Challenges 2025

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Sensing Challenge
3. Movement Challenge
4. Mechanics Challenge

Introduction

There are three challenges which teams may optionally complete during the competition year in order to earn additional league points. See the main rulebook for details on how these relate to the overall competition and when the deadlines for completion are.

Throughout these challenges a “robot” need not be fully constructed, nor is it limited by the size limits which would apply in the competition arena. Robots may use whatever sensing mechanisms they like, as long as those mechanisms would be permitted in the competition arena.

However robots must be safe (as specified in the regulations) when completing these challenges.

Challenges cannot be completed in the simulator. When constructing components of the arena for use in challenges, they must match the specifications defined in the rules.

Submissions for each challenge should be made as a video on the web (e.g: on YouTube, Instagram, etc.) and linking this video in your Discord channel. When linking the video please use @Challenges so that your submission is seen. If a team’s challenge submission is not deemed successful, the team may attempt the challenge again. Feedback will be provided about why the submission was not successful.

Remember that you can also post in Discord if you want some help.

Sensing Challenge

This challenge is to think about how your robot can use sensors to detect the world around it and combine data from different sensors to cover a wider range of conditions.

To complete this challenge you will need to use two different sensors. Your kit includes a camera and an ultrasound sensor. The onboard LEDs will be used to indicate the robot’s state.

Certain sensors are more useful in certain situations, either due to their range, accuracy, or the information they provide. It is worth considering how you can use the sensors we’ve provided to you.

This challenge has two parts which can be submitted as separate videos, but both parts must be completed to earn the points.

1. Distance sensing. Perform the following steps:
   • Start with your robot centred on the wall marker about 2000 mm from the wall.
   • Move towards the wall until you are less than 100 mm from the wall, then move back to 2000 mm
   • During this, illuminate the LEDs based on the following conditions:
     1. LED B in red when the robot is more than 1500 mm from the wall.
     2. LED B in blue when the robot is between 200 mm and 1500 mm from the wall.
     3. LED B in green when the robot is less than 200 mm from the wall.
   • Note: distance should be measured from the centre of the sensor or camera.
2. Angle sensing. Perform the following steps:
   • Start with your robot centred on the wall marker and between 1 and 3 metres from the wall.
   • Turn your robot to the left, to the centre, then to the right, then reverse this.
   • During this, illuminate the LEDs based on the following conditions:
     1. LED A in blue when the marker is more than 15° left from square on.
     2. LED B in red when the marker is approximately square on (within a 30° arc).
     3. LED C in blue when the marker is more than 15° right from square on.

The robot may move autonomously or may be moved manually to complete this challenge.

Note: if moving the robot manually then it is recommended that the Motor and Servo boards be disconnected from the Power Board as well as any mechanical components secured for the duration of the demonstration.

Movement Challenge

This challenge is designed to test the robot’s ability to perform repeated movements accurately.

This is a key feature for a robot as, due to manufacturing tolerances, no two motors are exactly the same. As such, your robot must account for the differences in the motors to move in a straight line. This is often achieved by adjusting the power of the motors or, in some cases, by using external references.

• Autonomously complete 3 continuous circuits of a triangular path, returning its starting position to within 300 mm.
• The path must be an isosceles right-angled triangle with shorter side length of 1500±200 mm.
• The direction of travel around the path and orientation of the robot are inconsequential.

Teams are encouraged to include in their submission video objects which establish the scale of the path traversed by the robot, for example a metre ruler.

Mechanics Challenge

This challenge is designed to test the robot’s ability to manipulate objects by lifting one of the objects from the game.

To achieve the higher scores in the competition, your robot will need to be able to stack pallets on other objects. While this challenge does not require stacking, it does require the robot to be able to lift a pallet. Using a mechanism that physically grabs the sides of the box to be able to pick it up is the most common approach, but they can also be lifted using vacuum suction or scoops that slide under the box.

• Lift a pallet (as described in the rulebook) at least 130 mm off of the ground and hold it there for 5 seconds.

If your mechanism cannot fully raise the box but can lift it enough such that it is no longer touching the ground, you will be awarded half points for this challenge.

Revisions

From time to time Student Robotics may amend the challenges. When this happens, this document will be updated. Changes to the challenges will not affect existing submissions.

1. Clarified what distance means in the Sensing Challenge (enacted 04/12/2024)
2. Clarified that the Arduino can be connected during the Sensing Challenge (enacted 04/12/2024)
3. Clarified the intent of the Sensing Challenge (enacted 08/12/2024)