Robo-Cross

Robo-Cross is an event in which participants must design and build a robot capable of performing various tasks. This robot must meet certain parameters, such as size, method of control, electricity used, and overall safety.

Event Description
Participants must build and design a robot that will be able to move objects into goals to receive points.

Playing Field
This year there will be two goals, a small goal and a large goal. The large goal is an empty 10x10x12 cm box on it's side in zone D. The small goal will be an empty 10x10x8 box placed on its side in zone C.  Both of the goals will be on the outside corner of their zones. The following materials will be placed in zone B:
 * 2 yellow legos
 * 2 blue legos
 * 4 golf balls
 * 4 C-cell batteries
 * $0.40 in coins

Soince.org Example Playing Field

Scoring Points
The maximum amount of points you can score is 412. If your robot is completely in zone B at the end of the competition you will receive 5 points, if it is in zone C you will receive 10 points, and if it is on zone D or the goal you will receive 20 points. You will also receive points for the following:

Getting Started
The Ultimate link- http://www.soinc.org/events/robocross/index.htm

Build a board/playing field.

There are many ways to get started, but the easiest way is with a mechanical construction set or a kit.


 * The Vex Kits is a good, but somewhat pricey set to begin with. It will yield decent robots, but expect to pay for marked up proprietary components.


 * Lynxmotion is a good place to find parts and well-designed kits for robot chassis. There are also complete sets of construction blocks (based on servo brackets) available.

Some Ways to Pick Up Objects
There are many ways to do this. The following are based on the assumption that your robot will be gathering objects and placing them in container, so that you can gather many objects at once, making minimal depositions to the goal box, and in turn reducing run time. These methods are preferred over strategies that collect the objects piecewise.

Doors
Robots using doors in most cases use either one or two door system. The diagram on the right consists of two doors. Each door is attached to an axle which is also attached to motor. As the motors turn, the doors, or rather flat sheets of material, perhaps aluminum or card-stock, open and close. The operator would open the doors, drive the robot forward and close the doors, while hitting the objects into the container. The operator then moves on and gathers all other required objects on the field using the same method. A one door system would have the same motor, axle, and door setup.

Sweepers
The sweeper system consists of a motor attached to a long axle. The axle is parallel to the ground, and has "flaps" attached to it in places along its circumference. These "flaps" act the same way as the doors in that they hit the objects on the field into the container which is being used to collect the objects. A potential problem with this design is that the flaps can hit the objects with so much force, that if the object is light enough, it can go flying out of bounds.

Claws
A claw could also work. A good strategy would be to get a claw that picked the object up and then reached back to put it into a container. You could fill it up as much as possible and then transport it into the goal.

Tournament Student Self Check List
Before turning in your robot for impound, please check the following qualification parameters for your robot. Robots that do not meet these parameters may compete but will be ranked after those robots that do. Additionally, if a RC robot is operating on a band other then 27, 49, or 75 Mhz it is not in compliance with FCC regulations and may not compete in the Robo Cross event. Also, check to make sure that all parts (arms, claws, etc.) are inside the 30x30x30 cube beforehand. It may be easy for one of these parts to move and go outside of the cube if your robot has that capability.

-No more than one robot may be used by a competing team. (Rule: 1-a) -Control system must be powered by a battery, which is not to exceed 9.6 volts. (Rule: 1-c) -Robot must fit into a 30cm cube prior to the start of competition. (Rule: 1-d) -Robot is powered by commercial batteries. (Rule: 1-e)(Its really the only way to determine your voltage, and homemade batteries are just too dangerous) -Batteries do not exceed 9.6 volts. (Rule: 1-e) -Voltage output on robot does not exceed 9.6 volts. (Rule: 1-f) -Only electric circuits � no hydraulics, pneumatics, or fluidics. (Rule: 1-h) -If a transmitter is used, it is to be powered by a commercial battery with an output not to exceed 9.6 volts. (Rule: 1-i) (That mean no laptops or 8 AA 1.5v batteries, one alternative can be 8 1.2 rechargeable AA batteries) -Robots must have a legible I.D. with letters 1� tall or larger. (Rule: 1-j)
 * RC models are in approved frequency range � 75Mhz, 49Mhz, or 27Mhz. (Rule: 1-k) (It's actually illegal for land vehicles to operate at any other frequencies. Do not buy Aircraft transmitters; however, some manufactures sell the same transmitters for Land use.)

Bring to competition:
 * A copy of the rules
 * Any clarifications from soinc.org, in case the judges aren't aware of the clarifications. This is especially important at invitationals, when judges are less likely to have read all the clarifications.
 * Duct tape
 * Scissors and/or knife (box cutters, etc)
 * Soldering iron and solder, because sometimes the judges will let you repair wiring on the spot (but they are not supposed to)

Links
Vex Kits

Vex Programming

Lego Programming
 * Servo Reference:http://www.princeton.edu/~mae412/TEXT/NTRAK2002/292-302.pdf


 * New York Coaches Conference http://newyorkscioly.org/SOPages/Events/RoboCross.html