2003 WSU LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Challenge Home

   WSU 2003 LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Challenge - Shockwarts
 

Home

Registration

Trial Challenge

Game Rules & Judging

FAQ

Missions

MINDSTORMS Challenge Awards

Print Your Own Poster

Order a Shockwarts
T-shirt

Sponsors

About The Challenge

MINDSTORMS Challenge 2002

MINDSTORMS Challenge 2001

WSU Robotics in the Classroom

 

 

  

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Please check this site frequently.  Any notifications and/or clarifications will be posted here as soon as they become available.

If you have questions that are not answered here, please contact:

Brenda Gile-Laflin
Engineering Council Advisor
 brenda.gile-laflin@wichita.edu
(316)  978-6301

 

 

 

 

smbrownbullet.jpg (1065 bytes)IIE - The Stair Climb Mission Questions

1. Well, the directions for making the stair climb have proved to be our first challenge. :) We are having trouble understanding what this is to look like. Can you forward a picture? Or may we come take a look?

  • A photo has been posted on the IEE Mission page of a full sized view, and a close up of the side. The course is missing side railings and the backboard, a photo with those attached will be forthcoming.

2.  Holes - 3.5" in diameter but is the bottom edge of the hole even with the "landing" or is it higher? Specs indicate that the holes on the sides are 1" from the edge. Does this mean the outside edge of the hole is 1" from the edge and the bottom of the hole is even with the landing? The specs indicate the center hole is at 18" which is not centered. On which side of the course is the center hole located?

  • As stated, bottom edge of hole is even with the landing.  Yes, the outside  edge of the hole is 1" from the side and even with the landing.  There is 1  hole on each side and one is somewhat in the middle.  The center point for this middle hole is 18" and yes it is even with the landing.  Since it is at 18" from the left side, the hole is slightly off to the right side of the exact center.  So right side of course

3. Does the ball have to be "thrown?" Can it be held and released, can it be pushed and released? Perhaps there are other delivery methods the students will think of other than "throwing." Further define "thrown" please.

  • The Ball does not have to be thrown, it can be dropped, kicked, launched, catapulted, fired, etc, etc, but it must be done by the robot.

4. How (if any) will the chicken wire/duct tape ramp be fastened to the floor at the bottom of the course?

  • The bottom will be fastened to the floor, it will be ducted taped down at the sides, to prevent interference with the robot.

5. Could you refresh me on the 1st mission, with the ramp, how far out the starting line is and where the ball is to be picked up before proceeding up that treacherous Duct Tape? By the way, does the Red/Green show know about this mission?

  • The Robots will start facing the course on the far side of the ball, they cannot be touching the course or the ball, and they must start at least six inches from the course. To a earlier question, that I am not sure that was ever clarified, the Tape that designates the balls position will start at the middle of the course and be brought away from it six inches. The 16 inches was just to denote the measurement in terms of absolutes from a side.

 

 

 

 

smbrownbullet.jpg (1065 bytes)SWE - Defeat The Dragon Mission Questions

1. Page 1 shows the chessboard with all of the pieces below it and the light and dragon at the bottom, but the directions and picture indicate the pieces will be on the board. Is this diagram just showing the pieces that will be used? Or is it showing location pieces will be in at the start of one of the challenge sections?

  • This is just showing the pieces and the dragon it is not necessarily how they will start out on the board.

 

smbrownbullet.jpg (1065 bytes)Tau Beta Pi – Beech Wind Tunnel Mission Questions

1. Where are the first, second, and third sections located?

  • first section is from the flight line to the first left hand turn, the vehicle is only in the second section after making a greater than 90 degree turn to the left in the first left hand turn. If the 90 degree rotation in the first corner is not completed, the vehicle is considered in the first section.

2. Where is the Wizard’s Classroom?

  • the wizards classroom is the opening in the wall to the right , just behind the flight line if your looking to turn one from the flight line.

3. The exit line appears to be by the ramp. Is this correct?

  • yes, the exit line is very close to the ramp

4. The diagram makes it appear as if the peak of the ramp is parallel to the exit line, but in the photo it appears as if the peak of the ramp is perpendicular to the exit line. Which of these (if any) is correct?

  • The peak of the ramp is perpendicular to the exit line.

5. Does the ramp have two sides (goes up and down the other side) or is there a drop off on one side?

  • The whole flat surface that the vehicle will be driving on is 7 inches off the ground. There is a ramp that is shaped like the hypotenuse of a right triangle, that a vehicle will drive up onto the flat surface from beneath the course. So the ramp is just like the hypotenuse of a right triangle, not two sloping surfaces

6. The diagram indicates C is a solid barrier (it is black). Is there a barrier or just a line?

  • C is a solid barrier

7. Points are awarded for stopping at the exit. Does this mean the robot must touch the exit, but not totally pass it or must it stop just before the exit?

  • The robot must touch the exit and stop.

8. If B and C are lines, will they be tape and if so what color?

  • Red electric tape or equivalent

9. Will there be a fan really blowing at any time and if so where will it be positioned and what direction will the fan blow?

  • There will not be a fan blowing.

10. On the Tau Beta Pi Wind Tunnel, it sounds as if the Muggles Reception Zone is at the bottom of a ramp that goes under the course. Is this correct? The area at the bottom of the ramp appears to be 9" by 8". Is this correct? Is the length of the ramp 16 3/4 inches? How high is the barrier at C? Is the entire course constructed of plywood?

  • Yes, the Muggles Reception Zone is at the bottom of a ramp that goes under the course. The Ramp will be 14.25 inches long on the grade.
  • The area at the bottom of the ramp where the vehicles will start is 7.5 inches long and 8 inches wide.
  • The entire course is constructed of plywood.
  • The barrier at C will be 3 inches high and lightly padded with thin foam.

 

 

smbrownbullet.jpg (1065 bytes)Wallace - The Wizards Race Mission Questions

1. What is the size of the rubber ball?

  • The ball is apart of the “9 Piece Super Bouncers” which was purchased at Wal-Mart, the ball that will be used is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter.

2. Is it hard like a superball or softer and more pliable?

  • The ball is the same consistency as a superball, it is multi-colored.

3. Does the robot have to place the ball anywhere at all or can it just go to the first section receiving points for that, but not for placing the ball?

  • The robot does not need to touch the ball to get points for the course. The ball needs to placed inside a circle just off center of the course, the circle is not visible on the photo but it is on the drawing.

4. It appears as if 6 3/8” and 6 ¼” are the internal (between the tape) measurements for the areas which the robot must end. Is this correct?

  • Yes the measurements are from the internal measurements, the designers felt that that was more important for the course design.

5. The measurements for the area which hold the ball don't seem to add up. What are the exact internal dimensions and how far from the edges are the external dimensions?

  • The internal dimensions are a 1.25"x1.375". Looking at the course from the start box to the end, on the left side, measuring from there the external side of the table is 17.875".

 

smbrownbullet.jpg (1065 bytes)IEEE - A Walk in the Dark Forest Mission Questions  (none yet)

 

smbrownbullet.jpg (1065 bytes)General Questions

1. Will students be allowed to use a remote control device that they build out of the light and touch sensors that are included in the kit?

  • No form of remote control can be used in the missions including the Lego remote control that can be purchased separately. Each robot must be programmed to perform autonomously and can have NO human contact of any kind during the mission.

2.  I am having trouble printing the IEE Mission,IEEE Mission, Wallace Mission, Tau Beta Pi Mission, and even the Mindstorm Challenge Awards page. The only one that printed entirely on the page was SWE mission. Is there an adjustment I need to make?

  • A simple way to solve this problem is to copy the information from the web and paste it into word and then print.

3. Were there any other spec. sheets available on the course? As we develop a practice course, with the changes from the initial specs/picture to the new picture, it looks like some features have changed and we didn't want too many surprises..... the first spec sheet was very detailed and the second a bit more general.

  • The far side of the course was originally designed to be a curved road but it did not appear to be so on the original drawing. The photo of the course would be the best way to gauge the drawing.

 

 


 

Contact Engineering Council Advisor:

Brenda Gile-Laflin
 brenda.gile-laflin@wichita.edu

(316) 978-6301

  

Last Update: 03/08/2003