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B o t b a l l

The Botball concept was developed by the non-profit KISS Institute for Practical Robotics (KIPR) based in Norman, OK. KIPR is a community-based organization that provides improved learning and skills development through applied technology. Spearheaded by the Robotics Education Program that supports other student robotic projects such as FIRST Robotics and FIRST Lego leagues, NASA Ames is in the sixth year of sponsoring and hosting the Silicon Valley Botball Regional.

Additional information about the Botball contest is on the Internet on the KISS web site, http://www.kipr.org/ and at http://robotics.nasa.gov on the Ames web site.

STUDENT MINI-ROBOT COMPETITION

Student teams are set to renew their annual battle for mini-robot supremacy as they prepare to square off in a test of sensors and programming skills.

Hundreds of students from local high school teams and their mini-robots will compete in the tournaments hosted by community organizations including NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. Botball tournaments have gained popularity nationwide, with hundreds of teams in eight other regions: Southern California, Texas, Oklahoma, Washington D. C., Florida, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Massachusetts. The Silicon Valley regional has grown 30 percent from the previous year.

"There's a great need to turn on students to today's technology, and I see Botball as satisfying that need," said Terry Grant, an engineer at NASA Ames who volunteered to help students and teachers. "The competition is new and different every year. Students like the challenge of solving a real problem where the teacher doesnÕt have the answer, and they really like to see something that they have built Ôcome to lifeÕ according to a plan they created."

During each contest, opposing robots in a 4 foot-by 8-foot arena will rely only on their sensors and programming to place colored ping-pong balls and tubes in various scoring positions. Remote controls are not allowed. Balls placed on the playing surface earn 1 point unless they are placed in the 'nest,' where the points double. Point multipliers are given if the robot is able to move the nest to its side of the playing field or the robot gets into the nest. Substantial points are awarded if a robot can place a tube on a post. Each round lasts 90 seconds.

Each team receives a kit from which students build their robot. Each kit contains hundreds of parts, including various sensors, motors, battery-powered microcomputer/controllers and programming software. Robots are programmed using C computer language.

According to organizers, as the students build their robots, they are fostering interest and learning valuable skills in scientific reasoning, mathematics, physics and design. Because of the short time from receiving their kits to the regional tournaments, students learn time management. "The students learn how to work under pressure as a team because they are given only six weeks to prepare for the contest." Grant said. As an added twist, students are encouraged to use the Internet to develop their designs. "Botball also challenges students to learn and use Internet research skills for the research-design project portion of the tournament," Grant said.

The hands-on learning experience would not be complete without the teachers and the mentors from sponsoring organizations. To support the students, teachers are given a 3-day, hands-on workshop about how to use robotic equipment, as well as how to incorporate robotic principles in their daily curricula. Schools keep the equipment for later use. Volunteer mentors from NASA, industry and educational institutions are involved during the design and testing phases to provide technical support when needed.

Please send questions to botball2003@wrrf.org or tgrant@mail.arc.nasa.gov