Design, Build, Test

Since we understand the Botball Game and selected which points we want to get, now we can build our Robots!  Not quite yet..  

When learning about Engineering, you often hear the phrase: "Design, Build, Test". 

• Design: an idea or concept that solves the problem
• Build: turn the concept into a real world prototype
• Test: try out the prototype and see if it works

Then after you test it, you go back and re-design it to make it better, and repeat the process.  



In the "real world", after testing, you typically go back to Build instead of design.  Only, if there is a major issue do you go back to re-design it.  Most of your time is spent between building and testing.  This process continues until you have a solution that is "Good Enough" or you run out of time and reach a deadline.  In Botball, like any engineering project, we will go through this process a lot.

Okay, I got it...

But this looks like it is missing a step.. how do I get from my problem: "score selected points", to my first design?  There is a step missing called "research" or "brainstorming".  In this step, you can do some research to learn about existing solutions to problems you are trying to solve, and then brainstorm possible solutions.  After going through this step you can then select one or more ideas to use as the basis for your first design.

You then go through the Design, Build, Test cycle.. well mostly Build / Test cycle.. and when you are done, you reach Maintain.  This is the process of supporting and maintaining your solution.  This allows other people to use your solution or parts of your solution.




Resources

PBS: Design Squad Nation
The Design Process in Action
http://pbskids.org/designsquad/parentseducators/workshop/process.html

James Dyson Foundation  (James Dyson is a British inventor, industrial design, and founder of the Dyson company.  You probably know his name because he invented the Dyson Bagless Vacuum Cleaner which never loses suction.)
http://www.jamesdysonfoundataion.com/resources

Design, Build, Test -- video on James Dyson Foundation
https://vimeo.com/68665257

Game Strategy

After you have become familiar with the Botball Scoring, you can then start to come up with your team strategy for handling the game.  In the game, you only have two minutes (120 seconds) in order to collect as much points as possible.

One technique is to create a table that has 3 categories for: easy, medium, and hard.  Easy points require minimal effort.  Medium points are achievable but require some thought and effort.  Hard points are often worth the most, but are also the most difficult to achieve.

For each possible point combination, the team places it in the appropriate category.  After all the points are categorized, the team can decide on a preliminary strategy by identifying which points they want to go after.  The strategy typically depends upon the experience level of the team.  For beginner teams, you want to get as many "easy" points as you can on a consistent basis.  It is also important to know what you are not going after - so ignore all those "hard" points.  Then select one or more of the "medium" points as part of your stretch goal.

The selected points will also give you some constraints for your robot(s).  The botball kit comes with two controllers (brains) - so most people build two robots.  What capabilities will the robot need to achieve those points?  What size does my robot have to be to overcome obstacles in the way of scoring points?  What types of manipulator (pusher, claw, arm, etc.) does my robot require?  

To answer some of these questions, you may need to do more research.  For example: How do you build a claw?  Is it really called a claw?  If not, what is it called and how do I build it.

Robotic Prospectors : the 2015 Botball Game

One of the most anticipated thing for Botball Teams is learning about this year's game.  Each year the game changes and presents different challenges and use of different skills.  Typically, the Game is themed after the GCER (Global Conference on Educational Robotics) host location.   This year, GCER will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico from July 7 - 11, 2015.

The game is always reviewed during the Hawaii Regional Workshop.  However, most teams can't wait, and as soon as the documents become available your team should download them from their Team Home Base and get familiar with it.  This typically occurs in Mid January and gives you a few weeks to go over it before the Hawaii Regional Workshop which typically occurs in the first or second weekend in February.

This is a picture of the 2015 Game Field.  Everybody has downloaded the "2015 Botball Game Review v1.81.pdf" from their Team Home Base, right? 

You want to start with "This Year's Game", which gives you the context of what is going on.  Not necessarily super important but it provides a reason for why you are doing certain things.  This year Botgal and her cousin are geologists conducting geological surveys on the two mesas between the mountains.  It is also rumored that there are extra terrestrials in the area in search of gold ore and nuggets which may be found in the mountains and caves under them.

Teams want to then become familiar with "The Game Board Areas", "Game Pieces", and "Game Piece Starting Positions".  

The Game Board Areas describes various portions of the Game Field.  They are important because they identify scoring locations for objects or may have physical properties that become important in deciding how to build your robot.  You also want to make sure you clearly understand what are the boundaries of a particular area.  The 2015 Game has the following Game Board Areas: Starting Box, Mineral Analysis Area, Mesa, Cave, Caldera, and Mountain Peaks.

After being familiar with the various areas of the board, the team should then study the Game Pieces and their Starting Positions.  In particular, you want to note where the objects are placed.  Does an item always start in the same position?  Is it's starting position randomly determined?  Does the team get to choose where to place specific objects?  Game pieces also have an effect on the type of manipulators (e.g. 'claw', 'scoop', etc)  that are needed in the robot.

Once the team is familiar with the game areas, game pieces, and starting positions, then the team wants to study the "Scoring" and "Scoring Rules".  Scoring is one of the most important parts of the Game and should be thoroughly reviewed.  You need to know how many points are scored for an object under 'which' condition(s).  Which are the high point items?  This years game has Multipliers!  These can magnify your points tremendously, but you have to know under which conditions do they apply.

Once you understand the Scoring, then you can really begin to discuss your strategy for the the Game.

Botball Scrimmage on Sat, Feb 28

Wahiawa Middle School is hosting a botball "scrimmage" on Sat, Feb 28th from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Wahiawa Middle School Robotics Room.  The scrimmage is setup like a mini-tournament.  It gives teams the opportunity to meet students from other schools, share knowledge, and test drive the Botball tournament.  Hopefully, you can bring a fully built robot that is capable of starting with the light sensor, and then scoring some points.  But don't worry, if you aren't there yet, the beginning of the morning will provide time for you to tune up your robot, and get it ready for the day's scrimmage.

After the build time, you will go through a "seeding round".  Try out your robot on the 'real' game board and see if there is something you didn't expect in practice at your school.

Finally, in the afternoon, the moment you are waiting for as you go head to head again the other teams in the double elimination.

So far, Wahiawa Middle School, Stevenson Middle School, and University Laboratory Schools are attending, please come and join the fun.

"House Rules" for the 2015 Hawaii Regional Tournament

Many teams have a large number of students as well as a collection of older controllers.   One question that came up during the 2015 Hawaii Regional Workshop was the possibility of competing in the Hawaii Regional Tournament using the older CBC style controllers.

Officially, only the latest "Link" controller (i.e. the Botball Brain) can be used at a Regional Tournament.  However, if all teams in the regional tournament agreed, you could have "House Rules" that allowed the older controller(s) to be used in competition.

The following caveats also apply: (1) you would not be able to participate at GCER (International Competition) because only the latest "official" controllers can be used, (2) the older controllers are out of support life and NO support is available.  Repeat, NO SUPPORT is available.

We would like to propose that for the 2015 Hawaii Regional Tournament that older controller (e.g. CBC style) can be used in the tournament.

If anyone has a concern with this "House Rule", please contact hawaiibotball@gmail.com to raise your concern by Mar 31, 2015.

2015 Hawaii Regional Workshop

Many thanks to Dr. Miller for flying over from Oklahoma to give us the best in Botball Training.  The Hawaii Regional Workshop was on Feb 7-8th at the Wahiawa Middle School.  Participating teams include Hanalani Schools, Highlands Intermediate School, R.L. Stevenson Middle School, University Laboratory School, Wahiawa Community, and Wahiawa Middle School.  

The students, teachers, and mentors had an intense training session learning about programming, building robots, and troubleshooting problems.  We also got to preview the 2015 game and get questions answered from the expert.  A full board was also available for use.

For 2015 the presentation format was revised to include more flowcharts, examples, and breakdowns.  It was well received and a lot easier for new / novice individuals to follow along and learn.  

New for 2015 is the gmpc() function.  This is a more advanced function that is used coordinate motors and allow for more accurate travel.  Read through the developer materials and/or library reference to see how it works.

Friends of Hawaii Robotics Grants Available - Apply Now!

Friends of Hawaii Robotics has long been a sponsor of Botball in Hawaii.  They are also offer individual grants to Robotic Teams.  You complete the grant request and then Friends of Hawaii Robotics sends the grant amount to the KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, which will then credit your account.

For 2015, there are two types of grant awards that are available.  The first type of grant is for $250 and is available for any team.  The second incentive grant award is for new Botball teams.  New teams face a higher cost to participate because they have to purchase new kits.  Most existing teams are reusing their existing Botball kits and register with the lower price.  The new Botball team incentive grant is for an additional $1250, which would bring the total grant request up to $1500.  Because the award is significantly higher, new teams are also asked to commit themselves to Botball for two seasons.

Please download the grant application form at: http://www.friendsofhawaiirobotics.org/get-involved/friends-of-hawaii-robotics-grant-opportunities/  then submit the form.  The deadline for submission is Feb 14th13th 2015.  (Correction - the due date is Feb 13th not the 14th as previously reported.)