�Mars Landing� - Background
NITRO TRS Challenge 2
�This is ground control to Mars Lander� �Do you copy?� �I repeat, do you copy?� �Your circuit�s dead, there�s something wrong�� �Can you read me?�
And that was the last transmissions to the NASA Mars Lander, which arrived on Mars earlier this year. Their probe failed due to inconsistencies in the units used by the programmers. Some people used Metric, and some used Imperial. So their robot got so confused, it went out of radio contact within days of landing.
So now, we can do better, can�t we? Faced with a similar situation, all of you NITRO roboteers are asked to build a program a robot that can traverse through a simulated Martian landscape. The course will be through a deep canyon, and the goal is to reach the other side. There will be various obstacles strewn in your path, and it is crucial that you have programmed code to avoid them when you encounter them. Good luck. Millions of taxpayers dollars depend on you�
�MARS LANDING� � Rules and Regulations
NITRO TRS Challenge 2
Here are the rules and regulations we need to follow for the following mission:
- 1 RCX allowed per team
- 2 motors allowed per team
- 4 wires allowed per team
- 6 AA batteries given per team � a good idea is to bring more on race day
- 2 touch sensors allowed
- NO light sensor
- NO rotation sensor
- Robot must be made completely from LEGO parts
- Robot must be completely autonomous
- Robot must be able to move under its own power
- Anybody caught using the LEGO Remote will be disqualitied
- Robot must fit inside a 30cm x 30cm x 30cm cube
- There will be a special prize for the most well-annotated code
On competition day, lots will be drawn to determine which robot goes first. The lucky owners of the robot will:
- Line up their robot at the staring line, pointing in any direction, as long as it is not inside the canyon
- Turn the RCX on
- Set the RCX to the correct program
- Call the judge (Frank) over to start
- Judge will press the RUN button and the stopwatch at the same time
- Nobody will be allowed to touch the robot after the judge lets go
- The team has a total of 2 RESTART for the competition per TRIAL, if called, the judge stops the robot, and allows the team to restart at the starting line, WITHOUT any program changes
- Next team gets ready at the starting line
- The first team is now allowed to make programming changes while the other teams make their runs
- If you are not at the starting position when called, we will wait 2 minutes. When the time is up, your run is disqualified (no time)
- After all teams have had 3 runs, best times are taken
n Fastest robot wins
Winning team receives the treasure and goes on to fame and fortune. The other robots and their programmers will be fired for ruining their respective governmental space programs
