to port 1; right side - port 6 

• Connect your two drive trains together and add in your CPU wherever you can. I’ll push out a basic guide, but there will be problems for your students to solve along the way.

• Once your robot can drive, see if you can build a lifting system that can stack cubes. It is not the intent of the iEXPO team to copy designs or follow guides, but if you need help, you might find some here: Vex curriculum guide link..  

• Technical support: franco.ortega@hesperiausd.org

• Controllers need to be calibrated to each brain, you can find this in the controller options, and you’ll have to hardwire link the controller and brain before it drives wirelessly. You can find youtube videos on this, or play with the calibration options.

• I’ll hold zoom sessions for additional QNA the first Tuesday of every month at 5:30

• Google Classroom, uzq5unp, for monthly zoom links and shared resources

QNA SECTION (work in progress)

Teams of no more than 4 students (Grades 4th + )                                                                                                                    Track

Main Challenge: 

Design a wireless robot within the specified dimensions that can travel through all turns and hurdles of the track. The robot that will complete the track in the least amount of time will be the winner.

Design Specifications & Constraints: 

• Using actual Mario Kart Karts as inspiration, students will design and create racing bots.

• The selected Toad Circuit inspired race track area is 24 by 24 feet

• Teams will perform up to 3 time trial races trying to get their best time

• All functional robot parts must be from VEX IQ parts/VEX V5 parts

• Additional parts from other sources may be used for aesthetic purposes only

• Only one CPU, six motors max, no tire limit and one wireless controller per team

• The base dimensions limit is 11 inches wide by 20 inches long base and a max height of 15 inches

• Each Robot will need a plate for identification purposes, school-team, for example OakA. On the safe side for now, only 6 teams per school

• Each team will need to be responsible for their batteries ensuring charge throughout the competition 

• Teams can decide drivers at their own discretion 

• If a robot needs “help” teams must place their controllers down before assisting

• Teams will be receive a copy of the race track ahead of time

• A coach may not handle the robot at any time at the competition area. Coach should not actively engage with repair, programming, and/or operation of the robot. Any operation that involves the robot must be completed by a student

• Robots that don't meet the rules, behave unethically, or leave parts behind may be disqualified.

Q&A:

1. How do you build a basic race robot?

   1. Here is how to make a simple base Link

2. Can AI be used to generate code? 

   1. Yes, AI generated code may be integrated but not solely rely on it and must be used as a step or modified away from original intent.

3. Can AI be used to generate code? 

   1. Yes, AI generated code may be integrated but not solely rely on it and must be used as a step or modified away from original intent.

4. What if no team completes the race, then who wins?

1. The winners will then be determined based on distance from the finish line.