Challenge 22: Change it Up! (June 20) - up to 7 points The Telerobotics Tournament has been fun, but with the end of school and start of summer, we have to change up our activities a bit for some other projects. In this last challenge of the tournament, the bot must change things up a bit too, by swapping the location of two blocks. The bot must start in home and swap the positions of the red and white blocks, completing the missing in home (i.e., any part of the bot over the home area). The blocks start on the colored dots and must end on the opposite colored dots. A block touching the colored dot is considered "in" the dot. At the completion of the event today, points will be awarded as follows, for the best run for each team:
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Challenge 21: Just Roll With It 2 (June 20) - 3 points
Sometimes even though you are rolling with challenges (as you have been), life just keeps throwing more challenges your way. You have to continue to roll with this one. The bot needs to get the large spool back to home without tipping it. The spool must end completely in home. This, time, though, the starting position will make the task a little trickier. Teams can request that the lift be in the normal configuration or in the configuration used for Challenge 17. |
One-Shot Challenge: Follow the Leader, With Physical Distancing (June 20) - 3 points
In this challenge, two bots will be on the board. Your bot will be placed behind a 'leader' bot. Your bot must follow the leader bot staying within close proximity (a few inches) and clearly following the leader bot, but without getting too close and running into the bot (i.e., poor physical distancing!). The leader bot may drive anywhere on the board. The leader bot will move slowly enough so that it can be followed by another educator bot. In other words, it will not speed off and, in fact, will move in a turtle-like fashion (no more than 20% speed). It will also only move forward (any distance) or make -100 to 100 degree turns in place. It will not, for example, make a 180 degree turn all at once, but it could make a 90 degree turn, move a few inches, and then make another 90 degree turn. It will not make big arcing turns, but rather drive straight (or as straight as a robot typically does), turn, drive straight, turn, etc. The timer will start when the leader bot starts moving, and will end when the leader bot is touched, or when the follower bot is clearly no longer following and/or clearly too far (as deemed by Robot Judge Hannah) from the leader bot. Each bot competing for the one-shot will attempt the challenge two times. The bot's longest follow time will count. The longest time from any team wins. |
Challenge 20: Shoot - There's Something in the Way! (June 7 and June 20) - 3 points
In this challenge, the bot once again wants to show off some ring shooting abilities (see Challenge 19), but unfortunately there is a block that appears to be in the way. The bot is allowed to cross the mid-board line, but it cannot do so when shooting. The ring may not be touched by the bot until shooting. All other rules are the same as Challenge 19. |
Challenge 18-Harder Path: Just Roll With It (June 7 and June 20) - 10 points
Only Team Dundae can earn points for this challenge, because Team Dundae chose the harder path. Sometimes you just have to roll with the challenges life throws you, and they can be seriously tough. Such as a pandemic! In this challenge, the bot needs to get the large ring back to home and have it end, standing in home. The spool's base must end completely in home (red tape counts as inside). Teams can request that the lift be in the normal configuration (bar) or in the configuration used for Challenge 17 (hook on left side). Team Dundae was making great progress on this challenge on June 7. Although when the Big Decision was made it was believed this challenge would not be open beyond June 7, sometimes events change. This challenge will be open to Team Dundae for a yet-to-be-determined time on June 21. |
Challenge 19: Shoot and Score! (June 7) - 2 points
To honor the upcoming FLL season, which will have a sports theme, in this challenge you must program your bot to show off some skills. The bot must roll the ring into the goal area on the right end of the board. However, no part of the bot may cross the mid-board line at any time, before, during, or after shooting (this line is 4 feet from the left side of the board). The ring must end standing, with its base to the right of the blue line or on the blue line. Teams can request that the lift be in the normal configuration (bar) or in the configuration used for Challenge 17 (hook on left side). This challenge was won by Team Lulu on June 7, and also completed by Team Walends. |
Challenge 18-Easier Path: Just Roll With It (June 7) - 2 points
Sometimes you just have to roll with the challenges life throws you. Such as during a pandemic. In this challenge, the bot needs to get the large ring back to home and have it end standing in home. The spool's base must end completely in home (red tape counts as home). Teams can request that the lift be in the normal configuration (bar) or in the configuration used for Challenge 17 (hook on left side). |
One-Shot Challenge - Bot Invasion (June 7) - 3 points
First we had a rogue virus, and now we have a rogue FTC bot that has overtaken the bot playing field. In this challenge, the Lego bot must start in home, travel across the board, avoiding the massive FTC bot, and then travel back home again, demonstrating that Lego bots may be small, but they are mighty! Oh, did we mention the FTC bot may be slowly moving back and forth in the middle of the board? The timing will be 4 seconds forward, and then 4 seconds in reverse, and so forth. To be deemed a winner, the Lego bot must be consistent, not lucky! |
Challenge 17: Happy Birthday Chien-Shiung Wu (May 31 and June 7) - 3 points
Chien-Shiung Wu was born on May 31, 1912. She made major contributions to physics on the Manhattan Project and was nicknamed "The First Lady of Physics." In honor of her work, in this challenge the bot must grab the happy birthday balloon and bring it back to home. The robot must end completely in home, holding the balloon. Note that the lift on the bot will be slightly modified for this challenge. Team Walends came extremely close to fully solving this challenge on May 31 and was awarded 2 points. June 7: If our balloon retains enough helium, this challenge will be open for a short time on June 7, but if not, the challenge will close. The rule change for June 7 will be that the bot and balloon must reach home, but not the Lego to which the balloon starts off being hooked to. |
Challenge 16: Push the Stack (May 24 and May 31) - 3 points
In this challenge, the bot must push the stack from its starting position to to the blue line. This must be done within 15 seconds. The stack consists of five units put together, so it will easily tip. Also, the blue line is made from tape, and there is a slight bump that the stack will not go over. Teams were able to solve this challenge in as little as 10s, with Team Lulu bringing home the win. |
Challenge #15: Home Run (May 24 and May 31) - ? points
In this challenge, the bot starts in home. The goal is for it to travel around the box as many times as possible, but after each time around, the bot must return fully to home (all parts of bot either inside of, or over, red line). The bot cannot touch the box at any time during a run. It can touch the walls. Points on this challenge will be determined as follows:
Bots that run for more than 90 seconds will be stopped and earn no points! The box is 10.5 x 10.5 inches. It is located 21.5 from the south wall, and 17.75 inches from the west wall. Team Lulu was able to make seven trips around the box. |
One-Shot Challenge: Inspire Us (May 31) - 3 points
The many ways that people have demonstrated creativity during this pandemic are inspiring, with virtual performances, virtual graduations, virtual parties, and even virtual telerobotics! Here's your team's chance to demonstrate creativity. The bot board is your canvas. In this challenge, your bot will start in home with an empty board and have up to 90 seconds to do something creative. What that is is up to your team. Write a program that will impress, entertain, inspire, thrill, or surprise the audience. After all bots have 'performed,' each Zoom window will get one vote for their favorite bot. The bot with the most votes will take home the gold. Let the show begin. Team Dundae made a bot that most impressed the audience, dubbed the "construction bot." |
One-Shot Challenge #5: Count the Negatives (May 24) - 3 points
Did you know that a "yellow" result indicates a negative test on a coronavirus test? In this challenge, the bot counts results. Between zero and six sheets of 8.5 by 11 inch sheets of colored paper will be placed randomly on the table. The sheets of paper will not overlap, and they will be at least 8.5 inches apart. They will not be placed in start. The bot must count the number of sheets of paper (negative test results) on the board, stop, and announce the number of sheets on the board. A bot that can get the correct count two runs in a row will earn 3 points. A team will have one shot at this challenge at the start of the event. |
Challenge #14: Left Right Angles (May 17 and until 4PM on 4/24) - ? points
In this challenge, the bot must drive accurately in a square, making right angles, turning left. The robot will start south of the box. It must loop the box and return to where it started. The starting region is defined by the boundaries of the box and the top of the red line from home (see images). The bot cannot touch the box at any time during a run. Points on this challenge will be determined as follows:
Bots that run for more than 90 seconds will be stopped and earn no points! A team's program will be run once, and then they will have to get back in the queue. The box is 10.5 x 10.5 inches. For test runs, we can run the bot without the box if a team would like to see what the bot does, but no points will be awarded. This challenge will remain open throughout the event today, but at some point after enough points have been scored, a new challenge may be introduced. |
Challenge #13: Robot Bounty (May 9 and May 17) - 2-4 points
UPDATE for May 17: This challenge will be open for 40 minutes on May 17, and points can only be scored by reaching the end of the board without touching the Bounty! (Or a very light touch that does not substantially move the Bounty). The solution must be repeatable 2x in a row.
Original rules on May 9: In this challenge, the bot is dreaming about a world where paper products are plentiful and no bot lives in fear of running short. In this world, the robot must achieve its points bounty by driving through the Bounty, which will be placed in vertical lines at 3 feet and 6 feet from the left size of the board, with randomly selected gaps. The robot scores by touching the far wall with the lift: (Updated! See above)
The robot will earn an extra 5 points if it finds a spare roll of toilet paper. On May 9, several bots made it to the end of the board, but with touching the Bounty and earned 2 points. |
One-Shot Challenge #4: Bot Sprint #2 (May 17) - 3 points
This One-Shot Challenge is similar to the last One-Shot Challenge race, but with a twist. Each team will get one run at the start of the event. The bot must race across the board, completely cross the blue line, stop before touching the wall, and then return to home. This part of the challenge is the same, so looking at the winning program from last time might be helpful. But, the bot can't return straight home. It must return home via a path taking it north of the blue line, with no part of the bot going over the blue line. Then the bot must return to home, stopping with any part of the bot in home (stopping is defined as the bot is no longer moving, with wheels not moving). The timer will stop when the robot stops moving, not when it crosses the line to home. Robots that touch the far wall will be disqualified, as will bots that do not make it back to home or bots that do not travel home north of the blue line. The winner will be the team that is not disqualified that has the fastest time. The runner up will earn 2 points and third place will earn 1 points. |
One-Shot Challenge #3: Bot Sprint (May 9) - 3 points (Completed)
This One-Shot Challenge is a race. Each team will get one run at the start of the event. The bot must race across the board, completely cross the blue line, stop before touching the wall, and then return to home, stopping with any part of the bot in home (stopping is defined as the bot is no longer moving, with wheels not moving). The timer will stop when the robot stops moving, not when it crosses the line to home. Robots that touch the far wall will be disqualified, as will bots that do not make it back to home. The winner will be the team that is not disqualified that has the fastest time. The runner up will earn 2 points and third place will earn 1 points. Scores for this challenge were: Team Walends (11.5 seconds) (winning program), Team Dundae (13 seconds), and Team Fumi (19 seconds). |
Bonus Challenge: Package Delivery (May 9) - 2 points (Completed)
Feeling ambitious and done with the main challenge? These days, package delivery is important, and the bot is helping out front-line delivery workers. The bot has a package to deliver to home. The bot needs to drive to the blue package, grab it, bring the package completely into home, release the package, and then entirely leave home. This challenge was solved by Team Dundae on May 9: winning program. |
Challenge #12: Thread the Needle (May 3 and May 9) - 2 points (Completed)
In this challenge, the bot must drive out to the two hurdle gates and drive completely through them without tipping either of them. Beware, they will tip over easily! The blue hurdle will always be on the bot's left, and the black hurdle will always be on the bot's right. Note that although we introduced this challenge on May 3, it was with a different board, so the location of the hurdles has changed a bit from then. This challenge was first completed by Team Lulu with this winning program, and subsequently completed by several teams. |
Bonus Challenge (Retired) - 2 points
The Bonus challenge is for any team that completes the main challenge and wants something to work on before the next challenge is announced. Move the blue block to inside the square, then return the robot to base (leaving the blue block. Team Smarties worked a bit on this bonus challenge, but it was not solved before we had to change the board and is now over. |
Challenge #11: Line Dance (Completed) - 2 points
In this challenge, the bot must follow the black line, from home to home, spin around two times (a little dance), and then follow the line back out and back the other way. Teams that did not complete Challenge #10 (Follow the line) can get one point for following the line in the opposite direction of Team Lulu's winning program, from start out and back to home. Challenge #11 was first completed by Team Dundae, and then Team Fumi and Team Smarties, with other teams very close. Team Dundae's won the challenge with this program. |
One-Shot Challenge #2 - 3 points (Completed)
Prepare this challenge before the next tournament date. You will have one-shot at the start of the event to run your robot, so debug your program in advance! Scientists believe the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 came from a bat. You have one-shot to capture the bat and bring it back to home base to prevent the virus spreading to humans. Competitors will only have one try at this one before we announce the opening challenge each event, so have your program ready before the event starts if you want to try this, and plan carefully. This is very tricky and for teams that want a special challenge. Note: The bat is sitting on what looks like two blocks, but they are connected to each other as one big block. Also, yes, we are aware the bat would prefer to hanging upside down, but this is an infected bat, which explains why it is behaving erratically. Team Dundae solved this challenge on May 3 with this program. |
Challenge #10: Follow the Line (Completed April 19) - 2 points
In this challenge, the bot must follow the black line, from home to home. You can go any way you want. Team Lulu won this challenge, with this program. |
Challenge #9: White to Wall (Completed) - 2 points
In this challenge, the bot must drive to the block, and determine what color is facing the blue dot. It could be white or dark gray. If the color is white, the bot must drive to the wall (over the blue line). If the color is dark gray, the bot must drive back to home. NOTE: The Box containing the block has changed to be red (see the images in the Bonus and One-Shot challenges). Team Lulu won this challenge, with this program. |
Challenge #8: Bring Red Home (April 11) - 2 points (Completed April 19)
In this challenge, the bot must identify the location of the red cube, and then bring the cube back to home. Team Lulu won this challenge, with this program. |
Challenge #7 (UPDATED!): Red or White? - 2 points (Completed April 19)
In this challenge, the bot must find the cube with the red color (instead of black) without touching the cube. Once the bot is facing the red cube, it must beep or make some other sound. There are two possible locations of the colors. The robot must work reliably for multiple runs. It can't guess the color! Team Lulu won this challenge with this program. |
One-Shot Challenge #1 - 3 points (Completed April 19)
Prepare this challenge before the next tournament date. You will have one-shot at the start of the event to run your robot, so debug your program in advance! The bot needs to find the large red area and stop on top of it. As long as any part of the robot is over the red marker, the challenge is solved. However, the red marker will be placed in a random location each time a bot is run! There will also be some other marks on the board (due to other challenges). They won't be huge red marks, though. Competitors will only have one try at this one before we announce the opening challenge each event, so have your program ready before the event starts if you want to try this, and plan carefully. Team Lulu solved the one-shot challenge (see video of run)! Winning program. Other teams had one shot to try on Sunday Apr 19 and Team Dundae completed it on April 19. |
Challenge #6: Bot 'Red' the Color (April 11) - 2 points
In this challenge, the bot must stop on the large red area. The red and yellow areas will be randomly swapped (but always in these locations), and the robot must work each time. Hint: Remember the black marks on the bottom of the board are 12" apart. Team Smarties won this challenge! Winning program: EV3 Code |
Challenge #5: Mining the Block (April 5 and April 11) - 2 points (Completed)
Move the robot over the blue square, then bring the blue block into the blue area near the wall. The robot must work three times in a row. Team Smarties won this challenge! Winning program: EV3 Code |
Challenge #4: Right Angle (April 5) - 2 points (Completed)
Roll over the first blue dot, then stop over the second blue dot. Any part of the robot must be over the dot. Team Lulu won this challenge! Several other teams completed it as well. Winning program: EV3 Code (download the .ev3 file and load into the Mindstorms software to view) |
Challenge #2: Drive Time with Obstacles (March 29) (Completed)
In this challenge, robots had to drive to the same yellow marker as in Challenge #1, but without touching three obstacles put in the way along the most direct paths. This challenge was part of our practice event and was completed by multiple teams. |