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 seniors on a 4 ‘ X 4’ board. NXT based Lego robots will automate wheelchairs, bring 4-H members and technology to senior centers and sort meds. Teams will also complete a service project which will assist seniors in their community with technology.

1.0 Teams1.1 Teams will consist of 3 to 8 4-H members.1.2 Teams will register through the county extension offices with

State 4-H Robotics Committee from February 1st to July 31st. 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 to receive information and updates about the game and state contest. Registration form is found on the Maryland State 4-H Robotics Challenge web page.

1.5 State Fair Competition1.5.1 Up to two teams from a county or Baltimore City will 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 into the StateFair Competition by July 31st.

1.5.3 There will be a $20 registration fee for the State Fair per team.Checks should be made 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 schedule for their project and technical presentations.

1.5.5 Each team will be provided with a 6’ or 8’ pit table space. Theteam 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 (Jr 8-10yrs old as of 1/1/14, Int 11-13yrs old as of 1/1/14, Sr. 14-18yrs old as of 1/1/14). Mixed age division members will be allowed to compete in the age division of the oldest member. All age divisions will compete in thesame contest with awards given in each age division.

2.0 The GameTeam members will construct a robot out of LEGOS that is controlled by an NXT, RCX 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 FieldThe field will be constructed of a ½” thick sheet of plywood with2X4 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 Robots3.1 Allowed Materials

Robots must be constructed using the Lego NXT, RCX, 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 or NXT (any version) software to perform the task autonomously. A maximum of the following motors and sensors may be used:

a. 2 - touch sensors b. 2 – light sensorsc. 1 – Ultrasonic sensor d. 1- Lampe. 3 rotation sensors (RCX only)f. 3 – motors

The following may not be used:

a. Paint, tape, glue, and oil b. Stickers are not allowedc. Remote controls of any type

3.2 Robot SizeThe robot and any attachments 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 thesouth east corner of the mat)

3.3 Robot Operation3.3.1 Handling the Robot

The robot may only be handled by the members while the robot is in the base area. Once the robot leaves the base area the member cannot touch or in any way influencethe movement of the robot until it comes back to base.

3.3.2 Robot in BaseWhile in base members my 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 BaseAny 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 PenaltiesIf 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 Rules4.1 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 refree). Mission models will be provided at the competitions, therefore teams should not bring mission models to the competition table.

4.1.1 Starting Field Set Up

4.2 Robot RoundsEach 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 robot will be turned off by the referee at the end of the round. Teams will be given a minimum of 10 minutes between rounds.

4.3 Robot OperatorsTwo 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 MissionsMissions are described as the following:5.1 Retrieve Wheel ChairRobot 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 Grey MedicationRobot must collect grey 7 square LEGO pieces that represent medication. Each piece in base is worth 3 points.

5.2.1 Grey Medication in Starting Position (can beanywhere inside of the oval outlined shape)

5.3 Picking Up Black Round Medication from Auto DispenserCollect the round black LEGO pieces from the platform connected to the far wall of the table. Each med is worth 5 points in base. Black medication left in the auto dispenser at the end of the match will be worth 3 points each. PENALTY: Any black medication that are 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 MembersRobot must bring the 4 LEGO mini figs back to base. Each mini fig in base at the end of the match is worth 10 points each.

5.4.1 4-H Members in starting position – mini figs will startin the upright position and can be located anywhere on the thick round circle.

5.5 Robot Moves Wheel Chair into VanThe wheel chair must be delivered to and placed through the door of the van. In order to receive the points the entire wheel chair must be inside the van. The wheel chair inside the van will be worth 30 points.

5.5.1 Wheel Chair in scoring position (van will be 5 inchesfrom the inside of the west wall).

5.5.2 Wheel chair not in scoring position

5.6 Robotic Medication SortingRobot 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 of20 points will be awarded. If at least one medication is in thecontainer the team will receive an additional 20 points for closing the container lid.

5.5.1 Black and grey medications in the container – This picture would be worth 120 points.

5.5.2 Black (round) and Grey meds in container – This picture is worth 60 points – 10 points for each medication circled. Note that this model is not the correct model

5.5.3 Lid closed on the med container

5.7 Transport 4-H Members to Senior Center with i-pads.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 (40pts)

5.8 Robot Touch Penalties

Each time a touch penalty is assessed 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 PresentationEach 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 programing. 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 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 table top 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 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

Robot must bring the wheel chair back to base. The robot may place the wheel chair in back of the van for additional points.

15 points for Wheel Chair in Base at the end of the match.

or30 points for the Wheel Chair completely in the van at the end of the match

GreyMedication

(square)

Robot must bring the grey medication to base. The robot may place one grey medication in each cell of the daily medication container. If more than one grey (or black) medication is in a cell no points are awarded for the medication in that cell.

3 points each for a total of 21 points if inbase at the end of the match

or10 points each for a possible of 70 points if in the daily medication container at the

end of the match

BlackMedication

(round)

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 grey) medication is in a cell no points are awarded for the medication in that cell.

3 points each for a possible total of 21points if left in Auto Dispenser

or5 points each for a total of 35 points if in

base at the end of the matchor

10 points each for a possible of 70 points if in the daily medication container at the

end of the match

Daily Medication Container

A bonus will be awarded if all 7 of the daily cells containexactly 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

20 point if all 7 of the cell in the daily container have one blue and one black

medication.20 points for closing the lid on the

container

4-H Member

Round Up

Robot must bring the 4 mini figs back to base. The robot may place the mini figs on the platform for additional points

10 points for each for a possible of 40points for each mini fig in base at the end

of the matchor

20 points for each for a possible of 80points for each mini fig on the platform at

the end of the match

Robot onPlatform

The robot must be supported by the platform at the end of the match.

20 points if the robot is completelysupported by the platform

or40 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 blackmedications 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 350 points