FTC Going Strong at IKM-Manning

Twenty seven members of the IKM-Manning Middle School and High School have built and programmed robots to compete against other schools to accomplish challenges in designing, engineering, building and programming robots.  The students will travel to Belmond, Humboldt, Glidden and Fort Dodge to compete against other robotics teams in a robotics league which includes teams from Belmond, Kanawha, Fort Dodge, Humboldt, Manson and Glidden.  The league is part of a University of Iowa STEM program called First Tech Challenge (FTC).  FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

Students get to: 
            Design, build, and program robots
            Apply real-world math and science concepts
            Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills
            Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments

The 2016-2017 Game:

VELOCITY VORTEX℠ presented by Qualcomm® is played on a (12 ft. × 12 ft.) square field with approximately (1 ft.) high walls and a soft foam mat floor. The field is divided diagonally into a “red” and a “blue” side corresponding to the two alliances. In the center of the field are two goals on a rotatable stand called the Center Vortex.  Two ramps, each with a goal, called the Corner Vortex, are placed in opposite sides of the field. The Center Vortex Goals and Corner Vortexes are alliance specific. There are also four alliance neutral Beacons, two placed on each front wall next to the Corner Vortex. There are floor markings as well as Vision Targets placed on the field walls as reference points for robot navigation. Alliance specific scoring elements for VELOCITY VORTEX℠ are five small balls called Particles and one large ball called a Cap Ball per alliance. At the start of a match, each alliance has three Particles available for preloading and scoring during the Autonomous (preprogrammed) period. Each alliance can earn up to two more Particles for use during the Driver-Controlled period by claiming Beacons during the Autonomous period. Matches have two distinct periods of play: a 30-second Autonomous period followed by a two-minute Driver Controlled period, the last 30 seconds of the Driver Controlled period is called the End Game which adds new scoring opportunities for robots to achieve.

Autonomous Period:

During the Autonomous period, robots operate using only pre-programmed instructions. Alliances earn points by: claiming Beacons, moving the Cap Ball off of the Center Vortex base onto the field floor, scoring Particles into their alliance’s Center Vortex or Corner Vortex. Alliances may also gain points by parking their robot in contact with the Center Vortex base or on the Corner Vortex.

Driver-Controlled Period:

During the Driver-Controlled period, alliances earn points by scoring Particles into their alliance’s Center Vortex or Corner Vortex. Robots may also claim Beacons for their alliance by triggering them to illuminate their alliance color. There is no limit to the number of times that a Beacon may be triggered. At the end of the Game, the color of the Beacon determines the alliance credited for claiming it.

End Game:

The final 30 seconds of the Driver-Controlled period is called the End Game. In addition to the Driver-Controlled period tasks, alliances earn points by raising the Cap Ball off the playing field floor or by capping their Center Vortex with it.

Autonomous Period Scoring:

Robot Parked partially on Center Vortex base .....5 points

Robot Parked fully on Center Vortex base .........10 points

 Robot Parked partially on Corner Vortex..............5 points

Robot Parked fully on Corner Vortex ..................10 points

Particle scored in Center Vortex ........... 15 points/Particle

Particle scored in Corner Vortex............. 5 points/Particle

Cap Ball in contact with the floor ..........................5 points

Claimed Beacon................................30 points/Beacon (plus 1 extra Particle per claimed Beacon, up to 2)

Driver-Controlled Period Scoring:

Particle scored in Center Vortex ............. 5 points/Particle

Particle scored in Corner Vortex............... 1 point/Particle

End Game Scoring:

Claimed Beacon.....................................10 points/beacon

Cap Ball raised off floor but below 76 cm (30 inches).....................................10 points

Cap Ball raised above 76 cm (30 inches) ...........20 points

Cap Ball scored in Center Vortex Goal...............40 points

Students who have competed in the past say these meets have been difficult, frustrating, challenging, entertaining but most of all a whole lot of fun.