CROSS_OVER

Introduction

Two lofty peaks, one valley, no bridge... No, valley...!

this isn't a NatGeo video; this is the Basic
Robotics Challenge at Techfest 2010 for the
budding robotists in the country.
Innovative, sturdy, stable design with a
speedy yet accurate mechanism of
constructing the bridge is what you need to
CROSS_OVER and win the race against your
opponent. Mind well, one wrong step and
you might end up deep down the

Do you have it in you?

1.1 Problem Statement

Make a manually controlled machine which crosses a pit and competes against another robot
in a one on one knockout event.

Prizes worth INR 18,000 to be won.

2.1 Arena Specification

The arena consists of four zones:

1. Zone A
Zone A is at a vertical height of 450 mm from the ground. The outer dimensions of Zone
A are 300 mm X 300 mm (length x breadth).
 CROSS_OVER

Side View

2. Zone B
Zone B is an inclined surface with an angle of 26.56 degrees (tan-1 (0.5)) with the
horizontal. The inclined plane descends from a height of 450 mm to a height of 200 mm.
The side walls of Zone A and Zone B are coplanar. The horizontal distance between the
highest and the lowest point of slope is 500 mm and also the width of Zone B is 500 mm
(Refer figure 1).

Back View

3. Zone C
Zone C is the pit of length 600 mm between Zone A and Zone B. It is at the ground level.
 CROSS_OVER

Top View

4. Zone D
Zone D consists of rest of the track which will be traversed by the machine. It is a
common track for both the machines. The track consists of a horizontal plane of length
500 mm followed by an inclined plane, which slopes down from a height of 200 mm and
ends at the ground level making an inclination of 30 degrees with the horizontal and
covering a lateral distance of 350 mm which leads to a flat track of length 550 mm.
Width of the inclined plane is 500 mm surrounded by a boundary wall of height 100
mm. At the end of the track lies two spring loaded hinged doors of length 200 mm each.
The weight of these doors would be less than 3kg each.
 CROSS_OVER
Isometric View Front View

Note: Please refer to the track diagrams for detailed information.

Machine Specifications

3.1 Dimensions and Fabrication

1. The machine must fit within a box of dimensions 300 mm X 300 mm X 400 mm (LXBXH)
at the beginning of the game.
2. After the start of the game, machine should divide itself into two parts, one component
forming a bridge and the other traversing the entire arena.
3. The external wireless/wired remote control used to control the machine is not included
in this size constraint.
4. The onboard power on the machine must fit within the aforementioned box.
5. Machine cannot be constructed using readymade Lego kits or any readymade
mechanism. But you can make use of readymade gear assemblies. Violating this clause
will lead to the disqualification of the team.

3.2 Power Supply

1. The machine can use an externally placed or on-board electric or non-electric power
supply. Use of compressors is not allowed. However the power supply must be non-
polluting and must satisfy the safety constraints determined by the judges. In case the
machine is using a non-electric power supply, kindly get it approved from the organizers
beforehand via email. Organizers are not responsible for inconvenience if approval is
not sought.
2. The method of propulsion is at the discretion of the builder, provided it does not
damage the arena in any way and it satisfies the safety constraints determined by the
judges. The machine cannot use any mechanism which directly transmits the manual
force to the machine. For example use of clutch wires is not permitted. The judges hold
the right to subjectively determine if the machine violates this.
3. In case of an electric power supply, the voltage at any point on an individual component
must be lower than or equal to 12 V at any point of time during the game.
4. The organizers will provide a standard 230V/50 Hz AC power supply. Any extension
cords, eliminators, adaptors etc required will have to be arranged by participants
themselves.
 CROSS_OVER
3.3 Controls

1. The component forming a bridge can be controlled by some wired/wireless remote

control mechanism at all stages of the game, but the machine traversing the entire
arena has to be necessarily controlled by a wireless remote control system. The
participants have to bring 2 remote controls of distinct frequencies or a dual -frequency
remote control, which can be switched to either frequency just before the start of the
run. This is done to avoid frequency interference with competing machines.
2. In case of wired mechanism of the component forming the bridge, the wire must be
slack at any point of time during the game. The total length of wire extending from the
remote control to the machine must be minimum 3 meters.

Rules

4.1 Competition Rules

1. The competition will be played on a knock-out basis, with two machines competing
against each other at a time, and the loser being disqualified.
2. The aim of the game is to pass the hinged door by pushing it and reach the finish line
before the opponent.
3. The maximum run-time for a race is 5 minutes.
4. Launching mechanism of any kind at any point of ti me during the game is prohibited.
Organizers hold the right to subjectively evaluate this clause. Any team found violating
the rule will be immediately disqualified. Launching mechanism is defined as the
mechanism in which no part of the traversing machine is in contact with rest of the
machine while crossing over Zone C.
5. If the participants are not able to finish the track in the given time then the participant
that has reached furthest on the track wins.
6. The formation of bridge can take support of only Zone A and Zone B.
7. While crossing Zone C, if any component of the machine falls into the pit the team has
to restart by bringing entire machine to its initial state. But, if the traversing bot falls,
(either out of Zone B or Zone D) after successfully crossing Zone C then the bot would be
placed back into Zone A leaving the choice on respective participants of whether
changing the state of the other bot or not.
8. The total run time will be inclusive of the time a team spends in restarting their
machine. Only one restart per team is allowed.
 CROSS_OVER
9. The machines are not allowed to damage the other team's machine. Any team found
involved in such an activity will be disqualified. This clause will be judged subjectively by
the organizers.
10. The participants are not allowed to enter the arena at any point of time in the game.
11. The teams are not allowed to touch their machines once placed in the Zone A without
prior permission from the organizers.

4.2 Elimination Rules

1. In the elimination round for the main event machines would be placed in Zone A initially
and it should be able to bridge the gap between Zone A and B and some part of it should
be able to cross over the bridge and reach Zone B.
2. The top teams reaching the Zone B in the shortest time will qualify for the finals.
3. In case no team is capable of qualifying the elimination round the top teams which
reach furthest on the track will qualify for the finals.

4.3 General Rules

1. The teams must adhere to the spirit of healthy competition. The teams must not
damage the opponent's machine in any way.
2. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any team indulging in misbehavior or violating any
rules.
3. Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be disqualified from the
competition automatically.
4. The machine would be checked for its safety before the race and would be discarded if
found unsafe for other participants and spectators.
5. The name of the machine must be prominently displayed on the machine.
6. Judges decision shall be treated as final and binding on all.

4.4 Team Specification

A team must consist of a maximum of 4 participants. Participants from different educational

institutions can form a team.
 CROSS_OVER
4.5 Eligibility

All students with a valid identity card of their respective educational institutes are eligible to
participate in CROSS_OVER at Techfest 2010.

4.6 Certificate Policy

1. Certificate of Excellence will be awarded to all winners.

2. Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams which complete the
elimination track i.e. able to form a stable bridge and allowing the other bot to cross
over it.

4.7 Accommodation

1. Due to the limited accommodation facilities, teams will be short listed for
accommodation based on the written abstract provided by the team. Please note that
even if your abstract does not get short listed, you are still eligible to participate in the
competition.
2. All participants who want accommodation at IIT Bombay during Techfest should fill up
this abstract form and rename the .doc file as "(Team_no).doc" and email the form to
crossover[at]techfest[dot]org. The abstract should reach us latest by 2359 hrs on 15th
December 2009. No more requests for accommodation will be entertained thereafter.
3. Click here to download the abstract form.