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2019 Challenges:

The MJS Robotics Tournament has 9 different challenges. Students may complete each challenge multiple times in an attempt to earn more points. All challenges must be completed using the standard EV3 taskbot without modification (with the exception of challenge attachments). All challenges must be programmed using the Chromebook EV3 programmer application (with the exception of remote piloted challenges). An overview of each challenge is below, more information about each challenge is provided on the following pages.

2019 Tournament Challenges

Challenge #1 - Ultimate Line Tracer 2.0

Overview:

For the Ultimate Line Tracer Challenge, each team must program their robot to autonomously trace a black line using the light sensor on port 3. The light sensor should be configured so it is pointed down.

Start / Time / Finish:

Teams will place their robot at the starting point with their sensors over the black line. Teams will have an unlimited amount of time to trace a black line path until reaching the designated finish line. Teams are to stop their own robot when it reaches the finish, the robot does not need to stop autonomously.

Scoring:

Teams will be scored based upon who can trace the line the fastest. Time does not stop if a robot loses the line. Teams will be scored using the evaluation rubric below.

1st fastest team to trace the line & finish - 50 pts
2nd fastest team to trace the line & finish - 40 pts
3rd fastest team to trace the line & finish - 30 pts
4th or 5th fastest team to trace the line & finish - 20 pts
6th or 7th fastest team to trace the line & finish - 15 pts
8th or 9th fastest team to trace the line & finish - 10 pts
10th or above fastest team to trace the line & finish - 5 pts

Hints / Suggestions:

Use the light sensor on the reflected light setting. When permitted by a challenge referee, determine the threshold of the black line on the challenge course. Watch Mr. E’s digital classroom video EV3-17 for assistance.

Challenge #2 - Roomba Challenge

Overview:

For the Roomba Challenge, each team must autonomously program their robot to travel through a course to attempt to score as many points as possible by cleaning the floor of a lego mess.

Start / Time / Finish:

Prior to beginning, ensure each square of the course has an even amount of lego pieces. The robot must start in either of two base area facing any direction the team choose. Each team will have one minute to clear as many square of legos as possible. The robot may end anywhere on the field and teams do not need to use the entire time limit.

Scoring:

Each clean square is worth 1 point, there are 50 total. In order to obtain points for a square, there must be no legos in side of the square. A lego partially in the square and one the line counts as in the square. Legos may be pushed into either of the home bases in order to clear the field. Touching or resetting a robot will result in a negative one point penalty.

Hints / Suggestions:

Use the scoop attachment to your advantage. The light sensors may be repositioned using the help of a judge so they are facing forward. Use the rear mounted touch sensor to your advantage. Attempt to program a simple sweeping program that works through the field in the direction of the goals. See Mr. E’s digital classroom video EV3-7 and EV3-8 for motor control, EV3-10 for rotations, or EV3-18 for detecting color.

Challenge #3 - Picasso Roboto

Overview:

For the Picasso Roboto challenge, each team must program their robot to autonomously write the letters “M J S” using the marker attachment mounted on the forklift of their taskbot.

Start / Time / Finish:

Teams can place their robot anywhere on the 24”x36” canvas to start. Teams will have 2 minutes for their robot to complete its autonomous program. Robots do not need to stop autonomously, teams may stop their robot when time is up or when their program is completed.

Scoring:

Teams will be scored based upon how “M J S” is draw using the rubric below.

3 letters drawn with no connection or scribble lines (figure A) - 30 pts
2 letters drawn with no connection or scribble lines (figure B) - 20 pts
1 letter drawn with no connection or scribble lines (figure C) - 10 pts
3 letters drawn with connection or scribble lines (figure D) - 15 pts
2 letters drawn with connection or scribble lines (figure E) - 10 pts
1 letter drawn with connection or scribble lines (figure F) - 5 pts

Hints / Suggestions:

Calculate for rotations to plan your course. Make a scaled path on graph paper to plan your course. Using the gyro may allow for more accurate turns. Raising and lowering the medium A motor would allow for no connection or scribble lines and higher points. See Mr. E’s digital classroom videos EV3-7 for motor control, EV3-10 for rotations, or EV3-11 for turning.

Challenge #4 - Ball Pit Challenge

Overview:

For the Ball Pit Challenge, each team must autonomously program their robot to travel through a course to attempt to score as many points as possible by “kicking” balls into one of three goals.

Start / Time / Finish:

Teams may place their robots anywhere on the field prior to beginning, but the balls must be placed by a challenge judge. Teams will have one minute to attempt to push as many balls into goals as possible. Teams will have 1 minute but they do not need to use all of the time provided, they may tell the judges when their program is complete.

Scoring:

Each ball is worth 1 point and there are thirty total. In order for points to be scored, the ball must completely exit the field throughout the goal. Touching or resetting a robot will result in a negative one point penalty. A team will be disqualified if robot completely exits the course through a goal.

Hints / Suggestions:

Challenge #5 - The Ground is Lava 2.0!

Overview:

For The Ground is Lava! Challenge, each team must program their robot to autonomously navigate through a dangerous lava ridden field. No sensors are required but all are permitted.

Start / Time / Finish:

Teams will place their robot at the starting. Teams will have an unlimited amount of time for their robots to navigate through the field to the finish line while avoiding the lava. Once in the finish area, the robot must turn around and return back to start. Teams are to stop their own robot when it reaches the finish, the robot does not need to stop autonomously.

Scoring:

Teams will be scored based upon who can complete the course the fastest. Teams will be disqualified if their robot enters a lava covered area but they may try again. Teams will be scored using the evaluation rubric below.

1st fastest team to trace the line & finish - 40 pts
2nd fastest team to trace the line & finish - 30 pts
3rd fastest team to trace the line & finish - 20 pts
4th or 5th fastest team to trace the line & finish - 15 pts
6th or 7th fastest team to trace the line & finish - 10 pts
8th above fastest team to trace the line & finish - 5 pts

Hints / Suggestions:

The color sensor may be useful to determine if the robot enters a lava zone. Entering a lava zone briefly may lose a point, however the color sensor could prevent a much larger point loss. Measuring the course with a meter stick when permitted by a referee would allow for a group to plan out their route by calculating rotations. See Mr. E’s digital classroom video EV3-10 for rotations and EV3-18 for detecting color.

Challenge #6 - Robot Driver's License Challenge

Overview:

For the Robot Driver’s License Challenge, each team must autonomously program their robot to travel through a course to attempt to score as many points as possible by parking their robots in up to two parking spots.

Start / Time / Finish:

Teams must start their robot within the yellow starting box. Teams have up to 2 minutes to navigate through the course and attempt to park in up to two spots. The robot must enter and remain fully in a spot for 3 seconds in order for the robot to consider to be “parked”. The robot does not need to end the time in spot and the team does not need to use all of the time allotted.

Scoring:

Parking in spot #1 is worth 20 points and parallel parking in spot #2 is worth 30 points. Teams may attempt to park in both spots during the provide time but their robot must remain within a spot for at least 3 seconds for it to consider to be parked. The robot must be entirely in the spot, touching the yellow line counts as in but extruding past the line does not. Hitting a pedestrian or cone will result in a negative penalty of two points.

Hints / Suggestions:

The EV3 is fixed with two color sensors that can either be used for line tracing to easily navigate the course. One of the sensors can also be calibrated to detect color as well. You can also utilize two play blocks to simultaneously trace with both lines, or use the ultrasonic sensor to detect strategically placed pedestrians. See Mr. E’s digital classroom video EV3-14 for the ultrasonic sensor, EV3-15 for the light and color sensors, and EV3-17 for a line trace.

Challenge #7 - King Arthur Challenge

Overview:

For the King Arthur Challenge, each team must autonomously program their robot to travel through the Kingdom of Camelot in order to attempt to retrieve King Arthur's sword Excalibur.

Start / Time / Finish:

Teams may place their robots anywhere in the start box upon beginning the challenge. Teams will have 1 minute and 30 seconds to navigate through the course to find excalibur. The robot cannot travel through natural landmarks (trees, mountains, water). The robot can end anywhere on the field and teams do not need to use all allotted time. Excalibur does not need to be returned to base.

Scoring:

Making contact with the handle of excalibur is worth 10 points. Removing each section of excalibur is worth an additional 10 points, there are 6 sections total. A section must be completely removed from the stone for it to count, on the line of a section does not count. The robot cannot travel through natural landmarks (trees, mountains, water), touching these landmarks will result in disqualification.

Hints / Suggestions:

The EV3 is fixed with two color sensors that can either be used for line tracing to easily navigate the course. One of the sensors can also be calibrated to detect color as well. You can also utilize two play blocks to simultaneously trace with both lines, or use the ultrasonic sensor to detect strategically placed landmarks. Utilize the A motor to move the forklift of your robot in order to retrieve the sword. See Mr. E’s digital classroom video EV3-14 for the ultrasonic sensor, EV3-15 for the light and color sensors, and EV3-17 for a line trace.

Challenge #8 - The Gauntlet

Overview:

For the Gauntlet Challenge, each team must autonomously program their robot to travel through space in order to retrieve the infinity stones while avoiding the wrath of Thanos.

Start / Time / Finish:

Teams may place their robots anywhere in the start base upon starting the challenge. Teams will have 2 minutes to navigate through space in order to collect the stones but teams do not need to use all of the time provided. The robot and stones may end anywhere in the course, but returning the stones to base will result in more points. Robots cannot travel through natural landmarks (castles and towers).

Scoring:

Moving each stone off of its starting position is worth 2 points. Returning each stone to the starting base is worth 8 additional points totaling to 10 points each. NOTE FOR THE SOUL STONE: The soul stone may not be retrieved without providing a sacrifice. In order to get any points for the soul stone, the robot sacrifice must be placed in the sacrifice pit, on the line counts as in. Hitting a Thanos and moving him out of its starting location will result in a negative point penalty of 2 points. Robots cannot travel through natural landmarks (castles and towers) and doing so will result in disqualification.

Hints / Suggestions:

The EV3 is fixed with two color sensors that can either be used for line tracing to easily navigate the course. One of the sensors can also be calibrated to detect color as well. You can also utilize two play blocks to simultaneously trace with both lines, or use the ultrasonic sensor to detect strategically placed landmarks. Utilize the A motor to move the forklift of your robot in order to retrieve the sword. See Mr. E’s digital classroom video EV3-14 for the ultrasonic sensor, EV3-15 for the light and color sensors, and EV3-17 for a line trace.

Challenge #9 - 2018 Official FLL Challenge

Overview:

For the 2018 Official FLL Challenge, each team will have a chance to complete challenges faced by our 2018 First Lego League Team. This challenge will take place on the 2018 FLL competition table and feature a few of the challenges from this past season.

Start / Time / Finish:

Robots will start in home base. Teams may handle their robot in home base throughout the 2 minute time period. Robots may finish anywhere on the field and they do not need to stop autonomously. Stopping the robot at the end of the 2 minute time period does not count as a penalty.

Scoring:

Teams will have 2 minutes to complete as many of the FLL activities as possible. Teams must complete the activities in a 2 minute successession. Scores are based on 2 minute runs, not individual activities. A 5 point penalty will be deducted if a team handles their robot out of home base. Activities will be scored on the rubric below

Observatory:
- 10 Pts - Observatory Position in Gray Area
- 20 Pts - Observatory Position in White Area
- 30 Pts - Observatory Position in Orange Area
Satelite:
- 20 pts - satellite is captured and returned to base

Hints / Suggestions:

Because the robot can be handled at any time from within the safety zone, more than one program can be written. Rather than writing one program for the entire challenge, trying group zones into smaller programs. See Mr. E’s digital classroom video EV3-7 and EV3-8 for motor control, EV3-10 for rotations, or EV3-18 for detecting color.

Gracious Professionalism

What is Gracious Professionalism?

Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST Robotics. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.

With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.

In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity.

Gracious Professionalism Points:

Teams may earn up to 50 Gracious Professionalism points throughout the MJS Robotics competition. These points may be awarded by Tournament Officials (green name tags) or Challenge Referees (red name tags). Reasons teams may be awarded Gracious Professionalism points may vary, some examples are listed below.

Students encourage and support other students both on their own teams and on competing teams
Students assist and or teach other students both on their own teams and on competing teams
Students are kind and supportive to competing teams while providing feedback or suggestions on how to accomplish a task
Teams inform an official when something breaks or when a battery needs to be charged on a taskbot so it does not affect the Engineering Robotics cycle class

In addition to being able to earn up to 50 Gracious Professionalism points, teams are also able to be deducted up to 50 points as well. All teams start the tournament with 0 points. Gracious Professionalism points are factored into teams’ total scores. Any team with -50 Gracious Professionalism points will be disqualified from the tournament.

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