Student "edition" found at {csi dot journalspace dot com}.

Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

My Introduction to Robotics class this week got what might be their last project, which is a soccer "kicking" and goal keeping robot.

This is almost like the "guard the line" robot that was made in the first Robotics class I had a hand in, except with the presence of a ball.

Same rules apply mostly: the defender only has to keep the ball out of the goal for 2 minutes to win the round. There will also be three rounds played with each robot in the role of kicker and goalkeeper.

That means 60 rounds to be played in total. The groups are also limited to two motors, and a combination of three sensors from either touch or light, which they have to trade with the other groups.

They also have the same basic design, the Rover Robot, to ensure fairness when it comes to the width of defense as a goalkeeper.

They can have arms to extend, but they have to be retractable.

In other words, having parts that move as a response to motion by the opponent or the ball will gain more points in programming.

As usual, the students complained about the limitations, asking instead for a merging of groups, but it's not possible with five groups to start with. Since we have one week left after this project, I may revise it if I'm not satisfied with their results.

They also asked for some attachments to be allowed to the robot changing from kicker to defender, which I did not allow.

It would be very easy on their part to alter their design on the spot based on who they are going to be facing, if I allowed that.

The point is that they have to have a final design given the day before the competition, to allow for the different tactics of the other groups.

Session 1749 doesn't see that if they have an easy time in school, they will have a more difficult time at work. Class dismissed.