Measurement Station: Jigs and Scales
Robots must be weighed & measured to ensure compliance with the requirements.
Your station will have the following basic equipment:
- An electronic scale, with a adapter to support larger robots,
- a labeled acrylic box (called a jig) or a mylar band,
- a set of weight/size stickers (may be at Check-In),
- a package of large coloured circle stickers, and
- a list of the weight restrictions for the various robots.
- a scratch board.
- other jigs (3d Printed, etc),
- a ruler (in case of missing jigs),
- a stopwatch (or use a phone timer, for Autonomous robot start delay measurement).
- a wooden block (for MSA, see below).
Prairie Sumo Tethered Note:
- In past years, a tether loop was marked using a grooved acrylic jig & tape and loosely held by an elastic band. This step is no longer required.
…add a summary of criteria /requirements for each competition…
Typical Procedure
Robot compliance with the various requirements is denoted by giving each required criteria a ‘pass’ in the registration system.
| Item | Specifications | Source | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment on Loan | 40 tables, 60 chairs, podium, 4 coat racks, 6 garbage cans (pit, volunteer, 2 spectator doors, judges area, 1 between bleachers), extension cords | Tec Voc | |||
| Extension Cord Covers | to prevent extension cords from posing trip hazards. | Trailer | |||
| Stopwatches | Loaned | John Henderson Junior High School | |||
| Stage | 6 – 4’x8′ sections with legs. 2 staircases. | WSD #1 | Stage can be booked from the following schools: Lansdowne – 10 sections Norquay – 8 sections Faraday – 18 sections (different sizes) Robert H. Smith – 9 sections Riverview – 8 sections Lord Selkirk – 8 sections King Edward – 8 sections The stage can be transported between schools using Rolly’s transfer. | ||
| 2 wheeled moving dollys | 2 x standard loop handled 2 wheeled moving dollys. | 1 belongs to Herb R., and the other to Ian E-O | |||
| 4 wheeled moving dollys | Open framed dolly on casters. | Herb has 2 and 1 is in the trailer | |||
| Jigs and Scales | various | 2 scales kept in Ian’s basement (Freezing is not ideal for the Scales) and Herb has one. | |||
| Sumo Playing Fields | 8 x 60″ diameter playing fields | MRG manufactured | Permanently located in MRG trailer | ||
| Mini Sumo playing fields | 19 x 30″ diameter playing fields | MRG manufactured | All but 3 are in the MRG trailer the rest are in Herb’s basement | ||
| Tractor pull track and sled and weights | One track in three 10′ sections | MRG manufactured | Track and weights in MRG trailer, Sled in Ian’s Office | ||
| Super Scramble Rookie | SSR, two 8′ sections | Batteries and controller in Blk. tool box, kept in Ian’s basement. | |||
| Super Scramble Light(SSL) & Heavy(SSH) | 13, 2’sq. modules in cardboard box in front of trailer. | controller in blk. case. Requires 110vac, kept in Ian’s basement | 3, steel stud cable raceway in MRG railer | MRG manufactured | Field and Gates in MRG trailer, controller kept in Ian’s basement |
| Line follower field | 4 pieces 4′ sq. | MRG manufactured | Permanently located in MRG trailer | ||
| Scoreboard framing and white sheets | MRG manufactured | Permanently located in MRG trailer. Curtain at Herb’s | |||
| Table cloths and skirts | Permanently located in Herb’s Basement. | ||||
| Robo critter playing field and targets | MRG manufactured | Permanently located in Herb’s basement | |||
| Sound System | 6 monitors and 3 RF microphones. | Bulldog Sound | |||
| Stanchions | MRG manufactured | Permanently located in MRG trailer | |||
| Electric Cooler | 60 L travel cooler with 120V plug in. | Borrowed from Linda Reynolds | Give to Lesley a week before games. | ||
| Food | cold cuts, bread, fruit plate, veggies & dip, mini Danish, muffins, juice, napkins, plates, cups Water: 2 jugs & dispenser Kettle | Give # of mouths to feed to Lesley a week before games. Herb supplies:- Timbits, Coffee Urn, Tim Horton’s Coffee or better. | |||
| Food Vendor | A hot dog cart is able to setup in the school canteen or outside. | ? | |||
| Banners | 2 x roll up MRG banners for podium | Permanently located in Herb’s basement | |||
| 1 x exterior 4’x8′ plug brick clips (in the tube) | ? | Permanently located in Ian’s basement | |||
| Volunteer Schedule | |||||
| Signage | • 11 x 17, signs with the words: ◦ Contestants Only ◦ Volunteers Only (3) • 7 Games Schedules 11 x 17, same size as poster (4 for spectators, 1 for pit area, 1 for volunteer area, 1 for judges area) • 7 copies of schedule 8 ½ x 11 (1 for registration table, 1 for cash table, 1 for Linda,1 for Jelena, 1 for Herb, 1 for podium, 1 for Head Judge) • 2 List of Volunteer Assignments (get from Jelena/Bruce) | Ian | E-mail list of printing to Ian | ||
| Scoreboards | Round Robin & Playoffs Non round robin events Markers Paper clips to fasten them to the divider?? | ||||
| Trophies | 1 per event. Stainless Steel with 2″ x 8″ x 3/8″ powder coated steel bar attached to base for stability. Ian has dwgs. | MRG manufactured with engraved plates by Chapellaz Trophies | Spare trophies are in MRG Trailer. Current Trophies are on loan to the winners for 11 months | ||
| Plaques | 3 per event walnut finish 5″ x 7″ with 10cm x 15 cm Gold on Black laser engraved plate for 1st, 2nd, 3rd. place | Chapellaz Trophies | |||
| Prizes | PST, MSR, MS1, MS2, MS3, TP, SSA, SSB, & JC (1st)$100 Cash (2nd)$50 (3rd)$25 NXT (1st)$150 Cash (2nd)$100 (3rd)$50 PSA, MSA, LFA, (1st)$200 Cash (2nd)$150 (3rd)$100 | MRG funds | Cash is placed in a printed envelope listing event & prize designation. Any prize donations from Active or others will be assigned from the most technical to least technical. This needs to be prepped by 2 people with access to BMO, we need more than one person to get the money out. | ||
| External organization displays | Herb retains these. | ||||
| Registration stickers | Avery #5472 Labels | Printing is done with data produced from registration system. | |||
| Blank award certifications | in 4 colours. | For participation, volunteers sponsors and winners. | |||
| Registration materials | Elastics, pens, scissors, paper, stickers, coloured tape, stampers, extension cords | Herb | |||
| Forms | Trophy receipts Winners T-shirts RC registration Workshop interest, Kit sales Router Sheets | Ian prints them. | |||
| Curtain | tarp of ?’ x ?’, rope of ?’ length, upright of height. | Was Ian’s and no longer required | |||
| Volunteer lists | Volunteer Coordinator | ||||
| Wrist Bands | Bert | Used to denote those allowed in pit area. | |||
| Training | |||||
| Floor Plan | |||||
| USB Charging Station | A USB charging station with at least 3 ports, with at least one of each of the following cables: Thunderbolt USB-Micro USB-C | ? | For Volunteer and Executive members to charge various devices. | ||
| Data Projector | Short throw at least XGA resolution. Capabable of making at least an 8’x8′ projection. | Dave Thornton | Overhead data projector to display games information. | ||
| Web Consoles | At least 6 devices capable of running a web browser released within the last year. At least 2 of the 6 devices to be portable | Gathered from various executive members | Used to access the registration system | ||
| Overfloor Cord Protectors | 6′ long, Yellow/black ABS material. | ? | For protecting power cables in the pit area and from stands to competition area and into RC area | ||
| Point of Sale Device | Able to access VISA or MASTERCARD. | Ian/Square and iPad | For accepting payments at robocritter and registration desk. | ||
| Internet access | For use with point of sale device. | Get the Wifi passwords for the venue. | For accepting payments at robocritter and registration desk. | ||
| Building Permits | For all the three times. | Ian / Herb | Don’t forget to book the times! | ||
| Printed registered competitors list | For all competitions | Generated from online registration system | As a backup for the check-in system. | ||
| Square payment system and tested device | For accepting credit card payment | Kept with Alex, Alan and Michelle | Ensure that a device is identified, paired and tested before the games. | ||
| Various power cables. | For powering of various devices. | Kept with Herb’s house. | Need an exact count and length. | ||
| Walkie Talkie Radios | Communications during the games | Kept with Alan’s house. | 3 Radios, batteries and charger. | ||
| T-Shirts | Ordered from Gildan by MB Robot Games | How ever many you need for volunteers. |
- A competitor will bring their robot to the table. Check for the current year’s sticker, and apply if missing (may have been done at Check-In). If applying the sticker to a metal surface, a degreasing wipe may be required first.
- Ask the competitor if they use Li-Po batteries and apply coloured round sticker to both the robot and all battery pack(s) if so. This indicates they must charge in the designated LiPo area – not in The Pits.
- For all sumo bots, perform a scratch test before proceeding with other measurements to ensure that it will not damage the playing fields. A rectangle of playing field material (“scratch board”) is at your station. Place the robot on it & push the robot back & forth to see if it scratches. If it does, send the student to the pit area to repair the offending area. If it passes, proceed with weighing & measuring.
- Weigh the robot on the scale. If the robot is overweight the competitor must go to the pit area & remove some weight. If the robot is too light & the competitor chooses to add weight, the robot must be reweighed before the ‘pass’ is logged in the system. Controller and cable are not included in the weight limit. If the battery pack is onboard the robot during the competition, it must be weighed with the robot.
- A flat acrylic jig is available to accommodate larger robots on the scales. Rezero the scale before making the measurement.
- When weight restriction is met, select ‘pass’ for weight in the registration system.
- Measure the size of the robot:
- Using a Jig: Robot is placed in the jig (an acrylic box) or measured. The controller is fed up through the box first. Then the box is lowered over the robot. The jig must fit completely over the robot. If the robot does not fit, the competitor must go to the pit area to make adjustments & return to be measured again.
- Using a Circumference Band: The circumference band is wrapped completely around the robot. The magnetic bars must close completely. If the robot does not fit, the competitor must go to the pit area to make adjustments & return to be measured again. It may be necessary to place the robot on blocks prior to measurement to ensure the band sits properly around the circumference.
- When the robot has passed all required size constraints, select ‘pass’ for size in the registration system.
- For Autonomous robots, use a stopwatch or timer to measure the required delay from activation to motor start. Have the student hold the robot or place it on blocks so that it does not move during the test. Count down so that you both start at the same time.
- When all required criteria have been marked passed, the robot should appear as “Measured” in the registration system
- Inform the student that they have completed registration and will receive their ring assignment from the judge when the competition is called.
Special Circumstances
- Robot fails a requirement:
- Send him/her to the pit to make adjustments. Inform the competitor to return directly to this station (not back of the line). When they return, recheck the robot and mark it in the registration system. Registration is not complete until all requirements are met.
- Mini Sumo and Line Follower:
- Mini sumo has no size limit and line follower has no weight limits.
- Lego (NXT) and Robo Critter:
- Not checked at Jigs & Scales.
- Mini Sumo Autonomous:
- If the robot is significantly under the weight limit, they will likely not have enough traction to be competitive.
- The robot should be able push the wooden block provided on a scratch board. If not, strongly encourage them to add weight and reweigh (not mandatory for them to add weight).
- Registration System Missing Criteria:
- If a competition does not have the correct set of criteria enabled to mark pass/fail for a competition (ex. missing “size”), then
- Consult the system administrator or MRG Committee Rep that is running Registration. They will be able to live change the list of criteria required for a competition in the system.
- Final Reweigh
- Before the finals for a given competition, all robots participating in the finals must be reweighed to be ensure that they have not been modified since the check-in. It may also be necessary to weigh the winning robot immediately after the final at the request of other competitors.