Technology for Seniors Using Technology to Improve the Quality of Life of Senior Citizens Maryland State 4-H Robotic Challenge 2014 LEGO Robotics 4-H Challenge Through the Technology for Seniors, 4-H members involved in robotics will create LEGO robots that complete tasks related to improving the quality of life of senior citizens on a 4 X 4 board. NXT based LEGO robots will automate wheelchairs, bring 4-H members and technology to senior centers and sort medicine. Teams will also complete a service project that will assist seniors in their community with technology. 1.0 Teams 1.1 Teams will consist of three to eight 4-H members. 1.2 Teams will register through the county extension offices with the State 4-H Robotics Committee from February 1 st to July 31 st. Once a team is registered through the county, the county can order game pieces ($30 per set). Team coaches will also be added to a list serv to receive information and updates about the game and state contest. The registration form is found on the Maryland State 4-H Robotics Challenge web page http://extension.umd.edu/4-h/4-h-programareas/robotics-0 1.5 State Fair Competition 1.5.1 Up to two teams from each county and Baltimore City can be selected by each county/city to participate in the state competition in each age division of Junior, Intermediate and Senior.
1.5.2 County Extension educators will enter the team(s) into the State Fair Competition by July 31 st. 1.5.3 There will be a $20 registration fee for the state fair competition per team. Checks should be made payable to the Maryland 4-H Foundation. 1.5.4 The State 4-H Competition will be held on the first Sunday of the Maryland State Fair. Teams will be provided with a scheduled time for their project and technical presentations. 1.5.5 Each team will be provided with a 6 or 8 pit table space. The team should use the table to present their service project. 1.5.6 Teams will be divided into one of three divisions according to the three 4-H age divisions as of 1/1/14 (Jr 8-10 years old, Intermediate 11-13 years old, Sr. 14-18 years old). Mixed age division members will be allowed to compete in the age division of the oldest member. All age divisions will compete in the same contest with awards given in each age division. 2.0 The Game Team members will construct a robot out of LEGOS that is controlled by an RCX, NXT or EV3 controller. The robot will autonomously perform specific tasks. The team will have 2 minutes and 30 seconds to perform as many tasks as possible. 2.1 Competition Kit The competition mat will be the Race Against Time Mat (NX990974) available from LEGO Education. LEGO parts and instructions to construct field mission models will be available once the team is registered through the county. Competition kits can be shared among multiple teams and remain the property of the local UME 4-H Youth Development Program.
2.2 Playing Field The field will be constructed of a ½ thick sheet of plywood with 2 X4 on edge to create a playing area of 45 X 45 (inside the 2 X4 frame). The mat (48 X 48 ) will be installed between the 2X4 edge and the plywood. The field includes the 14.5 X 14.5 base area. The playing field will be on a table 28 to 32 tall. 3.0 Robots 3.1 Allowed Materials Robots must be constructed using the LEGO RCX, NXT or EV3 controllers and any additional official LEGO parts. Non-LEGO parts will not be allowed. The robot must be programmed with LEGO Mindstorms, RoboLab, NXT, or EV3 software (any version) to perform the task autonomously. A maximum of the following motors and sensors may be used: a. 2 touch sensors b. 2 light sensors c. 1 Ultrasonic sensor d. 1 - Lamp e. 3 - rotation sensors (RCX only) f. 3 motors The following may not be used: a. Paint, tape, glue, and oil b. Stickers are not allowed c. Remote controls of any type 3.2 Robot Size The robot must fit completely inside of the base area of the board which measures 14.5 X 14.5 and must not be taller than 14.5. After the robot leaves the base area, it may expand to any dimension.
3.2.1 Robot in the base area (green outlined area in the southeast corner of the mat.) 3.3 Robot Operation 3.3.1 Handling the Robot The team members may only handle the robot while the robot is in the base area. Once the robot leaves the base area the members cannot touch or in any way influence the movement of the robot until it comes back to base without penalty. 3.3.2 Robot in Base While in base, members may change programs or change parts of the robot. The robot will be considered in base as soon as any part of the robot crosses into the base. 3.3.3 Mission Objects in Base Any objects that are to be brought back to base must cross into the base before a member touches the robot. Any mission that was in progress will be terminated if a member touches or in any way interferes with the robot or LEGO model. Teams may re-run the mission, but game pieces will remain where they are when the robot was touched. The robot may leave base and return as many times as time allows.
3.3.4 Touch Penalties If the robot is touched outside of the base area it must be brought back to base immediately and will be assessed a touch penalty (see 5.8 for details on touch penalties). 4.0 Game Rules 4.1 Mission Models Mission models will be provided as part of the competition kit. Instructions for construction of mission models will be provided. It is the team s responsibility to construct mission models correctly. The field(s) at the state competition may not be altered (consideration will be given if discussed with the referee). Mission models will be provided at the competition, therefore teams should not bring mission models to the competition table. 4.1.1 Starting Field Set Up
4.2 Robot Rounds Each robot will play three rounds with the highest score of the three rounds counting toward the final awards. Each robot round will last for 2 minutes 30 seconds. The round will be started at the referees call and the referee at the end of the round will turn off the robot. Teams will be given a minimum of 10 minutes between rounds. 4.3 Robot Operators Two members will be allowed at the table during the robot rounds. Additional team members must stand in the designated area and may tag in and out during the round. 5.0 Missions Missions are described as the following: 5.1 Retrieve Wheel Chair Robot must bring the wheel chair back to the base area. The wheel chair in base will be worth 15 points. 5.1.1 Wheel Chair starting location
5.2 Picking Up Black Medication Robot must collect 7 square LEGO pieces that represent medication. Each piece in base is worth 3 points. 5.2.1 Black Medication in Starting Position (can be anywhere inside of the oval outlined shape) 5.3 Picking Up Blue Round Medication from Auto Dispenser Collect the round blue LEGO pieces from the platform connected to the far wall of the table. Each med is worth 5 points in base. Blue medication left in the auto dispenser at the end of the match will be worth 3 points each. PENALTY: Any blue medication that not in the auto dispenser, in base or in the daily medication container will be assessed a 5-point penalty.
5.3.1 Auto Dispenser (18 from the inside of the west wall) 5.4 Round Up 4-H Members Robot must bring the four LEGO mini figures back to base. Each mini figure in base at the end of the match is worth 10 points each. 5.4.1 4-H Members in starting position mini figures will start in the upright position and can be located anywhere on the thick round circle.
5.5 Robot Moves Wheelchair into Van The wheelchair must be delivered to and placed through the door of the van. In order to receive the points, the entire wheelchair must be inside the van. The wheelchair inside the van will be worth 30 points. 5.5.1 Wheelchair in scoring position (van will be 5 inches from the inside of the west wall). 5.5.2 Wheelchair not in scoring position
5.6 Robotic Medication Sorting The robot is to put one black and one blue medication in the each of the slots in the daily medication container. Each slot in the container that has one blue and/or black med will be scored 10 points per medication. If two or more of one color is in a slot no points will be awarded for medications in that slot. If all seven slots have one black and one blue medication a bonus of 20 points will be awarded. If at least one medication is in the container, the team will receive an additional 20 points for closing the container lid. 5.5.1 Black and blue medications in the container This picture would be worth 120 points.
5.5.2 Blue and Black meds in container This picture is worth 60 points 10 points for each medication circled. 5.5.3 Lid closed on the med container
5.7 Transport 4-H Members to Senior Center with ipads. 4-H members must be delivered to the platform in the center of the board. The mini figs must be supported by the platform or LEGOS that are touching only the platform. No part of the mini figs can be touching the mat or connected to LEGOS that are supported by the mat. Each member on the platform will be worth 20 points 5.7.1 Platform Starting Position (18inches from the inside of the south wall and 20 inches from the west wall) 5.7.2 Mini-figs in scoring position
5.6.1 Three mini-figs in scoring position Not in scoring position 5.7 Robot at the Senior Center At the end of the match the robot must be completely supported by the ramp for 20 points. If the ramp is leveled out and the robot is completely supported by only the ramp the team will receive 40 points.
5.7.1 Robot Completely on the Ramp (20 POINTS) 5.7.2 Robot Completely on Ramp and Ramp level (40 POINTS)
5.8 Robot Touch Penalties Each time a touch penalty is incurred, a blue round medication will be removed from the table by the referee. Medication in the Auto Dispenser will be removed first followed by blue medication in base and finally blue medication in the daily medication container. Any medication in a penalty position will not be removed. 5.9 Technical Presentation Each team will be assigned a 15 minute time period prior to the robot rounds to explain their robot s design. The presentation should include information on the teams design features, game strategies and programming. The team may utilize the game table to demonstrate the robot completing missions. A panel of 2-4 judges will rate the team s technical presentation based on the Technical Rubric (Appendix A). The team will be assigned a numerical score between 0 and 100. 6.0 Service Project 6.1 Project Overview - Through the service project the team should learn more about assisting senior citizens using technology. It is suggested that the team meet with professionals involved with the assistance of senior citizens. The team should then identify a service project that will assist senior citizens that involves technology in some way. 6.2 Project Display The teams should create a tabletop display that will explain the service project. The board will be displayed during the competition on the team s pit table. 6.3 Project Presentation - The team will present a 3-5 minute presentation about their project to a panel of judges. The judges will be given 5 minutes to ask the team questions.
7.0 Team Notebook Each team should document the building of their robot in a journal. Each day that the team meets: record plans for the day, pictures and diagrams of robot building process, and ending reflections. The notebook will be shared with the judges during the technical presentation.
Mission Description Point Value Wheelchair Black Medication Blue Medication Daily Medication Container 4-H Member Round Up Robot on Platform Robot must bring the wheelchair back to base. The robot may place the wheelchair in back of the van for additional points. Robot must bring the black medication to base. The robot may place one black medication in each cell of the daily medication container. If more than one black (or blue) medication is in a cell no points are awarded for the medication in that cell. Robot must bring the blue medication to base. The robot may place one blue medication in each cell of the daily medication container. If more than one blue (or black) medication is in a cell no points are awarded for the medication in that cell. A bonus will be awarded if all 7 of the daily cells contain exactly one blue and one black medication. Points will also be awarded if the robot closes the container lid if at least one mediation is in the container Robot must bring the 4 mini figures back to base. The robot may place the mini figures on the platform for additional points The robot must be supported by the platform at the end of the match. 15 points for wheelchair in base at the end of the match. or 30 points for the wheelchair completely in the van at the end of the match. 3 points each for a total of 21 points if in base at the end of the match or 10 points each for a possible of 70 points if in the daily medication container at the end of the match 3 points each for a possible total of 21 points if left in auto dispenser or 5 points each for a total of 35 points if in base at the end of the match or 10 points each for a possible of 70 points if in the daily medication container at the end of the match 20 points if all 7 of the cells in the daily container have one blue and one black medication 20 points for closing the lid on the container 10 points for each for a possible of 40 points for each mini figure in base at the end of the match or 20 points for each for a possible of 80 points for each mini fig on the platform at the end of the match 20 points if the robot is completely supported by the platform or 40 points if the robot is completely supported by the platform and the platform is leveled out Penalties A penalty will be assessed if any of the blue medications are left on the field in any location except the auto dispenser, the daily medication container and the base area. -5 points for each blue medication not is a designated location Total Possible 330 points