ROBORYNTH
There is nothing more gratifying than delving into the intricate layers of a labyrynth and then finally making it to the centre. And the excitement and craze increases manifold when all this is to be done with a robot! Literati’s Roborynth is one classy event which sees geniuses in various fields put together ideas in the form of a formidable bot. The gruelling days and nights of perfecting the robot for the big day culminates into the thrilling event day when robots come right out of an Asimov classic and charm the crowd. There are grand prizes to be won for the competitors and an unforgettable feast fot the eye for the watchers.
You have to design and build a
manually controlled robot, whose aim is to completely traverse the full track while performing various tasks. The track is a multi terrain environment which needs to be traversed. Please check the track details in the figure.
Track Description
Robots would be placed at ‘Start’. At a distance of 50 cm is placed a Lawn Tennis ball in the centre of the track. This ball needs to be dropped into the hole in front at a distance of 15 cm. After another 15 cm there is a Table Tennis Ball close to track’s edge. This ball needs to be dropped in the hole in front at 15 cm. There is an enclosing wooden wall of height 10 cm as shown in figure. After this, there are 4 speed breakers which need to be crossed. These speed breakers are placed 8 cm apart. Height of these speed breakers would be 0.5 cm. Points will be granted only if all the 4 speed breakers are crossed completely.
Next, after a gap of 25 cm, there is a TT ball placed 5cm from the track’s edge. This ball is to be dropped into the hole on the right in the figure. Next, there is a trench in the track, 45 cm long, 10 cm wide. There is a clearance of 10 cm on both sides of the trench. After this, there is a left turn, after which are placed two plastic pipe pieces, which need to be dropped in the gap before crossing it.
After this, a stick is placed on the top of 4 bottles. Robots, attempting this task would have to make the stick drop from the bottles. If the stick touches the robot after the fall, there is a penalty. If the robot is able to dodge the stick, the task has been successfully completed. After this the robot has to cross a sandy area of length and width 30 cm. Following which, there is a ball placed in a square area full of sand. The ball is NOT buried in sand, it is placed on the surface. This ball has to be dropped in a hole on the other side of a pit full of pebbles.
The team’s time is stopped as soon as robot reaches ‘Finish’. Contact the organizers for further clarifications if required.
Scoring Scheme
1. +20 for dropping Lawn Tennis Ball into its corresponding hole.
2. +40 for dropping Table Tennis Ball 1 into its corresponding hole.
3. +20 for crossing all the 4 speed breakers.
4. +50 for dropping TT Ball 2 into its corresponding hole.
5. +20 for crossing the gap (trench 45 cm long).
6. +30 for crossing gap (of 4 cm width).
7. +50 for avoiding the stick when it falls from the bottles.
8. -30 if the falling stick touches any part of robot’s body.
9. +10 for crossing the sandy area.
10. +50 for dropping TT Ball 3 into its corresponding hole.
11. -20 it any part of robot’s body touches the floor outside the track.
12. -20 for touching your robot during the traversal. (in case it gets stuck, or flips over etc).
13. -20 for each 30 seconds used over 5 minutes to finish the track. ( For example, 5 minutes and 1 seconds means a penalty of -20.)
General Rules
1. All the balls have to be dropped into corresponding holes. No two balls will be dropped in the same hole.
2. Diameters of the holes would be such that the corresponding balls will just pass through.
3. The main aim for the robot would be to traverse the full track while completing all the tasks with maximum points.
4. Time provided will be 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, each 30 seconds taken to completely traverse the track would lead to a deduction of 20 points.
5. A robot failing to reach the Finish Line will be disqualified.
6. If a robot falls off/ moves out of the track, it will only be allowed to continue from the same point.
7. It is not compulsory to perform all the tasks. You can choose which tasks you want to perform and which not.
8. In case of ties in terms of points, the time taken would be used to break the tie. In case of further tie, tied teams would be allowed to traverse the track again.
9. Maximum 4 students in a team.
10. Teams may comprise of students of different colleges.
11. Register and confirm your participation on or before 12th of April, 2009 by sending an e-mail to literati09.nitk@gmail.com with subject ‘Roborynth’ or contact the undermentioned.
12. External power points would be provided for AC voltage.
13. Team with maximum points will be awarded the first prize.
Physical Constraints
1. The height of Robot should not exceed 50 cm.
2. The weight of robot should not exceed 5 Kg.
Contacts
Dheer Singh Chouhan 098969 56963
Vikas Pratap Singh 099960 57638