Rules for Robot Basketball

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Objective

The objective is for your robot to make 3 baskets in the shortest time. The robot must begin in the starting area, carry the ball down the "court", drop it in the basket, and return without human help. The the next ball may be "passed" to the robot by the human operator only in the starting area.

Playing Field

• Track - A white track 10 inches wide and about 6 feet long. There is 3/4" wide stripe down the middle made with black electrical tape. The picture shows a straight track, but the competition track may have a curve in it.

• Starting area - The first 12 inches of the track, marked with a thin pencil line.

• Starting bumper - Pile of books at least as wide as the track and 3 inches higher than the track.

• Basket - A 1/2 gallon plastic milk or juice jug cut off to be 3 inches high. Attached to the middle of the track with masking or duct tape and supported by several books behind.

• Ball - Orange ping-pong balls, 3 provided.

Robot Construction

• The robot must be built from pieces in the Lego Mindstorms kit except for optional decorations.

• You can use extra motors and light sensors as needed

• There are no size or weight restrictions

• No glue or tape.

Rules

• Before the race begins, the robot will be inspected to ensure it meets the construction rules. The driver may make changes if necessary.

• To begin, the operator places the robot in the starting area with the first ball already loaded.

• At the starting signal the robot driver will press the green “run” button and the clock will start.

• The robot must follow the path to the basket, drop the ball in the basket, turn around, and return to the starting area without human intervention.

• The driver cannot touch the robot outside the starting area except to place it back in the starting area or remove it from the playing field.

• Once it has returned to the starting area, the robot may turn around itself (extra points) for the next shot or the operator may turn it around.

• While the robot is in the starting area, the operator may "pass" it another ball for the next shot. The operator cannot pass the robot another ball outside the starting area.

• The race is over after 3 baskets have been made or 2 minutes have elapsed, whichever comes first.

Scoring

Deciding the Winner

The winner is the robot with the highest total score. If two robots have the same score, the robot with the faster time wins. If the top two robots have the same score and the same time, a rematch is held.

Each robot runs once with the score and time recorded. Then each robot runs again with scores and time recorded. The two scores are added together and the robots are ranked by total score. Ties are broken by comparing the sum of the two run times.

Hints and Tips

This contest requires a touch sensor and a light sensor. See Touch Sensor Examples and Light Sensor Examples for ideas on how to solve this problem.

Materials Needed

• 2 white bookshelves, approximately 10”x36”x 5/8”. (Meijer's). See Track Designs for straight and single bend curve patterns.

• Black electrical tape, approximately 3/4” wide

• One 1/2 gallon plastic milk or juice jug

• Three orange ping-pong balls

• 4-6 big books

Per team

• One Lego Mindstorms kit

• One extra 9-volt motor