Pot Luck! KiwiChallenge KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 1. Changes between v2 and v3 in green

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1 Pot Luck! KiwiChallenge 2018 V3 Changes between v2 and v3 in green KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 1

2 Introduction Overview This section provides an introduction to "SMC Pot Luck!" the 2018 KiwiChallenge supported by SMC Pneumatics and the VEX Robotics Competition. Kiwibots Who we are and what we do. The NZ Robotics Charitable Trust (trading as KIWIBOTS) with the support of Massey University was formed to inspire interest in science and technology in NZ schools by bringing the FIRST robotics program to New Zealand. Kiwibots decided to introduce the VEX competition in New Zealand as it offers students many more chances to compete against other schools rather than only once a year as is the case with FIRST. Changing from one competition a year to one a month means that students can now refine their ideas and learn from their mistakes. The foundation sponsors of the Kiwibots were Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Glidepath Limited and Federal Express (FedEx) with support from the Employer and Manufacturers Association (EMA) (Northern), Qantas, Amcham, Massey University and Smales Farm. The Kiwibots run the KiwiChallenge as a short game to be played during the off season to allow new teams to get up to speed and to give the teams not travelling to the World Championships something to do after the Nationals until the new seasons game pieces arrive in New Zealand. SMC Pot Luck! A Primer "SMC Pot Luck!" is designed to get teams thinking about pneumatics and sensors. Often teams get so focussed on a complete robot and motors that they forget that pneumatics can be a very valuable part of their design. With this in mind the 2018 KiwiChallenge has NO drive train! It consists of a simple and very small game Field that can easily fit into the boot of a car. The intent is to get students thinking about control. While participating in the " SMC Pot Luck!" 2018 KiwiChallenge season, teams will develop pneumatic skills and learn how to use sensors to the max. The challenge has been designed so that we can get a national ranking between teams even when the teams are not in the same part of the country. Some problems will be solved by individuals, while others will be handled through interaction with their student teammates and mentors. Teams will work together to build a mechanism that will score as many points as possible. KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 2

3 The Game SMC Pot Luck As the name implies we are looking for mechanisms that will pot ping pong balls. This challenge is designed to get teams to find the most accurate and reliable way to get as many ping pong balls into the Holes on the Field as possible and scoring the most points. National rankings & Grand Prize Individual scores can be uploaded here at any time provided they are verified by a regional Manager. Clear photographs (100mB and 5 max) must be uploaded for your score to count for the grand prize. The judges will use the photographs to narrow down the prize winners so make sure they clearly show your mechanism. Videos of it in action are allowed as well. Closing date for scores There will be regionals around New Zealand starting on the 19 th of May 2018 and ending on the 27 th of May. Watch the Kiwibots blog for event details. Generous Sponsorship If you do not have a pneumatics kit at your school the SMC have generously offered to give your school a set so that you can compete! Fill in this form to request sponsorship from SMC and the Kiwibots. The Kiwibots will donate the cables to connect the SMC Pneumatics kit to the Cortex brain. Grand Prize The highest scoring potter in the country that makes the best use of pneumatics and sensors, as Judged by the Kiwibots and SMC, will win a new v5 setup (electronics only). There will only be 1 Grand Prize winner. KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 3

4 The Field The field measures 1200mm x 400m x 16mm and is made out of a white Melamine Shelf with Holes drilled in it as shown in the field drawing. The sheet with holes in it is backed by another undrilled sheet to turn the holes into Pockets. The shelves can be bought from Mitre 10 and is a Jobmate brand. The holes in the field are standard sized holes that can be drilled using a single Holesaw set available from Mitre 10. The brand is Number 8, Model number 56010, Barcode Figure 1 - The Field with holes identified Figure 2 - Field Dimensions KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 4

5 SCORING: A Ball Scored in hole A is worth 5 points A Ball Scored in hole B is worth 1 point A Ball Scored in hole C is worth 2 points A Ball Scored in hole D is worth 1 point Two balls in a hole D double the total points for the side they are on. Double Ball Bonus. For example, one ball in B and 2 balls in D will score (1 + 2*1) * 2 = 6 points see the Excel points calculator* to see how this works in detail. RULES: <GR1> You have 2mins to Score as many points as you can with your robotic scorer aka your Potter <GR2> Each hole carries different points so choose carefully as you only get 10 balls to use once each. <GR3> The field will be as level as organisers can get it. Expect some roll of balls. <GR4> Cassettes made from VEX parts to store Balls on the potter for Potting are legal <GR5> Balls must be Launched from the potter by software control not by hand. <GR6> More than one Ball may be Scored in a Hole. <GR7> One balls leave the Green Zone they are considered as used. KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 5

6 Definitions Field A 1200mm x 400m x 16mm white Melamine Shelf with Holes drilled in it as shown in the field drawing. The sheet with holes in it is backed by another undrilled sheet to turn the holes into Pockets. The shelves can be bought from Mitre 10 and is a Jobmate brand. Holes These are standard sized holes that can be drilled using a single Holesaw set available from Mitre 10. The brand is Number 8, Model number 56010, Barcode Ping Pong Ball - A standard 40mm diameter competition sized ping pong. Ball A Ping Pong Ball. Green Zone The zone at the opposite end of the Field that the Robot can operate in. The zone starts 30cm from the short edge of the board and extends infinitely away from the holes and infinitely vertically, but it stops at the bottom face of the Field. The Robot is limited to a max of 18 x 18 x 18 at all times. The Robot is not allowed outside the Green Zone at any time when competing doing so will result in the score not being counted. The zone does not have to be coloured but needs to be clearly defined by a dark line. Score The sum of the points for all the Ping Pong Balls that are Scored. Calculated at the end of the 2min game time after all object have come to rest. Scored A ball is considered Scored in a hole if the lowest part of the ball is within the circle defined by the hole. Easily checked as removing the other balls in the hole will result in the ball rolling into the hole. Potter A mostly pneumatic Mechanism that is used to get Ping Pong Balls into the Holes. Launched An action that results in the balls moving out of the Green Zone towards the Holes. Cassettes A storage device that can contain one or more balls. KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 6

7 The Potter There are specific rules and limitations that apply to the design and construction of your Potter. Please ensure that you are familiar with each of these rules before proceeding with potter design. <P1> You are allowed to use:- 1 motor only! 1 VEX dual acting SMC pneumatics kit. 1 pneumatics reservoir. As many VEX EDR sensors as you like. Polycarbonate sheeting as per VRC In the Zone rules and pens and/or tape to mark the sheet. Any amount of VEX hardware as currently allowed in VRC In the Zone. <P2>You are not allowed to:- Use the motor in any way that results in the ball moving outside the Potter s Green Zone. Have any part of your Potter move outside its Green Zone. Impart any movement to the ball yourself. The idea is to have your Potter do it all. <P3>You must use SMC pneumatics as part of a mechanism that results in the ball moving out of the Green Zone towards one of the holes. <P4> Only Pneumatics parts as supplied by VEX or sponsored by SMC may be used. <P5> You must have the Potter start the ball moving under software control. Manual launching is not allowed. Pressing a button on the controller to activate the mechanism is allowed. <P6> Potters cannot be bigger than 18 x 18 x 18 at any time. <P7> The MAXIMUM pressure for the pneumatics system is 100psi for Health & Safety reasons KiwiChallenge 2018 "SMC Pot Luck!" Page 7