Sparking Interest in Middle and High School Students Using a Robotics Competition Dr' Mark McKinney,

1
Sparking Interest in Middle and High School
Students Using a Robotics CompetitionDr. Mark
McKinney, Dr. Robert Barsanti
2
Team America The Citadel
Matthew Besnard Billy Ray Hopkins Joseph
Riser Marc Smith
3
Overview

• Introduction
• Background
• The Competition
• Lessons Learned
• Plans for the Future

4
Team Two The Citadel
David Bunn Franklin Culick Brian Elender David
Huffman
5
INTRODUCTION

• Lego robot competition began in 2003
• Means to stimulate interest in ECE
• Held along with other E-Week festivities
• Focus on programming not mechanical design

6
Team Tupperware
Brett Burleigh Travis Gregg Kevin Sundeen Devin
Wilson
7
BACKGROUND

• The Citadel is a Military Teaching College in
  Charleston, SC.
• Two Engineering Departments
• Civil and Environmental
• Electrical and Computer
• Host annual E-Week Activities for 350 local
  middle and high school students

8
Dev. Group The Citadel
Justin Gonnelli Alexander Grimes Darron
Raines Thomas Suggs
Citadel Winners
9
THE COMPETITION
The Field
10
Lego Robot Masters Berkeley Middle/MCSC
Katherine Touchberry Rebekah Nobles Abby Nobles
11
THE COMPETITION
The Robots

• Educational Lego Mindstorm Kits
• Each robot capable of batting and fielding
• Kit contains a programmable brick, software, 2 DC
  motors, 2 light sensors, 2 touch sensors, gears,
  and lots of legos.

12
Just Josh Berkeley Middle
Joshua Williams
13
THE COMPETITION
The Rules

• Each robot plays 3 outs as batter and fielder.
• Order of play determined by coin flip.
• At bat robot hits ball from tee and runs bases
  until an out is scored.
• Fielding robot may capture ball to score an out.
• Out is scored if robot fails to navigate bases,
  or if tee lands in outfield.

14
Lil Sosa Berkeley Middle
Cody Wall
M.S. Winner!
15
LESSONS LEARNED
Publicity- generating interest

• Partnership with Math and Science hub.
• Personal relationship with H.S. pre-engineering
  programs.
• Website to provide information repository,
  logistics, and official rules.
• Coordinate with The Citadels public relations
  dept. for local media coverage.

16
Trojans 1 Cross High
Teron Ravenell Tyler Jones
17
LESSONS LEARNED
Registration Process

• Encourage early registration. Close registration
  45 minutes prior to competition start.
• Need at least 30 minutes to organize heats.
• Picture of team and robot.
• Publish heats, keep teams informed of competition
  status.

18
Raptors Academic Magnet High
Jillian Sanford Karen Greene Justin Whitfield Jim
Yates Matthew Daniels Zack Walle
19
LESSONS LEARNED
The Competition

• Ample additional hardware for repairs.
• Access to PCs for re-programming of robots.
• Video projection to prevent crowding.
• Score board for spectators and competitors.
• Referee (with whistle) and assistant (to assure
  timely appearance) of teams at each field.

20
Old Reliable Timberland High
William Holmes
H.S. Winner!
21
LESSONS LEARNED
The Robots

• Rugged design a necessity.
• Accurate navigation more important than speed
• Building a good fielder is harder than running
  bases.
• Efficient search routine
• Effective ball trapping

22
LESSONS LEARNED
Post Competition

• Trophies for winners and runner-ups.
• Certificates of participation for all entries.
• Best design, coolest looking robot, fastest robot
  ribbons.
• The more prizes the better.
• Winning robots recognized at e-week banquet.

23
Lego Baseball
24
Lego Baseball
25
FUTURE PLANS

• Increased entrants (multiple fields).
• Improved robots.
• Cadet mentoring

26
Back-up slides
27
High School Bracket
Great One
Great One
Premature
Old Reliable
Raptors
Old Reliable
Lego Baseball
28
Middle School Bracket
Just Josh
Lil Sosa
Lil Sosa
Lego Baseball