MOE Vex ChallengeUlster Project Delaware – First State Robotics, Inc.

July 13, 2006

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Schedule

8:00 - 8:30 Safety, Who are we, Introductions 8:30 - 9:00 Team Formation, Team Identity 9:00 – 9:30 What is Vex, Familiarization with the Kit 9:30 - 11:00 Vex Workshops 11:00 - 11:30 Game Explanation 11:30 - 12:00 Lunch, begin robot design 12:00 - 1:30 Build robot 1:30 - 2:00 Match Schedule released, practice matches 2:00 - 3:30 Qualifying Matches 3:30 - 4:00 Alliance selection & Strategizing 4:00 - 5:00 Elimination Matches 5:00 - 5:30 Awards and Wrap-up

SAFETY

You are on a DuPont Company site. You must obey all safety rules on site.

Key rules to obey while on site Safe behavior is expected at all times No horseplay Proper safety equipment must be used

Safety glasses must be worn in the competition area (Pedersen Room) No running

Stay in this conference room area during the day – do not wander off

Know the location of the Exits in case of an emergency

The Experimental Station

DuPont’s primary research center with a broad range of R&D activities

15 to 20 businesses About 4,000

employees Self-contained campus

on 152 acres 52 buildings;

2,700,000 square feet

Delrin

Kapton

Dacron

Glean

Riston

Kevlar

Orlon

Rayon

Cyrel Chromium Dioxide

Teflon

Tovex

Dycril

Lucite

Feredoxin

NafionNylon

Lycra

Nomex

Tyvek

Neoprene

Suva

Kalrez

Viton

Hytrel

Alcryn

Nordel

Hypalon

Minlon

Surlyn

Elvax

ElvaloyElvacite

Elvamide

Butacite

Mylar

TedlarCorian

Symetrel

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Who are we?

First State Robotics, Inc. Non-profit educational organization Mission is to get students of all ages excited about science and

technology

FIRST (First Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Founded by Dean Kamen (inventor, entrepreneur) Four official programs

FIRST Robotics Competition – high school FIRST Vex Challenge – high school FIRST LEGO League – middle school FIRST Junior LEGO League – elementary school

Why host this competition?

Show you how science and technology can be fun and exciting

Introduce you all to the FIRST program

Introduce GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM We compete, but we also help each other We form alliances during competition We all learn something from the experience “We make our grandmother proud”

To HAVE FUN!

Introductions

Everyone is included

Each person should stand and communicate the following to everyone else

Name Affiliation (Irish student, host student, event volunteer,

etc.) One UNIQUE fact about yourself

Team Formation

All Ulster Project Delaware students are pre-assigned to a team

You will work with your team to design and build a robot for today’s competition

Each team will be assigned a Vex mentor from First State Robotics This mentor will work solely with your team the rest of

the day Other mentors will also be available to help your team

Your team should have it’s own identity

Team Identity

Each team will receive different colored T-shirts designating your team

Each team will be given a letter designation (“A” through “I”).

Your task right now (20 minutes) Get together with your team (assignments will be projected on

this screen and a team list will be handed out) Introduce yourselves to your TEAM MENTOR Work together to determine a TEAM NAME which begins with

your TEAM LETTER DESIGNATION Decorate your shirts appropriately with available markers. List

team name on your shirts along with any other “appropriate” words or designs

Team AssignmentsLetter N. I. Teen U.S. Teen Vex Mentor

A Armstrong, Hannah Richards, Liz Will HopkinsSimpson, Stephen Hopkins,Will

B Avery, Victoria Steele, Hannah Andrea AgraDuffy, Ciaran Sebeck, Sean

C Doherty, Conor Naughton, Wade Emily CatalanoCassidy, Kerri Ruoff, Colleen

D Kelly, Patrick Koval, Wynn Sammy PanareilloMcAneney, Kathy Ann Weires, Hannah

E Henry, Adam Davis, Greg Dan BernreutherMartin, Jessica Hopkins, Bee (Anna)

F McBurney, Calum Hoehn, David Aaron "Bernie" BernreutherMcCleary, Lauren Furdella, Julie

G McGinnis, Peter Schlotterback, Kkevin Alex BeattieMcKay, Aine Irwin, Emily

H McIntosh, Owen O'Flynn O'Brien, Steve Sue BernreutherMulin, Laura Hatfield, Sam (Samantha)

I Wray, Lesley-Anne O'Toole, Meghan Mark BarineauStynes, Peri

First State Robotics Teams

Vex Workshops

Robot DesignMotorsHardware/

FastenersAxles/BearingsRobot ControllerOperator Controller

WheelsPower Gears

What is Vex

Robot DesignMotorsHardware/

FastenersAxles/BearingsRobot ControllerOperator Controller

WheelsPower Gears

Vex Kit

Motor & Axle

Clutch

Bushings

ControllerMotor Control Ports

Analog/Digital Inputs

Interrupts

Controller

Controller

Receiver PortTether Cable Port

Battery Pack Connection

On/Off Switch

Receiver Set-up

61

RF Receiver

Crystal

Motor Connection

23 Tank Style 12 Arcade Style

Motor Port 1 * Left Motor

Motor Port 2 Right motor Right motor

Motor Port 3 Left motor *

Motor Port 4 * *

Motor Port 5 * *

Motor Port 6 * *

Motor Port 7 Right (4wd) Right (4wd)

Motor Port 8 Left (4wd) Left (4wd)

Transmitter (front)

Channel 1

Channel 2

Channel 3

Channel 4

On/Off

Transmitter (Back)

Channel 5

Tether Port

Channel 6

Battery Pack

61

Transmitter Crystal

Gearing

Gears

Gear Train

Gear Train

Gear Train

Gear Train

Gear Train

The Game!!!

Blue Goal

Blue Goal

Red Goal

Red Goal

24 Racquetballs

2 Footballs

Robots start in their alliance goal

1 minute to score as many points as possible

Qualifying Matches & Elimination Matches

How do you Play????

1 minute matches Qualifying rounds:

6 rounds Teams are randomly paired into two robot alliances

1 pt for every racquetball in your alliance goal 10 pts for every football in your alliance goal Every match you earn Qualifying Points (QPs)

The team with the most points in a match gets triple their opponents score for Qualifying Points

The team with the lowest points in the match get their own points for Qualifying Points

How do you Win???

At the end of the Qualifying rounds the teams are ranked by their QP (Qualifying Points) total.

The top 4 teams pick their alliance partner to play with them in the Elimination rounds – one random alliance will have 2 partners (because we have 9 teams)

Elimination rounds: The four alliances play the best 2 out of 3 Wins are decided by the total points scored, no more “triple the

opponents score”

Robot Design & Build

Brainstorming Prototype and Test Ideas Finalize & Select One Design Build Test, Upgrade, Test, Upgrade, …

Brainstorming

Process: Select a Game Strategy

Determine What You’d Like the ‘Bot To Do What Cababilites Must It Have, ie. Push, Grab, Defend

Generate Lots of Ideas (Divergent Thinking) One Person’s “Wild Thought” Can Trigger Another’s

“Great Idea” Try Not Too Be Critical – Question and Discuss for Clarity

and Understanding

Group & Sort Ideas Converge to a Manageable & Realistic Few

Prototyping

Demonstrate Some of Your Concepts Prove Out Your Ideas With Some Quick

Mock-ups Pieces of Functionality, ie. Plow or Scoop Not Necessarily Final Design So Don’t Be

Concerned with Detail

Final Design Selection

Review Outcomes of Your Prototyping Some Test Questions

Can You Envision All your Ideas and Prototypes Working Together as One Robot?

Do You have Time to Complete, Enough Material, Motors, etc.?

Finalize Your Selection Ensure Everyone on the Team Can

Support the Design Decision

Build

Choose a Build Coordinator Will Oversee Build Efforts Get Materials Together Be on the Lookout for Potential Integration Issues

Breakout into a Couple Subteams, ie. Chasis, Ball Pick-up Mechanism

Ask For Help Sooner Than Later

Assign Out VEX Parts and Supplies Get Materials Cut or Modified as needed Acquire Additional Material from Other Kits as

Required

Test, Upgrade, Test, Upgrade …

Once You Have Something Built – Test it out Is It Performing as You Designed? Can You Make Slight Modifications to Correct

or Make it Perform Better ? Be Open to Change as Almost No Design

Works Flawlessly On the 1st Flight. Practice, Practice, Practice

Use the Field Once You Have Something Ready

Gracious Professionalism

Work to demonstrate Gracious Professionalism with your team and other teams We want all teams to build working robots for the competition

Help other teams / individuals when you can Ask for help from other teams / indivdiuals when you can

If someone really helped you or your team out, please recognize him / her by telling Joe Perrotto or John Larock

Schedule

8:00 - 8:30 Safety, Who are we, Introductions 8:30 - 9:00 Team Formation, Team Identity 9:00 – 9:30 What is Vex, Familiarization with the Kit 9:30 - 11:00 Vex Workshops 11:00 - 11:30 Game Explanation 11:30 - 12:00 Lunch, begin robot design 12:00 - 1:30 Build robot 1:30 - 2:00 Match Schedule released, practice matches 2:00 - 3:30 Qualifying Matches 3:30 - 4:00 Alliance selection & Strategizing 4:00 - 5:00 Elimination Matches 5:00 - 5:30 Awards and Wrap-up

Any Questions?

Let the MOE Vex Challenge

begin!