2022 VEX CHALLENGE

2022 VEX Challenge

The primary goal of this year's challenge was to create an interactive goal. The class had to decide on the overall game design. It was determined that four robots would compete in a two two-team alliances on an 8' x 8' playing field with a dividing wall connecting both sides of the field with two balancing ramps. Each team created multiple autonomous mode programming profiles to either score a ball or navigate to a ramp during the 20 second "autonomous mode" at the beginning of each match. Teams than had to score the large green balls in the upper part of the goal in their scoring zone, or small balls in the upper and lower scoring locations at each goal. The Interactive goal used IR sensors and an Arduino to keep track and report the final score of the match on an attached LCD screen. This year's game was a huge success! Please view the images below and the read the details on the interactive goal and its code.

Field Concept Model

Designed in Autodesk Inventor by input from student class discussions on field layout and scoring options.

Goal Mechanical Model

3D Modelled in Autodesk Inventor and laser cut from Baltic birch plywood. Designing to interconnect and assemble with as few fasteners as possible.

2022 Interactive Goal

Demonstration of the green ball being sensed by the upper Infrared (IR) sensor and score displayed on LCD screen.

Interior IR Sensor

Green light indicates power is on, second green LED lights when an object is detected.

I2C LCD Display

B= Big Green Ball, SB = Small ball Bottom goal, ST = Small ball Top goal. 3D Printed housing.

Prototype Wiring

Prototypes are messy and unruly creatures. Sometimes they are used for the final product...

Parts:

Arduino Uno - ELEGOO UNO R3 Board ATmega328P

LCD Screen - I2C 1602 LCD Display Module 16X2 Character Serial Blue Backlight LCD Module

IR Sensor - HiLetgo 10pcs IR Infrared Obstacle Avoidance Sensor Module

sketch.ino - Wokwi Arduino and ESP32 SimulatorRun Arduino projects in your browser, no installation required!

Arduino Code

A huge thanks to Cameron L (Class of 2022) and Christopher P (Class of 2023) for their hours of work on the mechanical, electrical and software integration. Code is available here

See the code comments for details on operation. Arduino INO file here.

Each switch represents and IR sensor on the goal. The two servos were used to alternate which side the ball would return to the field from in the lower part of the goal and to hold the green ball "out of play" for a specified amount of time. Ultimately, the servos were disabled in game play to speed up the action on the field and reduce battery power consumption. (unintended outcomes from designing such a complex interactive system)

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