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, they are prepared for you),
- 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.
| REQUIRED TESTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
COMPETITION | CODE | GRADE CAP | SCRATCH TEST | WEIGHT LIMIT | SIZE LIMIT | HEIGHT | DELAY | Max Voltage | OTHER RESTRICTIONS TO CHECK |
| Mini Sumo Rookie | MSR | 9 | Yes | 500g | – | – | – | 3V (2x AA’s) | Stock Gears / Wheels / 2-Button Controller No Metal Attack Surfaces |
| Mini Sumo Tethered | MS1 MS2 MS3 | 6 9 12 | Yes | 500g | – | – | – | 6V (Controller) | No Metal Attack Surfaces |
| Mini Sumo Autonomous | MSA | U1 | Yes | 500g | – | – | 5s | – | Kill Switch Required No Metal Attack Surfaces |
| Prairie Sumo Tethered | PST | 12 | Yes | 3000g | (1m Band) | – | – | – | Max. 8x 24 Ga Control Wires w/ Onboard Motor Controller No Metal Attack Surfaces |
| Prairie Sumo Autonomous | PSA | U1 | Yes | 3000g | (1m Band) | – | 5s | – | Kill Switch Required No Metal Attack Surfaces |
| Tractor Pull | TPM | 12 | – | 4536g (10 lb) | 252mm Wide 355mm Long (14” x 10” Jig) | – | – | – | Kill Switch, 100mm Max Hitch Height Elastomer Tires/Tracks Only, No Studding |
| Drag Racer Autonomous | DRA | 12 | If Needed | 2000g | 20cm Wide 30cm Long | 18cm | – | 24V | No Remote Controls |
| Line Follower – Scratch | LFS | 12 | If Needed | – | 20cm Wide | – | – | – | No Kits – Must Be Home Built |
| Line Follower – Kit | LFK | 12 | If Needed | – | 20cm Wide | – | – | – | |
| Line Maze Autonomous | LMA | 12 | If Needed | – | 15cm Wide 15cm Long | – | – | – | No Kits – Must Be Home Built. |
| Super Scramble Rookie | SSR | 12 | – | 750g | – | 17cm | – | 6V (Controller) | MRG Super Scramble Kit Ball receiver <= 14cm from rear Max. 8x 24 Ga Control Wires (ex. CAT5) |
| Super Scramble Light | SSL | 12 | – | 750g | (1m Band) 20cm Wide | 17cm | – | 6V (Controller) 12V (Onboard) | Max. 8x 24 Ga Control Wires (ex. CAT5) |
| Super Scramble Heavy | SSH | 12 | – | 3000g | (1m Band) 20cm Wide | 17cm | – | 6V (Controller) 12V (Onboard) | Max. 8x 24 Ga Control Wires (ex. CAT5) Ball-drop Feature |
| Judges Choice | JC1 | none | – | 22.5 kg/axle | 89cm Wide (or Fits in Gym) | – | – | – | (Only Lithium Batteries Checked At Registration) |
| Robo Critter | RC1 | 6 | – | – | 6” x 12” | – | – | – | (Not Checked At Registration) |
| Lego | NXT | 12 | – | – | – | – | – | – | (Not Checked At Registration) |
| WEIGHT LIMITS EXCLUDE CONTROLLER & TETHER, AND INCLUDE ANY ONBOARD BATTERIES. | |||||||||
| LITHIUM BATTERIES: MUST BE UNMODIFIED, AND ROBOT MUST HAVE A FUSE. | |||||||||
| ONE LITHIUM BATTERY PACK IN USE AT A TIME MAXIMUM. | |||||||||
| IF THEY HAVE MULTIPLE BATTERY PACKS, WEIGHT ROBOT WITH EACH BATTERY PACK INDIVIDUALLY . | |||||||||
| PUT LARGE STICKERS ON BATTERY & ROBOT, INFORM THEM ABOUT THE CHARGING AREA. | |||||||||
| * THE BLOCK PUSH TEST IS NOT LISTED IN THE OFFICIAL RULES. | |||||||||
| IF A ROBOT IS SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERWEIGHT, USE IT TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF WEIGHT & ENCOURAGE THEM TO ADD MORE (& REWEIGH). | |||||||||
| * THE TETHER LOOP IS NOT IN THE OFFICIAL RULES. |
- 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.