MOE Vex Challenge Ulster Project Delaware

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MOE Vex ChallengeUlster Project Delaware First
State Robotics, Inc.
k

• July 13, 2006

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Schedule

• 800 - 830 Safety, Who are we, Introductions
• 830 - 900 Team Formation, Team Identity
• 900 930 What is Vex, Familiarization with
  the Kit
• 930 - 1100 Vex Workshops
• 1100 - 1130 Game Explanation
• 1130 - 1200 Lunch, begin robot design
• 1200 - 130 Build robot
• 130 - 200 Match Schedule released, practice
  matches
• 200 - 330 Qualifying Matches
• 330 - 400 Alliance selection Strategizing
• 400 - 500 Elimination Matches
• 500 - 530 Awards and Wrap-up

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SAFETY

• You are on a DuPont Company site. You must obey
  all safety rules on site.
• Key rules to obey while on site
• Safe behavior is expected at all times
• No horseplay
• Proper safety equipment must be used
• Safety glasses must be worn in the competition
  area (Pedersen Room)
• No running
• Stay in this conference room area during the day
  do not wander off
• Know the location of the Exits in case of an
  emergency

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The Experimental Station

• DuPonts primary research center with a broad
  range of RD activities
• 15 to 20 businesses
• About 4,000 employees
• Self-contained campus on 152 acres
• 52 buildings 2,700,000 square feet

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Who are we?

• First State Robotics, Inc.
• Non-profit educational organization
• Mission is to get students of all ages excited
  about science and technology
• FIRST (First Inspiration and Recognition of
  Science and Technology)
• Founded by Dean Kamen (inventor, entrepreneur)
• Four official programs
• FIRST Robotics Competition high school
• FIRST Vex Challenge high school
• FIRST LEGO League middle school
• FIRST Junior LEGO League elementary school

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Why host this competition?

• Show you how science and technology can be fun
  and exciting
• Introduce you all to the FIRST program
• Introduce GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM
• We compete, but we also help each other
• We form alliances during competition
• We all learn something from the experience
• We make our grandmother proud
• To HAVE FUN!

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Introductions

• Everyone is included
• Each person should stand and communicate the
  following to everyone else
• Name
• Affiliation (Irish student, host student, event
  volunteer, etc.)
• One UNIQUE fact about yourself

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Team Formation

• All Ulster Project Delaware students are
  pre-assigned to a team
• You will work with your team to design and build
  a robot for todays competition
• Each team will be assigned a Vex mentor from
  First State Robotics
• This mentor will work solely with your team the
  rest of the day
• Other mentors will also be available to help your
  team
• Your team should have its own identity

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Team Identity

• Each team will receive different colored T-shirts
  designating your team
• Each team will be given a letter designation (A
  through I).
• Your task right now (20 minutes)
• Get together with your team (assignments will be
  projected on this screen and a team list will be
  handed out)
• Introduce yourselves to your TEAM MENTOR
• Work together to determine a TEAM NAME which
  begins with your TEAM LETTER DESIGNATION
• Decorate your shirts appropriately with available
  markers. List team name on your shirts along
  with any other appropriate words or designs

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Team Assignments
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Vex Workshops

• Robot Design
• Motors
• Hardware/Fasteners
• Axles/Bearings
• Robot Controller
• Operator Controller

• Wheels
• Power
• Gears

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What is Vex

• Robot Design
• Motors
• Hardware/Fasteners
• Axles/Bearings
• Robot Controller
• Operator Controller

• Wheels
• Power
• Gears

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Vex Kit
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Motor Axle
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Clutch
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Bushings
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Controller
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Controller
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Controller
Tether Cable Port
Receiver Port
On/Off Switch
Battery Pack Connection
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Receiver Set-up
Crystal
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RF Receiver
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Motor Connection
23 Tank Style 12 Arcade Style
Motor Port 1 Left Motor
Motor Port 2 Right motor Right motor
Motor Port 3 Left motor
Motor Port 4
Motor Port 5
Motor Port 6
Motor Port 7 Right (4wd) Right (4wd)
Motor Port 8 Left (4wd) Left (4wd)
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Transmitter (front)
Channel 1
Channel 3
Channel 2
Channel 4
On/Off
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Transmitter (Back)
Transmitter Crystal
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Channel 5
Channel 6
Tether Port
Battery Pack
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Gearing
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Gears
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Gear Train
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Gear Train
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Gear Train
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Gear Train
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Gear Train
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The Game!!!
Red Goal
Robots start in their alliance goal
24 Racquetballs
1 minute to score as many points as possible
Blue Goal
Blue Goal
2 Footballs
Qualifying Matches Elimination Matches
Red Goal
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How do you Play????

• 1 minute matches
• Qualifying rounds
• 6 rounds
• Teams are randomly paired into two robot
  alliances
• 1 pt for every racquetball in your alliance goal
• 10 pts for every football in your alliance goal
• Every match you earn Qualifying Points (QPs)
• The team with the most points in a match gets
  triple their opponents score for Qualifying
  Points
• The team with the lowest points in the match get
  their own points for Qualifying Points

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How do you Win???

• At the end of the Qualifying rounds the teams are
  ranked by their QP (Qualifying Points) total.
• The top 4 teams pick their alliance partner to
  play with them in the Elimination rounds one
  random alliance will have 2 partners (because we
  have 9 teams)
• Elimination rounds
• The four alliances play the best 2 out of 3
• Wins are decided by the total points scored, no
  more triple the opponents score

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Robot Design Build

• Brainstorming
• Prototype and Test Ideas
• Finalize Select One Design
• Build
• Test, Upgrade, Test, Upgrade,

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Brainstorming

• Process
• Select a Game Strategy
• Determine What Youd Like the Bot To Do
• What Cababilites Must It Have, ie. Push, Grab,
  Defend
• Generate Lots of Ideas (Divergent Thinking)
• One Persons Wild Thought Can Trigger
  Anothers Great Idea
• Try Not Too Be Critical Question and Discuss
  for Clarity and Understanding
• Group Sort Ideas
• Converge to a Manageable Realistic Few

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Prototyping

• Demonstrate Some of Your Concepts
• Prove Out Your Ideas With Some Quick Mock-ups
• Pieces of Functionality, ie. Plow or Scoop
• Not Necessarily Final Design So Dont Be
  Concerned with Detail

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Final Design Selection

• Review Outcomes of Your Prototyping
• Some Test Questions
• Can You Envision All your Ideas and Prototypes
  Working Together as One Robot?
• Do You have Time to Complete, Enough Material,
  Motors, etc.?
• Finalize Your Selection
• Ensure Everyone on the Team Can Support the
  Design Decision

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Build

• Choose a Build Coordinator
• Will Oversee Build Efforts
• Get Materials Together
• Be on the Lookout for Potential Integration
  Issues
• Breakout into a Couple Subteams, ie. Chasis,
  Ball Pick-up Mechanism
• Ask For Help Sooner Than Later
• Assign Out VEX Parts and Supplies
• Get Materials Cut or Modified as needed
• Acquire Additional Material from Other Kits as
  Required

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Test, Upgrade, Test, Upgrade

• Once You Have Something Built Test it out
• Is It Performing as You Designed?
• Can You Make Slight Modifications to Correct
  or Make it Perform Better ?
• Be Open to Change as Almost No Design Works
  Flawlessly On the 1st Flight.
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Use the Field Once You Have Something Ready

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Gracious Professionalism

• Work to demonstrate Gracious Professionalism with
  your team and other teams
• We want all teams to build working robots for the
  competition
• Help other teams / individuals when you can
• Ask for help from other teams / indivdiuals when
  you can
• If someone really helped you or your team out,
  please recognize him / her by telling Joe
  Perrotto or John Larock

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Schedule

• 800 - 830 Safety, Who are we, Introductions
• 830 - 900 Team Formation, Team Identity
• 900 930 What is Vex, Familiarization with
  the Kit
• 930 - 1100 Vex Workshops
• 1100 - 1130 Game Explanation
• 1130 - 1200 Lunch, begin robot design
• 1200 - 130 Build robot
• 130 - 200 Match Schedule released, practice
  matches
• 200 - 330 Qualifying Matches
• 330 - 400 Alliance selection Strategizing
• 400 - 500 Elimination Matches
• 500 - 530 Awards and Wrap-up

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Any Questions?

• Let the MOE Vex Challenge begin!