Arm-A-Bot

Aim: Teams have to build a manually controlled bot that can do the simple task of gripping objects and putting them in the target zone i.e.

1. If the object is biodegradable then the object must be placed in Green Dustbin (G).
2. If the object is Non-biodegradable but Recyclable then the object must be placed in Red Dustbin (R).
3. If the object is Non-biodegradable and Non-Recyclable then the object must be placed in Blue Dustbin (B).

Bot Specification:

• The dimensions of the bot should be less than or equal to 30 cm X 20 cm X 30 cm (lxbxh)​. This excludes the dimension of the gripper but includes tyres.
• The bot can, however, extend its dimension once the run starts. An error of​ (+5% /-5%) is permitted.
• The bot must be controlled manually.
• Teams can use both wired as well as wireless control mechanisms. In case of wired bots, the length of wire should be minimum 2 meters so that the wire remains slack at any instant of time. If the participants use wireless mechanisms they have to use either dual frequency remote or Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
• The dimensions of the remote are not included in the size constraint of the bot.
• Only one person will be allowed to control the bot.
• Participants are not supposed to use any readymade Lego components or readymade gripping mechanism. However, the participants are allowed to use readymade gear assemblies. Violating this clause will lead to disqualification of the team.

Power Supply:

• The participants should use an on-board electric or non-electric power supply i.e. the power source should be on the bot itself. External power supply is not allowed and will not be given.
• The potential difference between any two points should not be greater than 24V DC at all times during the run.

Team Specification:

• A team may consist of a maximum of 4 members.
• Students from different educational institutes can form a team.

Eligibility: All Students with a valid identity card of their respective education institutes are eligible to participate.

Rules:

• The bot should be checked for safety before starting the run.
• Only one team member is allowed to handle the bot. The operator cannot be changed during the match.
• The bot is not allowed to slide the objects against the ground except for fine adjustments in the Deposit Zone i.e. respective Dustbin.
• The maximum time given for completing the tasks is 5 minutes.
• If suppose Manual Bot drops any object once it must restart the current task but if Manual Bot drops any object more than once then it must restart the current task with penalty of 5points.
• Laptops/personal computers are not allowed near the arena once the match starts. Other Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. devices must be switched off. The organizers hold the rights to check for these devices and their usage and disqualify the team.
• The organizers may stop any robot at any time if they feel that it is performing or is about to perform any unfair action. No robot is allowed to use any inflammable, combustible, explosive or potentially dangerous process.
• The time measured by the organizers will be final and will be used for scoring the teams. Time measured by any contestant by any other means is not acceptable for scoring.
• The timer won’t be stopped until the object is deposited completely inside its respective dustbin.
• In case of any disputes/discrepancies, the organizer’s decision will be final and binding. The organizer reserves the right to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in rules, if any will be highlighted on the website and notified to the registered team.

Game Play:

• The bot must start from the ‘START’​mark (the rear end of the bot must be touching the Start line).
• The bot must pick up Object 1 from Pickup Zone 1 (P1).
• The bot must cross all the obstacles using Path1 and reach the dustbin area.
• After depositing object 1 the bot need to reach Pickup zone 2 (P2) using path 2 and crossing all the obstacles in between while carrying Object 2 and reach the dustbin area.
• The bot has to put Object 2 in its respective Dustbin.
• The bot has to arrive at the Pickup Zone 3 after crossing the obstacles using path 3 and deposit the object in its respective dustbin.
• After that, it has to pick up Object 4 and arrive at the Pickup Zone 4 after crossing the obstacles using path 4 and deposit the object in its respective dustbin.
• In total the track has 4 Pickup Zones (P1, P2, P3, and P4) with 5 sets of obstacles (H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5), 4 Paths to travel and 3 Deposit Zones i.e. 3 dustbins (R, G, and B).
• None of the above tasks can be skipped.
• Once the path used cannot be repeated again. In case of wrong path choose during the game play will lead to penalty of 10 points.
• When the run starts, all 4 objects will be placed in their respective Pickup Zones (you have to strictly follow the order) and your goal is to get each of them in their respective Deposit Zones in the least amount of time and incur as few penalties as possible.
• Game will be held through online mode i.e. Google Meet where the teams need to perform the task live.

The Arena:

Since the runs will be conducted online, you are expected to construct this track at your home. Find a room with plane flooring and negligible slope with about 5m×5m of free space. Given the condition of the world, changes have been made to ensure that this track can be set up from readily-available, inexpensive materials and objects. The following sections will take you through a detailed description of the track. You must follow these instructions to the letter. We can ask you to measure any dimension in your track before the run and your team will be subject to immediate disqualification if any flaws or blunders are found.

Items Required:

• Some newspapers.
• 2 Registers (29.7cm×21cm), 120 pages each.
• 4 glasses, preferably steel (diameter about 5-8 cm).
• Sand, stones, and white rope

The Objects:

• Object 1 (P1): Steel Glass (diameter about 5-8 cm)
• Object 2 (P2): A cardboard or thermocol cube painted white (5cm×5cm). This will indicate paper garbage
• Object 3 (P3): A cardboard or thermocol cube painted brown (5cm×5cm). This will indicate wooden garbage
• Object 4 (P4): Plastic Bottle (15 ml)

The Track:

The track consists of 5 hurdles designed to test the structural integrity, maneuverability, control of the bot and the grip of the jaws/ fingers using easily available objects. Boundaries of the track can be made using white rope. Use adhesive tape to stick them firmly on a plane surface. Best suited for this will be an empty room with a solid floor.

General Instructions:

Use a standard ruler or measuring tape to take measurements and make sure the margin of error is absolutely negligible. ​Keep the ruler handy during your run, you will be asked to verify that your track design and measurements are exactly the same as in this problem statement. As for the hurdles, there are specific checks in place to make sure the competition is fair. Failure to comply will lead to immediate disqualification.

The Hurdle:

• Hurdle 1 (H1): Thick layer of sand
• Hurdle 2 (H2): 5 speed breakers of length 30 cm arranged in the shape as shown. The smaller angle between any two non-parallel breakers is to be π/6 radians (30 degrees). Take 8 sheets of newspaper, place them perfectly on top of each other and roll them up completely. Paste the ends firmly using appropriate adhesive or tape

Note:​ A “sheet” here corresponds to 4 sides of the newspaper (like the middle sheet of your bound notebook).

• Hurdle 3 (H3): Thin layer of gravel (medium size stone)
• Hurdle 4 (H4): 3 Inverted Box/ Steel Glasses (diameter about 5-8cm) kept in zig-zag position as shown
• Hurdle 5 (H5): 2 identical registers (29.7cm×21cm), 120 pages each kept one above the other. Keep the one extra register as a check, which you will be asked to show before the run to make sure it satisfies the required specifications

Judging Criteria:

• 10 points each will be awarded for successfully picking up each of the objects at one go (for 2 or more tries bot need to restart the current task with a penalty of 5 points).
• 20 points each will be awarded for successfully placing each of the objects completely inside their respective dustbin.
• 30 points will be awarded for successfully crossing hurdle 1 (H1), hurdle 2 (H2), and hurdle 3 (H3) each.
• 20 points will be awarded for successfully crossing hurdle 4 (H4).
• 20 points will be awarded for successfully crossing hurdle 5 (H5).
• You will be penalized if the bot gets stuck at any of the speed breakers, and a nudge is needed for it to go over (in such a case, the bot need not restart the current task).
• You will be penalized 5 points if the bot gets stuck while climbing over each of the notebooks, and a nudge is needed for it to get on top (in such a case, the bot need not be repositioned at Pickup Zone 4 i.e. P4).
• Upon displacement of the glasses by greater than 2 cm, a penalty of 5 points will be awarded.
• A penalty of 2 points will be awarded each time one of the tires of the bot goes over the boundaries of the track while traversing the two semicircular arcs (under all other situations, minor overstepping will be ignored).

Total Points: 250 points

Scoring:

• A = Points scored
• P = Penalties
• T = 300 - Time taken in seconds
• Total Points Scored = A + T - P

The task that can be skipped: Crossing of hurdle 5 (H5)

Note: 10 points will be deducted per skipped task. 

Restarts:  

• If suppose Manual Bot drops any object once, it must restart the current task but if Manual Bot drops any object more than once i.e. 2 or more than twice, then it must restart the current task with a penalty of 5 points.
• In case of a restart, the timer will not be set back to zero and time will not be paused.
• Any restart for the robot requires the approval of the organizers before it can be removed from the arena. If removed without approval, it will be considered as a violation.

Disqualification:

A team will be disqualified if it commits any of the following actions during the match:

• The team performs any acts that are not in the spirit of fair play.
• The team fails to obey instructions or warnings issued.
• The team has made five Violations in the same match.

Important Note: Lego, Vega or any other type of readymade robot kits are not allowed. If found so, the team will be disqualified.

Rules mentioned above are subject to change anytime. Participants should check for the latest updated pdf on the official website Of SPECTRA 2021. However, this draft is to be followed as the latest version. SPECTRA reserves all right regarding rules and regulations. Any ingenious exploitation of the mentioned/gameplay must be notified to and clarified with the organizers beforehand. 

Spectra Policy:

• Decision of the organizer and core team will be final. 
• Rules mentioned above are subject to change anytime.
• Participants should check the PDF on the official webpage of Spectra 2k21 for the latest updates.
• Spectra reserves all the rights regarding rules and regulations.