Robotics Challenge

Welcome to the Robotics Challenge

For this Challenge, you will build an mBot provided by Metropolitan or you can build your own robot if you have experience in robotics. The robot must run through the patterns that are outlined in the Challenge Requirements. Teams using the mBot provided by Metropolitan will be provided only one mBot.

The Challenge will start off simple to help you build your skills, and then advance to additional and somewhat more complicated tasks. The teams that have chosen to be in the greater time commitment division will have an extra course to run.

The mBot kit contains all the tools you will need to build the robot, and the entire process should take about one hour. Take your time putting the kit together; there are no extra points for putting it together the quickest. The mBot requires four AA batteries, which have been supplied along with your kit.

If you build your own robot, you can have any shape or size robot. Your goal will be to have a robot that will complete the courses outlined in the Challenge Requirements.

Image Description: A photograph of a small, wheeled robot, identified as an mBot, with a blue 'M' logo on its chassis. It has a single wheel at the front and two larger wheels at the rear, with various electronic components visible on top.

Challenge Requirements

• Teams in both divisions will build their robot or mBot. Those with the mBot will need to follow the instructions that come with their kit.
• Teams in both divisions should practice with their robot before doing the courses for points.
• Ensure you know how the robot moves. Those using the mBot should review the pre-programmed modes in the Quick Start Guide.
• Teams should complete the course outlined in the Division that they are competing in to earn the points for this challenge.
• Videos of completed courses should be uploaded to the school folder that will be created by Julie Miller Kalbacher at Metropolitan Water District. Once contacted, she will provide a link to the folder.

Requirements for Minimum Time Commitment Division

1. Collision Avoidance Course

Set up a Collision Avoidance course for your robot or mBot to run.

• The course should have at least 10 obstacles—books, plastic or paper cups, shoes, etc.—spread around the room that your robot or mBot needs to sense and avoid.
• The mBot can use the Collision Avoidance mode to run the course you set up.
• Take a video of your mBot or robot completing the 10-item obstacle course.
• Contact Julie Miller Kalbacher at jamiller@mwdh2o.com to be added to the upload folder for your school.
• Once you are added to the folder, you will receive an email and all your videos will go into the folder.
• The video should have the school name and "Collision" in the title.
• This course is worth 50 points if your robot avoids all obstacles; you will lose 5 points for every obstacle your robot hits.

2. Figure 8 Course

Set up a Figure 8 course for your robot or mBot to run.

• The course for the mBot comes with the kit.
• The course for non-mBot robots will need to be at least 5 times longer than the length of your robot.
• Both robots and mBots will have to complete 5 laps of the figure 8 course without stopping.
• Take a video of your robot or mBot completing the 5 laps of the figure 8 course.
• If you have not already done so, contact Julie Miller Kalbacher at jamiller@mwdh2o.com to be added to the upload folder for your school.
• Once you are added to the folder, you will receive an email and all your videos will go into the folder.
• The video should have the school name and "Figure 8" in the title.
• This course is worth 50 points, 10 points per lap completed without stopping.
• If you are unsure what a figure 8 course is, here is a photo of the one that comes with the mBot:
• Image Description: A black figure-eight symbol drawn on a white background, representing the Figure 8 course.

3. Straight Line Out and Back Course

Set up a Straight Line Out and Back Course for your robot or mBot to run.

• Get two paper or plastic cups or other items to mark the course.
• Place one of the cups or items to mark what will be the start line. Measure 10 feet from that marker and place the second item or marker at the 10-foot spot. You will have to show this measurement in your video.
• Program your robot to start at one marker, go around the other marker, and return to the start.
• mBots will have to be programmed to run this Straight Line Out and Back course. You will have to download the mBot programming environment from www.makerblock.com.
• There is a video tutorial link in the Robotics section of the Solar Cup Webpage to help you learn how to download software and program the robot.
• Take a video of your robot or mBot completing the Straight Line Out and Back course.
• If you have not already done so, contact Julie Miller Kalbacher, at Metropolitan Water District at jamiller@mwdh2o.com to be added to the upload folder for your school.
• Once you are added to the folder, you will receive an email and all your videos will go into the folder.
• The video should have the school name and "Out and Back" in the title.
• This course is worth up to 50 points:
• You will get 10 points for programming your robot.
• You will get up to 20 points if your robot completes the 10-foot "out" part of the course without assistance.
• You will get up to 20 points if your robot completes the 10-foot "back" part of the course without assistance.
• Points will be deducted each time your robot needs assistance.

4. Square Course

Set up a Square Course for your robot or mBot to run.

• The square should be 5 feet long on each side. This should be measured on your video to confirm the size.
• mBots will have to be programmed to run this square course. You will have to download the mBot programming environment from the internet at www.makerblock.com.
• There is a video tutorial link in the Robotics section of the Solar Cup Webpage to help you learn how to download software and program the robot.
• There are many other mBot tutorials on the internet that can help write this custom program.
• Program your robot to go around this square without cutting any corners. See how many laps you can complete in two minutes. Points will be deducted every time you must manually adjust the robot.
• This course is worth 15 points per lap or a maximum of 100 points.
• Take a video of your robot or mBot completing the Square course.
• If you have not already done so, contact Julie Miller Kalbacher at jamiller@mwdh2o.com to be added to the upload folder for your school.
• Once you are added to the folder, you will receive an email and all your videos will go into the folder.
• The video should have the school name and "Square Course" in the title.

Requirements for Greater Time Commitment Division

Teams in this division must submit videos of their robots or mBots completing the four courses that are outlined in the Minimum Time Commitment section.

This division must complete a 5th Course, the Letters Course for their robots or mBots.

• There is a video tutorial link in the Robotics section of the Solar Cup Webpage to help you learn how to download software and program the robot.
• Program your robot to spell out the first few (at least 4) letters of your school name.
• In your video, you might want to describe the letters as the robot makes them.
• The letters don't have to be perfect; we'll accept anything reasonably close.
• This course is worth up to 100 points, and you will earn 15 points per letter of your school name, up to 100 points.
• Take a video of your robot or mBot completing the Letter course.
• If you have not already done so, contact Julie Miller Kalbacher at jamiller@mwdh2o.com to be added to the upload folder for your school.
• Once you are added to the folder, you will receive an email and all your videos will go into the folder.
• The video should have the school name and "Letter Course" in the title.