Apprentice Level: Table Runner

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Description:
How long can your robot stay on a table without falling off? Can you use touch sensors to help your robot feel the edge of the table and stay on top without falling?  The game board is a 6 foot by 2 1/2 foot table with 1/4 inch masking tape laid around the edge. The color of the table and the color of the tape will be the same (beige table top and masking tape).  There will not be a distinguishable difference in color between the table top and the tape for the light sensor to be used effectively in this challenge.  The challenge will run for 90 seconds. Your robot will start on a five inch by five inch cross, marked with masking tape, directly in the middle of the table.  Your robot should be in motion the entire 90 seconds.  If your robot is still for more than 5 seconds after starting the challenge, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied. If your robot falls off the table, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied.  At the end of 90 seconds, if your robot is still on the table, you may stop your robot and your score will be tallied.

A. Stay in Motion on the Table
Your first challenge is to keep your robot in motion without falling off the table.  You can earn up to 300 points by keeping your robot in motion for the 90 seconds of the challenge.  If your robot is stationary for more than 5 seconds after starting the challenge, the judges will begin counting: “one one-thousand, two one-thousand, . . .”.  If the judges reach "five one-thousand," while your robot is stopped, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied.

B. Touch the Edge of the Table without Falling Off
Your second challenge is to touch the edges of the table as many times as possible during the 90 seconds.  You will gain points for the number of times you touch the edge.  Touching the edge will be determined if any part of your robot touches or crosses the 1/4 inch masking tape at the edge of the table without falling off. If your robot falls off the table, or stops for more than five seconds, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied.

C. Touch Multiple Sides of the Table without Falling Off
Your third challenge is to touch all four sides of the table within 90 seconds.  You will gain points for each side of the table touched. These points are in addition to the points you earn by touching any edge of the challenge in "B" above. Remember, if your robot is stationary for more than 5 seconds after starting the challenge, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied. If your robot falls off the table, your challenge run will be over and your score will be tallied. 

Bill of Materials:

• 6’ x 2 1/2’ folding table

• roll of 1/4 inch masking or other tape that matches the color of the top of the table

• soft mats or cushions to catch the robot if it falls*

*TIP: Put the table on the floor without unfolding the table legs.  Your robot will still have an edge to feel, but if it falls off the edge of the table, the fall will be much shorter than if you unfold the legs and set the table up.

Scoring Table:

Scoring Note:  When the robot touches any one side once without falling off, the team will score 100 points for touching one of the sides of the table and an additional 100 points for touching any side without falling off.  For instance, if a robot touches two different sides of the table, touches these edges of the table 5 times, and stays on the table for 60 seconds before falling off, the score would be as follows

EXAMPLE:

• 200 pts - for staying on the table for 60 seconds
• 200 pts - for touching any side 5 times
• 200 pts - for touching two different sides
• 600 pts - Total

Drawings: (This file is in PDF format.  Download the FREE Acrobat Reader to View)

Table Runner Schematic