Super Scramble Heavy (SSB)

A big “Thank You” to Vehicle Technology Centre for sponsoring this competition!

 

Competition Code

SSB

Control Type

Tethered or Autonomous.

Open to Grades

All up to Senior 4.

Competition Description

Your robot is required to accept a payload of one 1” steel ball bearing and deliver this payload into a receptacle at the other end of the playing field, after crossing uneven terrain. (See description of chute further down)
The task is completed when the first robot deposits the payload into the bottom of the chute which will trigger flashing lights above to denote the winner.

Size Limit

1.0 meter perimeter; 20 cm maximum width; 17.1 cm maximum height to pass under “Ball drop chute”.

Weight Limit

≧ 751 and ≦ 3000 gms. It is highly recommended that a method be incorporated into the robot design to adjust the weight if the intention of the team is to attain the maximum weight at registration.

Other restrictions

Any robot found losing its body parts will also lose the match except for screws or nuts (each no more than one cubic centimetre) falling off.
For autonomous robots, a homing beacon may be placed at the goal end prior to the start of the round.

Power may be contained within the hand controller; but to a maximum 6 volts, or onboard up to 12v.
No Fuel Cells allowed.
Lithium Ion, Lithium Polymer may be used under strict conditions (see MRG General Rules p3).

All Lithium based batteries must be commercially available battery packs, unaltered, and identifiable to the judges (have the original label visible).
Only one Lithium based battery pack can be used at a time, although you may have replacement batteries if stored in a safe manner. (see General Rules)

Power in controller – Lithium based cells (1.2v) or battery packs (up to 6v) are to be secured in, or to, the hand held controller in such a way as to avoid direct contact by the operator.
Power on board the robot – The battery pack(up to 12v) must be secured in, the robot in such a way as to avoid detachment in the event the robot leaves the track or is flipped.
 The charging of all Lithium based batteries shall be performed in the charging area provided. A volunteer will be available to monitor for excessive heat, leakage or eruption of the batteries but will not be responsible for theft. If any charging battery is deemed to be in danger of eruption, the supervising volunteer will cover the battery with sand and remove it from the building, therefore we recommend the battery be removed from the controller for charging if possible.

Care must be taken to ensure that the tether conductors can safely handle the maximum current without heating either the conductors or hand controller to dangerous levels.

Tether control wires are limited to a maximum of 8 x 24 gauge conductors for the tether.
 Radio controlled robots must use authorized RC land-use frequencies.
 All radio controlled robots should have incorporated into their design the provision for a change of frequency without the use of soldering equipment.

The robot shall not contain parts that could break or damage the Playing field.
This competition is intended to challenge the robot designer/builder to build from scratch, therefore a commercially made robot/radio controlled or other tethered off-road vehicles must be significantly modified.

Robot Identification

The MRG identification sticker(s) applied while checking-in must be easily readable on the robot’s body while the robot is in competition.

Playing Field Size

Width will be 2 feet. Length will be between 22 and 26ft depending on which track modules are used.

Playing Field Construction

The playing field is composed of interconnected 2 foot square modules and will probably be symmetrical from end to end. The centre module may allow only one robot to pass at a time.

Playing Field Obstacles

May include: rope bridge, simulated whirlpool, textured from smooth undulating through sandy to pebble and/or river washed rock, and more. Must keep your wits about you as there are no barriers to the edge of the playing field though we will provide some cushioned protection for falling robots.

Competition Procedure

At the judge’s instruction, the robots are placed at opposite ends at of the playing field in a position to accept the payload from the overhead loader.
Contestants will position themselves one on each side of the playing field and will try not to hinder their opponent.
When both contestants are ready, the judge will signal the start of the three minute bout at by releasing the payload.
It is suggested that, for both tethered and autonomous robots, the start mechanism could be derived from the seating of the steel payload ball.
A team may halt the start, just once, no later than 10 seconds after the start. This allows for last moment emergencies like forgetting plugging in a battery. The team must complete any repairs and be ready to compete within one minute.
If robot tethers become tangled, both contestants will stop their robot’s progress to allow the controllers to be passed through until the tethers are free at which point the competition may resume.
The first robot to have reached “goal” (when their payload, the ball, has been deposited in, and has reached the bottom of the chute, triggering flashing lights at that end of the track) will be considered the winner of that bout.
Each bout will be up to three minutes in length and spaced five minutes apart unless dictated by the judge in charge.
Bumping of the opposing robot is allowed, however intentional blocking is not allowed.

General Competition Rules

Please review the Manitoba Robot Games General Rules which may be found on the Competitions page.

Failure to follow the MRG General Rules may result in the following:

  • Warning being issued.
  • Disqualification and loss of match.
  • Disqualification from competition and or event.

 

 Dimensions of the Ball Drop and the Chute

Ball Drop

Chute