Getting Started
Now that you’ve registered for Botball®, be sure to review some key dates, deadlines and policy statements on our website. Most importantly you’ll want to be familiar with the current year’s:
- Schedule/deadlines: A complete list of deadlines, workshop and tournament dates.
- Regions Website: Provides detailed information on each regional event including a list of registered teams. From www.botball.org select your region from the drop down listing at the top center.
- Registration policy: Includes details on what you’ll need to participate along with policies on registration incentives, payments and withdrawals.
- Fundraising Resources & Scholarships: Download our Fundraising Guide for new funding ideas. If applying for a Botball® Scholarship is necessary for your team, be sure to read the Scholarship Policy in full.
Now that you’ve got an understanding of all of the important dates and policies, we’ve provided an explanation of the 3 elements that make up the Botball® program: the Educator Workshop, Botball® Tournament and Website Competitions.
Educator Workshop
The Botball Program begins with a 2-day professional development workshop where educators and team leaders learn about current robotics technology and how to implement it into their classroom or community. Through the course of the workshop, participants receive all the information about the current Botball game and the reusable robotics kit and components - They even construct a working demo bot!
Workshops are held on Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday depending on the region (see your regional workshop webpage for details). Sessions run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. The workshop covers basic robot elements, processors, sensors, motors, programming in Interactive C, feedback and control, robot construction and Botball® game rules.
At the workshop you will be provided with:
- Complete Botball® kit
- CD with workshop slides and resource materials
- Rules for the Botball® Game
- Rules for the Botball® Documentation Weblog
Workshop Participation Guidelines:
- Participation in the workshop is optional, but recommended.
- New teams receiving scholarships are required to attend the workshop.
- You’ll need to bring an extension cord, power strip, and your laptop computer (click here for specifications) with Interactive C installed.
- Each registered team may bring NO MORE than 3 people to the workshop. At least one person must be a teacher/mentor. (If you have more than one team, there must be at least one adult per group of three.) Unfortunately there can be no exceptions to this rule.
- Photographs will be taken during the workshop. Photos may be used in publications or other media material produced, used, or contracted by KISS Institute. Any participant desiring not to have their photo taken or distributed must let the instructor or a KIPR staff member know prior to the start of the workshop.
Tournament Overview
Tournament day provides a fun atmosphere for teams to showcase their work. First, teams run 3 seeding rounds (unopposed) to determine their rank for the double elimination portion, then all teams participate in an exciting double elimination tournament where they play against one another in an equitable draw bracket. The day culminates in an Awards Ceremony.
- Robots must be completely student built and programmed from the kit of approved parts.
- No teachers, coaches, mentors or other adults are allowed in the Pit Area on tournament day. The Pit Area is provided for teams to modify their robot and programming between rounds.
- Teams are expected to bring their own laptop, powerstrip and extension cord.
- Each team will run the game unopposed during seeding rounds.
- Every team participates in both the seeding rounds and double elimination rounds.
- All judges’ decisions regarding scoring are final.
- Trophies and certificates are awarded in the following categories: Overall, Double Elimination, Seeding, Judges’ Choice, and Documentation.
Website Overview
Botball® teams have the opportunity to create two optional websites: a public website for your team and a Research & Design Website Challenge in the fall. Teams will be required to document their robot building and programming process on an online project documentaiton site. More details on each website can be found here.
What you’ll need for Botball®
Computer - Botball® participants will need access to a laptop computer with Interactive C installed. There will be no computers available at the workshop or tournament. Your machine must run one of three operating systems:
- Mac OS X 10.2 or later
- Windows 98 or later
- Linux
It must also have:
- A USB port and drivers for connecting to the XBC via USB. The new XBC has built in USB, and does not require a USB to serial adapter. Click Here for drivers that connect to the XBC via USB.
- A CD Rom drive
- Privileges to install new software on the computer
If your system does not meet any of these guidelines, please contact us.
Internet Access - The bulk of correspondence regarding Botball® is done via e-mail or posted on our website. E-mail is vital to success in the Botball® program.
Arena - Each team has the option to build their own game arena for practice purposes. The cost to build an arena is kept to a minimum and detailed instructions are provided at the workshop. All parts are standard items available at a home improvement store.
Technical Support
For technical support or questions regarding game rules, log onto your Home Base (click here for info) and post your question on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. The FAQ page is provided so all teams have access to the same questions and answers.