Hillsborough FLL Regional Tournament
December 10, 2006

Robot Design Award:  Claws	Project Presentation Award:  Nueva Levers	Teamwork Award:  Smiling Noodleheads
Robot Performance Award:  RoboChicks	Participation Awards:	Corporate Inc
Yavneh Nanobots	Nueva Gearbox	SAP Nanonauts
Nueva Widgets	RustBots	Nueva Rotors

Date:  December 10, 2006
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Setup begins at 8:00 AM)
Location: The Nueva School
Address: 6565 Skyline Boulevard, Hillsborough, CA 94010
(see maps below)

DIRECTIONS

• Coming from the South:  Take the Hanes Road/Black Mountain Road exit from 280, turn RIGHT (East), then LEFT (North) onto Skyline Blvd. About a mile up the road, Nueva School entrance is on the RIGHT.
• Coming from the North: Take the Trousedale Blvd exit from 280, then RIGHT (South) onto Skyline Blvd. About a mile down the road, Nueva School entrance is on the LEFT.

TEAM LIST

New: Click on your slot number below to see a schedule with your team's competition and judging slots highlighted.
 

slot	pit	payment	Team Number	Team Name	City	Coach	Members	Coaches
1	2	paid	5925	Corporate Inc	Fremont	Mukund Srinivasan	4	1
2	2	check pending	4415	Nano Storm	Belmont	Terri Murai	7	1
3	3	paid	179	The Smiling Noodleheads	Monte Sereno/Los Gatos	Suparna Vashisht	4	1
4	3	paid	2943	Yavneh Nanobots	Los Gatos	Jon Fenton, Paula Stokes	10	2
5	1	paid	2665	Nueva Levers	Hillsborough	Peter Rathmann, Daniela Steinsapir, Ryan Gutierrez	6	3
6	1	paid	2662	Nueva Gearbox	Hillsborough	Jay Hussey, Elizabeth McDonald	5	2
7	1	paid	2663	Nueva Widgets	Hillsborough	Roy McDonald, Lisa Share-Sapolsky	6	2
8	1	paid	2664	Nueva Rotors	Hillsborough	Beth Siegelman and Laura Robbin	6	2
9	2	paid	2468	SAP Nanonauts	San Bruno	Kirti Schoener	5	2-3
10	2	paid	3940	Claws	Cupertino	Bhavesh Patel, Pankaj Mehra	4	2
11	3	paid	438	RoboChicks	Los Gatos	Jonathan Sweedler Edward Kessler Pamela Maker	6	3
12	3	paid	30	RustBots	Saratoga	Lucy Berlin	6	2

Payment Instructions (two methods available):
 

(a) Pay your team's registration fee on-line, using the "add to cart" button next to your team number above (note that a $1.75 handling charge will be added to cover the paypal processing fee). or (b) Mail a check ($50 per team) with your team number on the check, payable to: Robotics Learning 586 Pomeroy Ave Santa Clara, CA 95051

Please direct any updates or questions to the contact email above.

IMPORTANT: To confirm your space at the tournament, each team must pay the $50 registration fee.

VOLUNTEER Check-In Times

• 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM (or as agreed)

SCHEDULE (Sunday, December 10, 2006)

• 8:00 AM - Begin Set-up (contact volunteer coordinator for your volunteer arrival time)
• 9:00 - 9:15 AM - Teams check-in
• 9:30 - 9:45 AM - Light sensor calibration opportunity
• 9:45 AM - Coaches Briefing
• 10:00 AM - Opening Ceremony
• 10:30 AM - 12:00 AM - Morning Robot Competition and Judging Interviews
• 12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch
• 12:45 - 2:30 PM - Afternoon Robot Competition Rounds and Judging Interviews
• 2:30 - 3:00 PM - Clean-up (teams vacate pit rooms)
• 3:00 PM - Awards
• 4:00 PM - Final clean-up

During the judging interviews, coaches and spectators are not allowed in the Design or Project judging rooms.  The project presentations may be viewed from a remote video feed (and a DVD video of the project presentations will be available for purchase after the tournament). [*NEW*] A coach should attend the Teamwork judging session.  Family and spectators are welcome to attend the robot competition rounds.

Depending on how long clean-up takes, we should be done by 4:00 or 4:30 PM.   Depending on the actual afternoon schedule, the awards ceremony may be earlier or later.

MAPS (as of 12/6/2006 -- room assignments subject to change)
 

The Nueva School (Yahoo Maps Link) also see directions above	Pit and Judging Rooms Map (PDF)	GCC Building Layout Map (PDF)

FOOD and LUNCH

PREPARATION AND WHAT TO BRING

Prepare and bring the following completed forms:

• A signed FLL Release Form is required for each team member and coach/mentor.
• Three copies of your completed Team Introduction Form.  One copy is for each judging panel (technical, project, teamwork).
• Recommended: a team and robot photo (one copy is sufficient).
• Highly recommended: an index card with any fun or interesting facts about your team, so the Emcee can introduce and talk about your team.

• Have your team provide the technical judges with a one-page specification sheet. Include a picture, list of sensors used, interesting features, language used, and other critical information.
• Have a printed copy of some of your latest programs to give to the technical judges. Choose a short section that is easy to follow but highlights some difficult problem you overcame. Include comments to note key portions.
• The NXT and Robolab software include a print function.
• To print from the RIS software, the "Print Screen" key on your keyboard should copy the screen image to the clipboard, which you can then paste into a document.
• There is also a tool for printing RIS programs as text at http://www.inpharmix.com/cgi/lego/lego_listing.pl
• Bring a one-page summary of the team's project to give the project judges.  Include (a) the nanotechnology application the team chose, (b) the sources or experts the team consulted, (c) the innovative improvement or solution the team came up with, and (d) how the team has shared their solution.
• Make sure to include the team name and number on these documents.  When it comes time for the judges to pick winners, these summaries can help jog their memories.

Each team should bring a laptop computer, extension cord, and parts for making repairs or improvements to your robot and programs.  For RCX robots, bring a cloth, box or other method to cover your robot and IR tower when downloading programs, to prevent interference between robots.  Make sure your IR tower is set to "Short" range (see the software settings screen).  For NXT robots, the Bluetooth feature must be turned off and not used while at the tournament.

Everyone is invited to bring some money to buy food, souvenier items, or raffle tickets for a chance to win fun prizes.

TOURNAMENT PROCESS (Subject to Updates)

On arrival, each team will check in, turn in their signed release forms for all team members and mentors.  Keep the three copies of the introduction form, and any short summary documents, to give directly to the technical, project and teamwork judges.

Each team will receive a tournament schedule, score sheet, and be assigned to one of the pit areas.

Each team will have specific times scheduled for their judging interviews and robot competition rounds.

Before their appointed time (or when called), teams should queue outside the Robot Design Judging Room.  Each team will have 10 minutes to demonstrate their robot to the robot design judges, show and explain a printed copy of part of their program, and answer the judges' questions.  There will be an FLL table where teams are expected to demonstrate their robot performing a challenge mission.

Before their appointed time (or when called), teams should queue outside the Project Judging Room, where they will have 10 minutes with the project judges to present their "Nano Quest" project and answer questions from the judges.  The presentation should be no longer than 5 minutes, to allow 5 minutes for the judges to ask questions.

Before their appointed time (or when called), teams should queue outside the Teamwork Judging Room, where they will have 10 minutes with the teamwork judges.  [* New *] A coach is allowed in the room for the Teamwork activity and interview.  The judges will observe the team doing a short activity and will ask the team about their team organization, work processm and teamwork. Teamwork judges will also observe and interview teams in the pit and competition areas.

Each team will participate in three rounds of competition matches according to a pre-determined schedule.  Teams should queue at the appropriate "on deck" area before the times indicated on their schedule, or when their team is called. Teams not ready on time may be skipped and lose their chance to compete or be judged.

The highest score from each team's three matches will count as that team's performance score.  Ties will be decided by comparing the teams' next highest scores.  There will not be any playoff rounds.

Scoring Confirmation (as described in the FLL Manual)

At the end of each match, have a team member witness the referee’s scoring of the table. The team’s only opportunity to confirm the score is after the referee has totaled it. A team member, not an adult, may present any difference of opinion to the head referee. The referee will then confirm the final score. Once your team leaves the area and the competition table is cleared for the next team, you are no longer permitted to dispute the score. As in other competitions, the referee’s ruling on the field is final. Graciously accept the referee’s decision. When finished, collect all your robot parts.

COMPETITION TABLE LIGHTING

The main competition tables will have lights as described on the FLL web site.  However the pit rooms and design judging room will likely have only a "half table" without any lights mounted.  Also, the supports for the competition table lights may be mounted partially on TOP of the border 2x4's instead of totally outside the side boards (this is a slight difference from the construction shown on the FLL web site.  see the photo)  If this is a problem for your robot missions, please let me know right away.

TEAM MEMBERS OF GUESTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

If any of your team members or guests have special needs, such as wheelchair access, please email or phone (408-910-1176) to let us know.  Some areas of The Nueva School have awkward disabled access.

TEAM COMMENT FORM

All decisions by referees and judges are final.  The Team Comment Form (available at the check-in table) provides space for teams to inform the Head Referee or Judge Advisor of any questions or comments that a team may have during the tournament. The coach or mentor must fill out this form and provide the information in writing. Forms will be read, but there is no guarantee that a response will be provided to the coach. Please maintain Gracious Professionalism at all times.

AWARDS AND ADVANCEMENT TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT

• Project Presentation Award
• Robot Design Award
• Teamwork Award
• 1st Place Challenge Performance

Teamwork and contribution from all team members will be relevant to all judged award categories.   The robot design, programs, and project must be the work of the team members, not adult mentors.

Additional recognition or judges' awards may also be awarded.

FLL VALUES AND GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM

VOLUNTEERS

Please contact Steve Putz (steve@RoboticsLearning.com) with the name of your team volunteer(s) for the day of the event.  In your email, please let Steve know your experience, volunteer preference (first and second choices), T-shirt size (for certain jobs), meal limitations (food will be provided for some jobs, I just need to know things like allergies, etc.), availability, best way to reach you.

We are looking for teams that can bring a table, mat and field elements for the pit areas. You will be responsible for transportation, set up, clean up and monitoring of your equipment. We need volunteer name and preferences as soon as possible.

Volunteer Positions

• Provide FLL Playing Field to share
• Transportation (truck or van for playing fields and large items)
• Competition and pit areas set-up (please arrive at 8:00 AM, or as directed by the volunteer coordinator)
• Master of Ceremonies / Announcer
• Check-In
• Info Table
• Pit Bosses (pit area supervisors)
• Team queue managers
• Referees Assistants / Table setters (reset elements between competition matches)
• Time Keeper
• Judge Assistants
• Runners
• Sound/DJ (loan and/or run sound equipment)
• Video (loan and/or set up video equipment -- e.g. we need a MiniDV camcorder with microphone)
• Camera Operator
• Photographer
• Trophy Wrangler
• Public Relations
• Food Service / Concessions
• Traffic control
• Clean up
• (other jobs may be assigned)

• Judge Advisor (previous FLL experience required)
• Referees
• Project Judges
• Technical Judges
• Teamwork Judges
• Scorekeeper (must know Excel)

In addition to volunteers we have some equipment needs. Our equipment needs will evolve and change over time as needs are met and the tournament gets closer.

Equipment and Supplies Needed

• High Brightness Video Projectors
• Playing Field Tables
• Playing Field Mats
• Playing Field Elements
• Camera equipment (especially MiniDV Camcorder)
• Long A/V Cables or wireless A/V system
• Sound equipment
• Cones
• Stanchions
• Caution tape
• Various tools (day of the event)
• Signage
• Trophies (financial donation)

We will give community service hours to High School students that volunteer. This is a really fun way to fulfill student community service requirements! Let your students and friends know.

JUDGES AND REFEREES

Technical judges should have some background in engineering, programming or design.  Project judges should have some background or interest in presentation skills, teamwork, or this year's challenge theme (nanotechnology).  All judges and referees should enjoy working with and inspiring children.

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Putz, steve@RoboticsLearning.com, 408-910-1176