Robot Tour C

[bernard]

[brian9640]

Welcome to Robot Tour 2024!! I’m very excited for this event as I have been an event supervisor and coach for this event since its inception. The event has gone through several improvements based on feedback. The current rules provide some interesting challenges for a simple robot event.

Again this is not a complex robot event. I have seen students try and create complex robots to only finish behind simpler robot designs. The event was designed to allow simple and low-cost robots to be competitive. I recommend students keep their designs simple at first. As someone who programs industrial robots as part of my day job, if a simple robot cannot perform basic operations well, then complex additions will only hide the underlying issues.

A basic robot only needs to know its location on the track to compete well. There are complex methods and simple methods to track location. An encoder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incremental_encoder on each wheel is a very simple, cheap, and reliable method. The encoder provides pulses as the wheel rotates which can be counted and used to calculate distance traveled.

Examples of these simple robots can be found on Amazon and other websites starting at $50 and under $100. If your school already has one of the more expensive robot kits like Vex or Legos, those work well too. From watching teams compete, do not expect an advantage with these high-end robot kits. The low-cost kit ($80), like the model my students use, performs equally well.

One last suggestion, its not required to setup the track every time a team needs to practice. I found marking two (2) points on the floor was enough for regular practice sessions. A good robot should be able to navigate between the 2 points while not following a straight path between the points.

I will continue to monitor this forum and will provide suggestions where possible.

[steven.clark2]

Hi Brian, as a "not engineering" person who is a coach, can you guide me towards some appropriate kits that I can find on Amazon or elsewhere?

I don't know enough about the jargon to read the descriptions and find a kit that has what we need (and importantly, I need a kit that does not have features that would DQ a robot)

If not exact examples as you wouldn't want to be perceived as endorsing a brand, at least the features that are must-haves when buying a robot for this event, as well as examples of features I should avoid in a robot kit, like things that will lose points or possibly tier the robot due to construction violations.

TIA!

[brian9640]

Robot Tour's rules are not limiting and are open on the type of robot. There are just a few items required:
- Size is less than 30cm by 30cm of any height. Larger robots will have a disadvantage in navigating the track. So smaller is better.
- Energy must come from 6 or less AA or AAA batteries. This will cause the largest number of issues at tournaments. Many robot kits come with lithium batteries which is NOT allowed. Teams have purchased kits with the lithium batteries but replaced these batteries with AA batteries before the tournament.
- Robot is NOT remoted controlled. A lot of robot kits come with an optional remote controller to drive the robots. These kits are valid PROVIDED the remote controller is not used and the students can show the robot is executing their robot program.

As for a recommended robot kit, that is a difficult one because it depends on the students' knowledge and the budget available. What I can do is provide a recommendation on a style of robot. The website https://topfinishkits.com/index.php/robots provides an excellent example of a robot for this event. This website does NOT sell robot kits. They only provide information that teams can use to build their own device. This is information can be used to build your own robot or used to modify purchased robot kits. Or a team can purchase a VEX kit for a higher cost. A LEGO or VEX could be easier to assembly and program but will not mean better performance. The students' program could have a larger impact than the hardware.

One warning about TopFinishKits.com, some their information is not complete. The information provided is a very good starting point and not a step by step guide. For example, their sample robot code is an excellent starting program. But the students need to improve and tune the program to achieve good results. My students have achieved excellent results with TopFinishKits.com's robot after making improvements.

[steven.clark2]

We have a large team, (One varsity, 2 JV) so for now our budget needs to accommodate 3 robots and the invariable extra parts that will surely be needed after running the bots around for a while.

This kit uses AA batteries and is SIMPLE to build (but will still need to have students tweak the build, like add on the unsharpened pencil and probably a few other things. But as far as the sensors and the control interface, I think the one linked below works? Just want to know if anyone sees red flags here before I use up 20 percent of our supply budget on something that doesn't work for the event

https://www.makeblock.com/pages/mbot-robot-kit/

[kamprath]

In case anyone needs it, here is a build that I am recommending with parts that can 100% be purchased on amazon:

• Chassis, Wheel, and Motors - YIKESHU 2WD Chassis Kit - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VHQT6P/
• Microcontroller - MEGA R3 Board ATmega 2560 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H4ZDYCE/
• Motor Controller - L298N Motor Driver Controller Board Module - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BK1QL5T/
• Speed Measurement - Infrared Slotted Optical Optocoupler Module - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08977QFK5
• Connection Wires - 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV70C78/

This comes to about $65 at the time of this posting. You could save a little money by using an Uno microcontroller clone, but you would be trading off programming flexibility. Also, some of the items comes in multiple pieces packs. If you are buying more than one robot, keep that in mind when purchasing (i.e., for a two wheeled robot, you need only 1 of the indicated motor controller module, only two wheel rotation sensors, etc). This kit will require the participant to do Arduino programming, and clearly there are no assembly instructions so they will also have to learn the basics of the control circuitry. All of this is easy to find via Google. For example, here is a great how-to guide for building a very similar robot.

One upgrade that would make wiring easier is a sensor shield for the microcontroller, like this one, though this is strictly not necessary. Also, having on the robot a button or two like these here would make interacting with the robot easier (like the "use a pencil to start" rule), but the chassis kit above does come with one switch that can be used for program initiation.

The above list assumes you have some basic hardware like machine screws and standoffs. If you don't the following packs can be ordered, though I would consider the standoffs as optional (they just help make placing items on the chassis easier):

• Metric Screws Bolts Washers Nuts Kit - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKQ6T8DN
• Male Female Brass Spacer Standoff Screw Nut Assortment Kit - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013ZWM1F6

Also note you will need to solder or wire wrap some connections (like the motors).

There are a number of upgrades that can be made to improve the performance of the robot, but the above is what I'd consider to be a starting point. As mentioned previously, the software programming is going to be the biggest determination of success in this event, more so than any fancy sensor. Save your money unless you know the person has the programming chops to leverage the fancy sensors.

[brian9640]

This kit uses AA batteries and is SIMPLE to build (but will still need to have students tweak the build, like add on the unsharpened pencil and probably a few other things. But as far as the sensors and the control interface, I think the one linked below works? Just want to know if anyone sees red flags here before I use up 20 percent of our supply budget on something that doesn't work for the event

https://www.makeblock.com/pages/mbot-robot-kit/

Makeblock has a good selection of robot kits. The 'mBot' kit you shared I have seen used at tournaments. This robot kit will need to have its motors replaced to achieve top scores. The motors included are a very common motor for robot kits. Unfortunately these do not provide an encoder to track the distance traveled. Robots with these motors become a more of a 'fingers crossed' that the robot moves correctly. While these can work, I would not recommend them.

If your team wants to do well, then either the motors need to be upgraded or purchase the "mBot Ranger" kit that includes motors with encoders. The mBot Ranger kit becomes more expensive because it includes a lot of features and parts that are not needed. Unfortunately it looks like Makeblock's encoder motors (https://support.makeblock.com/hc/en-us/ ... 6087604887) only work on the more expensive mBot Ranger kit.

This is the trade off between purchasing a robot kit (higher costs) or buying individual components (lower costs). Both can perform similar but a higher level of knowledge is required when assembling from individual parts.

[brian9640]

In case anyone needs it, here is a build that I am recommending with parts that can 100% be purchased on amazon:

Chassis, Wheel, and Motors - YIKESHU 2WD Chassis Kit - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VHQT6P/
Microcontroller - MEGA R3 Board ATmega 2560 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H4ZDYCE/
Motor Controller - L298N Motor Driver Controller Board Module - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BK1QL5T/
Speed Measurement - Infrared Slotted Optical Optocoupler Module - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08977QFK5
Connection Wires - 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV70C78/

This comes to about $65 at the time of this posting. You could save a little money by using an Uno microcontroller clone, but you would be trading off programming flexibility. Also, some of the items comes in multiple pieces packs. If you are buying more than one robot, keep that in mind when purchasing (i.e., for a two wheeled robot, you need only 1 of the indicated motor controller module, only two wheel rotation sensors, etc). This kit will require the participant to do Arduino programming, and clearly there are no assembly instructions so they will also have to learn the basics of the control circuitry. All of this is easy to find via Google.

This is a good starting kit. I purchased many of these parts back in 2020 when Robot Tour first started as a trial event. The wiring diagram on TopFinishKits.com (https://topfinishkits.com/pdf/RobotVehi ... 230830.pdf) is very close to the circuitry required.

The sample program on TopFinishKits.com would work. But would need some changes as the wheel encoder on the above kit only has 20 pulses per wheel rotation. The sample program uses the encoder pulses for speed control. My students replaced the motors above with a motor with a built in encoder. See Amazon link (https://a.co/d/g1suQpr). Because the encoder is before the gear box, my students are getting between 300 to 1000 pulses per wheel rotation. This depends on the gearbox selected.

[steven.clark2]

In case anyone needs it, here is a build that I am recommending with parts that can 100% be purchased on amazon:

• Chassis, Wheel, and Motors - YIKESHU 2WD Chassis Kit - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VHQT6P/
• Microcontroller - MEGA R3 Board ATmega 2560 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H4ZDYCE/
• Motor Controller - L298N Motor Driver Controller Board Module - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BK1QL5T/
• Speed Measurement - Infrared Slotted Optical Optocoupler Module - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08977QFK5
• Connection Wires - 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV70C78/

This comes to about $65 at the time of this posting. You could save a little money by using an Uno microcontroller clone, but you would be trading off programming flexibility. Also, some of the items comes in multiple pieces packs. If you are buying more than one robot, keep that in mind when purchasing (i.e., for a two wheeled robot, you need only 1 of the indicated motor controller module, only two wheel rotation sensors, etc). This kit will require the participant to do Arduino programming, and clearly there are no assembly instructions so they will also have to learn the basics of the control circuitry. All of this is easy to find via Google.

There are a number of upgrades that can be made to improve the performance of the robot, but the above is what I'd consider to be a starting point. As mentioned previously, the software programming is going to be the biggest determination of success in this event, more so than any fancy sensor. Save your money unless you know the person has the programming chops to leverage the fancy sensors.

Kamprath, thanks for sharing this list. I've added everything needed for 3 bots to my Amazon cart and it's about $165.

Brian, thanks for the insight on the kits I posted. I pretty much knew they would be "OK" for the job but your analysis made it clear to me that those bots are more toys than competition worthy (and more expensive than the materials Kamprath posted)

We will update on our progress, and I'm sure we'll come up with some technical questions. I hope others post their questions here as well. This is exactly what this site is for - collaboration!

[kamprath]

Kamprath, thanks for sharing this list. I've added everything needed for 3 bots to my Amazon cart and it's about $165.

One thing I will note is that you do need to bring some hardware (machine screws, nuts, standoffs, etc) to the build process, and there is some light soldering needed (e.g., connect wires to the motors). If you don't already have hardware, this machine screws kit works well. Also, this standoff kit would be helpful, but not required.

I edited my original message above to highlight this detail.