The Rockin' Robots started out as an FLL team in 2009 with the Smart Move Challenge.

 

Scrimmage at Cloverleaf

On November 7, 2009,  we attended a scrimmage at Cloverleaf Elementary in Cartersville, GA.  It was the first time that our team members had seen the double tables set up, or watch another team run their robot. 

 

We learned a lot about how the teams were approaching the project and the robot design.  We also came away from this scrimmage with several new robot ideas. 

 

Positioning Jig

If your robot is to be able to work repeatably, use a jig to position it correctly.  One team had a blue square one, which led us to other variations.

 

The Rake

One idea from the scrimmage was to use a rake (multiple spikes) rather than a single implement to pick up the rings.  This was a big improvement in our success ratio, as the robot and ring positions did not have to be as precise.  Also, we were able to more easily pick up more than one ring at a time with the rake.

 

"Skinny" Robot

Another idea from the scrimmage was to create a robot that was very skinny, so that it could squeeze between the rollers and the access marker to get to the target delivery area.  This involved bringing the two drive wheel motors together as closely as possible (touching).  We kept the same wheels and the rest of the design, but the robot went on a diet!

 

Qualifier at The Darlington School

Our qualifier was held at The Darlington School in Rome, GA on December 12, 2009. Owen Kinney and the rest of the team there were terrific hosts, and we had a great time.

 

The Darlington School hosted us in a new building, with lots of space.  The teams were paired up in classrooms as workspaces, which gave everyone room to think and work.  It was a wonderful event.

 

Trophies!

We went only expecting to show up and learn.  Our team was able to score 255 points on our first run of the day.  A good thing, since the rest of our runs were not as good.  We learned a lot about repeatability that day for sure!  That run was enough to get us first place for Robot Performance.

 

We also won the first place award for Robot Design.  Some of the items that were noted as being most valuable to the judges were the use of a jig (repeatability), the use of subroutines, and the replacement rakes.

 

Super Regional at SPSU

Our performance at the Darlington Qualifier gave us entry to the Super Regional at Creekland Middle School in Lawrenceville, GA on January 9, 2010.  The challenges in the Georgia weather have made traveling to that site difficult.  Thankfully, the FLL team were able to work with us to make a change with another team.

 

We are now attending the Super Regional at Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) in Marietta, GA on January 9, 2010 - lots of pictures here.  The team did a great job, and we are non to the state competition.  Video will be posted soon.

 

GA State Competition at GA Tech

Our performance at the SPSU Super Regional gave us entry to the GA State Competition at GE Tech on January 23, 2010.   The team used the long MLK weekend to work on refining the robot, building a Rockin' Robots mascot costume, building a real presentation to lead the technical discussion, building a poster board and sample (LEGO) city street for how Robovator could take cars off of the road, and updated the project presentation.  It was really good to have the three days to work.

 

Lessons Learned

We learned several things that were very valuable during our competitions this year:

 

Focus on Sharing

At our first meet, we were very focused on the final details of our project presentation, the technical presentation, and tuning the robot runs.  But the meet is best when shared.  At Darlington, we did not spend much time in the pit unless our robot was competing.  As a result, we were not available to cheer on the other teams.  We we also not able to learn from them about how they had approached their problems, or be able to share what we had done.

 

More Practice Space is Good

We checked with the judges about bringing our practice table to the competitions.  It gave us a change to do more practicing (since there was more space), and it was a great way to meet/share with other teams.  Most of the competitions could use more tables, if you can manage the logistics.

 

Bring Copies

Some of the paperwork that gets turned in with registration may not get to the right judges in a timely manner.  If you print a copy of the programs, for example, bring a copy of those same programs directly to the technical presentation.  You can save paper by printing them double sided.  To make long program routines more readable on a printout, you many want to 'fold' the program and then interconnect the parts.

 

Awards Won - Smart Move

• Georgia FLL Qualifier - 1st Place Robot Performance

• Georgia FLL Qualifier - 1st Place Robot Design