About ROBOFEST®

Little robots, Big Missions
A Competition Motivating Young Minds to Master the Machine

 

What is Robofest?

Robofest is an annual autonomous robotics competition focusing on learning STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math) for students in grades 5 ~ 12. Robofest challenges teams to design, build, and program robots to compete in the following categories in Junior and Senior age divisions:

·         Game Competition - A team of students competes to accomplish robotics missions emulating real world environments through the cooperation of two autonomous robots.

·         Exhibition - Since a game competition with fixed rules may limit students' creativity, Robofest offers a stage for exhibitions to show off their creations. Each team has complete freedom to show off any autonomous robotics project they have created.

·         Robot Sumo

·         RoboFashion Show

·         Pentathlon and

·         Vision Based Robot Mini Urban Challenge – This is also for College teams

 

Any robotics kits are allowed to construct robots. Junior division teams are recommended to use an icon-based graphical programming language such as NXTG, Lego(TM) RCX code, EZROBO CREATOR, or Robolab(TM). Recommended grades for this division are 5th-9th. The Senior Division recommends the use of a text-based high level programming language such as C, C++, C#, Visual Basic, or Java. The challenge is more difficult than that of the Junior Division. Recommended grades are 9th-12th.

 

Started at Lawrence Tech in 2000, Robofest has grown multiple venues in the United States and several other countries.

 

Goals of Robofest

 

·         Spark and motivate young students’ interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)

·         Challenge the STEM skills of students

·         Maximize students’ learning by integrating STEM subjects through autonomous Robotics

·         Promote students’ creative and innovative thinking

·         Recognize students’ achievements in STEM through robotics

·         Build the work force of the future

·         Promote good teamwork and work ethics

Robofest FAQ

 

·         What is the ideal team size?   Robofest game requires two robots for each team. In general in order to maximize learning, we recommend 2 or 3 students per robot. Therefore ideal team size is 4 or 6.

 

·         How often and for how long do teams typically meet in preparation for the competition?  They can practice anywhere even at home, because the playing field is portable and modular. If they have some experience, then one two hour meeting per week in Jan and Feb. Two meetings per week in March till the qualifying competition.

 

·         Is it comparable to preparation for the FIRST Lego League season?  Since Robofest does not have extra things like a research presentation, it will be about 2/3 of FLL efforts.

 

·         Is there a single season-end competition (apart from the World Championship), or are there multiple events in which teams can participate?  A team can participate in only one qualifying competition. If they qualify, they will be invited to compete at the World Robofest Championships in late April or early May.

 

·         I see the age divisions are 5th ~ 9th and 9th ~ 12th grades.  Is this merely a recommendation?  Is there a clearly defined age cut-off date?  Can younger, advanced kids participate?  Our general rule is that playing up is fine. But playing down requires the submission of age division waiver form and Lawrence Tech Robofest organizer's permission. 

 

·         What types of materials can we use on our robot?  You may use any type of robot platform you would like.   You can use any type of material, including glue, tape, paints, stickers, etc.  We encourage your creativity.

 

·         What is the Robofest Exhibition?  The Exhibition is an opportunity for students to demonstrate any type of robotics project.  Robots can dance, play the piano, make hamburgers, play soccer, etc.  We encourage full creativity. 

 

·         How does the “unveiled unknown mission/problem in Games work?”  A portion of the Game Competition mission is unveiled the day of the competition during the opening ceremonies.  Students must program their robots without adult assistance after the unveiled mission is announced. Thus, adults are not allowed in the team pit area after the unveiling of the unknown mission.

 

·         I am a coach who has competed before and I am interested in taking my team to a higher programming level. I am not familiar with any of the higher levels, (C or Java). Can you help me with a source of training or instruction that will aid me?  Lawrence Technological University will schedule a series of workshops starting in January to help students and coaches. Also visit the following link: http://www.robofest.net/resources.htm

 

·         I would like to start a neighborhood team to compete in Robofest.  Does a team have to be from a school?  Robofest encourages all types of teams; home schools, charter schools, private schools, public schools, neighborhood groups, civic groups, clubs, churches, scouts, etc. 

 

·         Can a team enter more than one category?  No. A team can choose only one category.

 

·         Can a team member join more than one team?  It may be possible if the coach thinks the student can handle multiple tasks.  However, in general, it is not recommended.

 

Unique Features of Robofest

·         Robots must be fully autonomous, which means that learning computer science and programming and sensor technologies is highly emphasized in Robofest.

·         It is one of the world's first autonomous robot contests for grade students in which the dimension of the playing field is unknown. A part of the competition problem is unknown until competition day. And some conditions of the playing field may be decided/changed, after the robot is started.

·         Robofest is fair and educational, since no direct adult help is allowed. The entire robot should be constructed and programmed by students.

·         Robofest game competition games promote cooperation between team members, because they require distributed solutions using two independent robots working together.

·         Students have the freedom of using technologies: they may use any robot controller (kits) such as Handy Boards, Handy Crickets, Basic Stamps, Boe-Bots, IntelliBrains, VEX, I-ROBOs, NXTs, or Lego® RCX bricks. They may use any actuators and sensors to solve the competition problems.

·         Students have the freedom of choosing programming languages. Junior teams may use any icon-based graphical programming languages. Text-based high level programming languages are recommended for senior teams.

·         Students may use tapes, glues, bolts and nuts, etc. to construct robots.

·         The Robofest website, www.robofest.net, provides necessary technical information for the contest. Free workshops have been provided at Lawrence Tech for teachers, coaches, parents, and all participants of Robofest teams since 2000.

·         Robofest is affordable. You may reuse old kits. It is simple, easy, modular and inexpensive to set up playing fields of which materials can be reused every year. The registration fee is also affordable compared to other robotics competitions. It was $40 per team in 2007.

·         Everyone is a winner at Robofest. Every registered participant will receive a personalized framed certificate and an individual medal (or trophy). Giant trophies are awarded to winning teams in various categories based on the performance results and/or judging scores.

·         Since science and technology teachers have gained a lot of experience for the future of education, Lawrence Tech is planning the Robotics in Technology Education Conference (RoboTEC) in the near future.

 

Typical Timeline

 

When

Events

~ November

Call for Regional Qualifying Competition Site Hosts

Mid December

Kick-off Informational meeting;

Late December

Draft rules and partial competition rules to be posted on the web at www.robofest.net; Coach registration begins

January

Finalized official rules to be posted on the web. Team registration begins on the web (First come first serve basis until maximum number of teams are registered for each site)

Late January ~

Technical workshops; Site volunteer registration begins

March

Warm-up competitions and Judge training at Lawrence Tech

March - April

Regional Qualifying Competitions

Late April or Early May

World Robofest Championship at LTU

 

Revised 11-28-2007