WSU Robotics in the Classroom

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. We ask that all participants (students, coaches, spectators, judges, and officials) play well and observe fair and positive sportsmanship etiquette. Below are the rules of the day. GOOD LUCK!

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

Larry Whitman, Assistant Professor
College of Engineering
mindstorms@wichita.edu
(316) 978-5907

LEGO MINDSTORMS Challenge 2004: Robo-Olympics
Saturday, March 20, 2004
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wichita State University’s Heskett Center Gymnasium
Award Ceremony 5:00 pm
Room 208 Hubbard Hall, WSU

All Missions, Presentations, Notebook and Table Display, Spirit and Sportsmanship efforts 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 any combination of students in 4th - 8th grade representing Schools, Homeschools, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, after-school groups, etc.

Each team must have at least eight and no more than twelve 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.

*We do not want to discourage participation. If for some reason a team is unable to meet the minimum number of students or has more than the maximum and wants to create a second team that doesn't meet the minimum requirements they are welcome to register as a "non-competing" team. A limited number of non-competing teams will be accepted as physical room permits. A non-competing team can attend and participate in all of the challenge missions. A non-competing team's participation will only be limited if competing teams are running out of time on the mission floor. Competing teams will have priority to the mission boards under these circumstances. Non-competing teams will not be eligible for any prizes or awards. If you are interested in registering a non-competing team please contact Tonya Witherspoon for details. (tonya.witherspoon@wichita.edu)

There are multiple missions available for each team to enter. Teams may plan to enter one or multiple missions. This allows for beginning teams and advanced teams to all participate at the level they most feel comfortable. Each mission is judged individually. In addition to the missions there are two other opportunities for students to participate - oral presentation and table and notebook display. Again, these are up to each team to decide whether to participate.

*The only part of the challenge that is required for all teams to participate in is spirit and sportsmanship. Each team will be monitored and automatically scored in this category.

The Mindstorms Award is cumulative and will be given to teams that score highest after participating in at least 3 of the 5 missions, the oral presentation, the table/notebook display, and spirit and sportsmanship.

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 provides an excellent exhibition of young people's efforts, dedication, knowledge, and skills.

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 Team Challenge Set - cost approximately $225). Only the parts contained in these kits may be used to create a robot. Each of these kits has a slight variation of LEGO parts. The main electronic parts are identical. **No additional parts from other LEGO sets or non-LEGO parts are allowed.

The MINDSTORMS equipment can be purchased at several locations. Below are a couple of links for online shopping:

**Exceptions to Equipment Inventory– This year each team is allowed to use one additional motor, one additional electric wire, and one additional light sensor (for a total of two light sensors) in their robots. The Lego MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System kits and Team Challenge sets all include only two motors. If you do not have a third motor you can purchase one individually from Pitsco. The 2003 Team Challenge Set includes two light sensors. If using this set no additional light sensors may be used. For teams using any other set an additional light sensor for a total of two light sensors may be used. An additional light sensor may be purchased at Pitsco as well.

The coach will bring the team RCX to the registration table on game day so that the serial number can 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 unless it is specified in the mission guidelines.

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. Please bring your own extension cord and power strip if you have multiple laptops.

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 is a large seating area to sit and plenty of room for spectators to wander and view the events.

Tables will be set up throughout the gymnasium for the teams' Table & Notebook Displays. Your Table & Notebook Display may be used during your Presentation. Please leave a note on your Table and Notebook table explaining that your display is currently being used in your Presentation. This will allow judges to skip your table until after your Presentation.

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 lounge areas and classrooms that can have food will be open for teams at 8:30am on challenge day. We request that each team clean up after themselves.

LEGO MINDSTORMS Challenge Trial Day
Saturday, March 6, 2004 | 10:00am - 4:00pm
Engineering Building, 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 for checkout or use. If teams want to be able to program on that day they will need to furnish their own computer, software, and IR tower. Remember to bring extension cords and power strips for your computers and batteries for your RCX and IR tower.

You may bring food and drink to Wallace Hall during the trial day. Please use your best judgment and behavior while eating and drinking around all equipment and mission tables. We request that each team clean up after themselves.