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2018 Rules and Specifications:

What is a Robotics Tournament?

A Robotics Tournament is a competition that requires multiple teams to design, construct, or program a robot. Each team’s robot must complete a series of challenges either piloted by a driver via remote control, or autonomously without any input from the team. Through each challenge, teams can earn points based upon a scoring rubric that is evaluation by a judge or referee. There is an awards ceremony at the end of every competition that allows for teams to earn awards and acknowledgements based upon their performance and participation.

What is the MJS Robotics Tournament?

For the first time ever, MJS will be holding its very own tournament. Inspired by the First Robotics Competition. The tournament is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at MJS and there is no charge to compete. Students may form their own teams with at least two (2) members but no more than four (4). Students of each team will use the standard EV3 taskbot from our Engineering Robotics courses in a series of challenges. Most of these challenges will require students to program their robots to move autonomously, while others may allow for remote control piloting. There will be three days (1 hour each day) to allow for students to complete the tournament challenges. Students may complete each challenge as many times as they wish, time permitting, in order to make improvements and earn more points. The fourth and final day of the tournament will be an awards ceremony and each competing team will have the opportunity to win prizes.

What is First Robotics?

The First Robotics Competition is an International league that is open to students worldwide. The league starts with students in Kindergarten and has four different levels that span up to high school. First Robotics has over 515,000 students participating world wide across 60,000 teams. MJS’ First Lego League team is #4774 and was ranked #42 in the state at this past season’s New Jersey State Championship. Madison High School’s First Tech Challenge team is #4486 and was ranked in the top 20 at the FTC NJ State Championship this past year. To get involved with either team, see Mr. Erdreich for more information. Both teams start their seasons in September of each school year.

Dates of Events

Wednesday, 5/1/18

Tuesday, 5/7/18

Wednesday, 5/8/18

Thursday, 5/9/18

Friday, 5/10/18

Monday, 5/13/18

Tuesday, 5/14/18

Wednesday, 5/15/18

Thursday, 5/16/18

Team Registration Opened

General Madison Makers Info Meeting

Optional Practice 2:45-3:30

Mandatory Team Information Meeting

Tournament Competition Day #1

Tournament Competition Day #2

Tournament Competition Day #3

Tournament Awards Ceremony

Mandatory Team Information Meeting

All teams that plan to compete MUST attend the team information meeting. Teams that do not attend will not be permitted to compete without completing necessary information training another time.

Tournament Competition Days

There will be three days for students to complete the various tournament challenges and earn points. On 5/14, 5/15, and 5/16, students may work with their teams to complete the challenges from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. Students are permitted to retrieve their robot before 3:00pm, and permitted to return it after 4:00pm, however tournament challenges can only be used between 3:00pm and 4:00pm. The tournament will take place in MJS’ STEM Lab and Media Center.

Tournament Awards Ceremony

On Thursday 5/17, there will be an awards ceremony for all teams. Total scores will be overviewed and prizes will be handed out.

Tournament Rules

Overview

All teams must abide to the tournament rules at all times throughout the tournament. The MJS Robotics Tournament is a school event and there for under the MJS school rules, guidelines, and expectations as well. Failure to comply may result in disqualification or further consequences.

Teams

Teams must have at least two (2) students but no more than four (4)
Teams may be made up of all students from 6th, 7th, or 8th grade at MJS
Teams are responsible for the retrieval, use, care, and return of their assigned robot
Teams must use their own Chromebooks
Teams must use their own programs

Spectators

Spectators are welcome at the tournament
Spectators should not be handling any team or tournament hardware / equipment
Spectators may not program a team’s robot, or interfere with the tournament challenges

Robots / Software

Teams must use the standard EV3 taskbot that they are assigned
Taskbots may not be modified in anyway, with the exception of challenge attachments
Challenge attachments are provided by challenge judges for specific challenges
Teams must use Chromebooks, with the exception of iPads for pilot challenges
Teams must use the EV3 programmer app on the Chrome Web store to program
Macs & PCs are prohibited
Teams must retrieve their taskbot from the correct storage zone before the tournament
Teams must return their taskbot to the correct storage zone after the tournament

Tournament

Teams may complete challenges on a competition day between 3:00pm and 4:00pm
Teams may work and program their robots in a designated pit zone
Teams may not work / program their robot at a challenge zone
Teams may collect data or measurements from a challenge zone but only when a challenge referee permits it
Teams may complete practice runs in a challenge zone when permitted by a referee
Teams may complete each challenge as many times as they wish as long as time permits

Scoring

Teams will be scored on individualized rubrics per challenge
Team’s challenge scores will only be replaced by scores that are higher than the previous
Teams may be awarded points only by a challenge referee or tournament official

Tournament Guidelines

The EV3 Taskbot

All teams must use the taskbot that they are assigned. The taskbot may not be modified in any way with the exception of challenge attachments. Teams should seek assistance from a tournament official if they are experiencing any technical issues or problems with their taskbot.

Permitted Motors / Sensors:

Right Wheel → Large motor B

Left Wheel → Large motor C

Forklift → Medium motor A

Touch Sensor → Port 1

Gyro Sensor → Port 2

Color / Light Sensor → Port 3

Ultrasonic Sensor → Port 4

Note: no motors / sensors are required to be used

Teams may determine which items to use as they wish.

Challenge Zones:

A challenge zone is an area that is designated for a challenge. Challenge zones are supervised by challenge referees (red name tags). Teams may go to a challenge zone with their taskbot to attempt to complete a challenge. Points are awarded by the challenge referee. Teams and spectators may watch a challenge but may not interfere. Referees may provide teams with information about their challenge, not technical support. Teams may record data or take measurements of a challenge only when permitted by a challenge referee. Teams may not program at a challenge zone.

Pit Zones:

A pit zone is an area away from a challenge zone where teams may work and collaborate. Teams may leave belongings in pit areas, as well as their chromebooks. Teams may program their robots in pit areas. Teams may practice in pit areas. Teams may ask for technical assistance from a tournament official (green name tags).

Storage Zones:

A storage zone is a the classroom that robots are kept. Each team will be assigned a robot and a storage zone. They must retrieve their own robot and return their own robot to and from their assigned zone.

Resources:

Tools:

Teams have access to rulers, meter sticks, and USB mice throughout the competition. Teams may use rulers and or meter sticks to measure the challenge fields when permitted by a challenge referee. In general a challenge referee will permit teams to measure the courses whenever a run is not underway. Measuring the challenge fields may be useful to determine the number of rotations needed to navigate through the fields.

Practice Runs:

Teams are permitted to complete a practice run at anytime during the competition. Teams must notify the challenge referee that they are completing a practice run rather than an official run. No scores will be recorded for a practice run.

Tutorial Videos on Mr. Erdreich’s Digital Classroom:

There are 18 EV3 tutorial videos designed specifically for students at MJS using the EV3 programmer chromebook application. These videos may help teams learn the basics about controlling an EV3, or review details about how to code a particular feature. Mr. E’s digital classroom tutorial videos are linked to the Madison Makers google classroom page, or accessible here.

Madison Makers Google Classroom:

All resources and links for the 2018 MJS Robotics Tournament are pasted to the Madison Makers google classroom. Teams may also use the Madison Makers google classroom to share useful tips or resources with one another throughout the competition. Join the google classroom using the code HERE

YouTube:

There are hundreds of EV3 tutorial videos posted on youtube. These videos are usually extensive but provide valuable knowledge on how to complete complex tasks. Many of these videos may be recorded on a Mac or PC and the software is slightly different than the chromebook app.