2016 Bet the Farm

Deming High School competed this year

Information is from: Best Robotics Inc. - Boosting Engineering Science and Technology 

Teams are tasked with automating farming tasks by attempting the following objectives:

Each team has its own pig pen that also serves as a starting location for their robot. The pigs that have escaped from the pens are located throughout the field and can be secured by being returned to the pig pen and having the pen gate closed. The area around the team's pig pen is a non-blocking zone that other teams must vacate when the pen-owning team is in the area.


Starting Pen

The playing field includes four corn plots that are not assigned to any particular team; that is, any team can harvest and/or plant corn on any of the corn plots. The ears of corn (paint rollers) can be deposited into the team's harvest bin near the center of the field, or in the central community bin beneath the windmill. Alternatively, the ears of corn can be used to feed pigs that have been returned to the pig pen. The area surrounding the team's corn bin is a non-blocking zone where the bin owning team has preferred access.



Corn Plot

Windmill with Corn Bins

Corn seeds (golf balls) are color matched to each team's starting position. The seeds must enter the field through the team's silo and the robot must plant the seeds by placing them into any of the holes on any of the corn plots. In addition to helping the driver with directions and strategy, the spotters are responsible for loading the corn seeds into the silo. Once the seeds have been through the silo, they cannot be touched by the spotter.


Corn Silos

There are hydroponic stands in two corners of the field that provide heads of lettuce (luffas) located along the base and tomatoes (whiffle balls) attached to vertical members of the stand. These items can be harvested by any team's robot and must be deposited into the correct bin in the team's produce stand. Non-blocking zones extend in front of each team's produce stand.



*Corn scores 20 points in the team bin and 5 points for each team in the community bin.

The position of the water valve provides another scoring opportunity.  50 points are scored if the valve is in the over/under position at the end, or 100 points are scored if the valve is turned to the On (optimum) position. In addition, bonus scores are available for the following:

Scoring for most items requires that the item must be in contact with the bottom surface of the scoring area.  However, corn cobs are the exception to this rule and can be stacked, but must be 100% supported by the scoring bin.  In addition, game pieces that are in contact with the robot (or detached part of the robot) at the end of the match do not score.  Scoring is based on the position of the game piece at the end of the match.

There are many rules governing the actions of the drivers and spotters, but a few important restrictions are as follows.  During a match, drivers/spotters may not:

Teams have constructed their machines subject to a list of allowable materials and other rules on construction, as well as initial size and weight limits.  There are also numerous restrictions on how the game is played.  A partial list of restrictions includes: