WSU Mindstorms Challenge 2003

Welcome to the WSU LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention Challenge. Our goal is to provide young students with the opportunity for practical application and exhibition of math, science, programming, and engineering skills, as well as promoting teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship. We appreciate the time and energy each team of students, coaches, and parents puts into this effort. We do our best to provide a fair, fun, and engaging Challenge Day. Below are the rules of the day. GOOD LUCK!

Please check the FAQ page frequently. Any notifications and/or clarifications will be posted there as soon as they become available.

LEGO MINDSTORMS Challenge 2003: Shockwarts
Saturday, March 29, 2003
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Award Ceremony 5:00 pm
Wichita State University’s Heskett Center Gymnasium

All Missions, Presentations, Notebook and Table Display, Spirit and Sportsmanship will be judged by professional engineers or educators and faculty from the Colleges of Education and Engineering.

Schedule for the Mindstorms Challenge:

8:30 a.m.	Team Registration Begins
8:30a.m. - 9:00a.m.	Each coach will register their team and receive a game day packet of information
9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.	Game Floor opens to compete in Missions
10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.	*Team Presentations
12:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.	All Missions Closed for Lunch
12:30 p.m. -4:00 p.m.	Game Floor opens to compete in Mission Trials
12:30 p.m. -4:00 p.m.	*Team Presentations
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.	MINDSTORMS Challenge Awards Ceremony

* Presentations will be scheduled throughout the day for each team. You will receive your time slot in your game day packet.

Teams will be made up of 8 -12 Kansas students currently in grades 4^th – 8^th. One unique coach (18 or over) must sponsor each team. More coaches and supervision are encouraged but one unique coach must represent each team. The coach does not have to be a teacher. The coach can be any adult (18 or over) who supervises, provides supports, and represents one unique team.

Teams may be formed from Schools, Homeschoolers, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, after-school groups, or any combination of students.

Each team must have at least eight pre-registered members. No exceptions to this rule. The MINDSTORMS Challenge is designed to encourage collaboration and cooperation within a design team. In order to design, build, program the robots, and prepare for the presentation/challenge we feel that the minimum number of students on a team is eight. Name badges, certificates, and prizes are all made ahead of time for each pre-registered student.

The MindStorms Challenge is open to the public. Spectators: parents, grandparents, friends, classmates, and interested engineers and educators are invited and welcome.

The MINDSTORMS Challenge is free to participants and jointly sponsored by Wichita State University’s Colleges of Engineering and Education and Boeing Charitable Trust Co.

Each team needs one Lego Robotics MindStorms Invention System kit (Versions: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 or Robolab - cost approximately $200). Only the parts contained in these kits may be used to create a robot. **No additional parts are allowed. This equipment can be purchased at many retail stores here are some samples:

**ONE Exception to Equipment – This year each team is allowed to use an additional motor and one additional electric wire in their robots. The Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System kit includes two motors. If you do not have a third motor you can purchase one individually from LEGO Shop at Home or Pitsco.

The coach will bring the team RCX to the registration table on game day so that the serial number may be registered. The RCX serial number will be checked at every mission to ensure that the same RCX is being used throughout the day.

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.

We are not able to provide laptops for team check-out this year. We WILL provide each team with electricity so that teams may bring a laptop of their own.

Don’t Forget Batteries! Each team should bring their own supply of batteries both for their robots and their infrared tower. Also be sure to bring your IR tower, cable and software for programming your robot.

There will be a six foot table for each team to work on their robot. These tables will be located in the Heskett Center gymnasium in a common area for all teams. The missions will also be located in the Heskett Center Gymnasium.

There will be two lounge areas and two classrooms that hold 50 people each in the Heskett Center available for all team members to use for lunch and snacking. In addition to these rooms there are lounge and commons areas located on campus that teams can use to eat lunch. Food and drink are not allowed in the gymnasium area. These rooms will be open for teams at 8:30am on challenge day.

The Heskett Center will have a concession stand available to purchase snacks, drinks, and pizza. Teams are welcome to bring their own lunch and snacks to eat in the designated eating areas within the Heskett Center or in any other eating areas on the WSU campus. A map will be available on Game Day with areas marked for eating.

LEGO MINDSTORMS Challenge Trial Day
Saturday, Mach 8, 2003 | 10:00am - 4:00pm
Wallace Hall, WSU Campus

There will be a trial day where the mission boards will be set up so that teams may try their robots. Representatives of the College of Engineering will be available to answer questions. No laptops will be available. If teams want to be able to re-program on that day they will need to furnish their own computer, software, and IR tower.