Participants' robots compete with each other on a custom playing field in a fast paced, non-destructive regional tournament. The robots are student built and programmed to maneuver on the game board without the need for remote control.
Each regional tournament consist of:
Exciting Tournament Action
Regional tournaments are held approximately 7-9 weeks after the regional workshops. During that 7-9 week period, students build, program and document a pair of autonomous robots to compete at the tournament. At the tournament students get to showcase their hard work, but it's also an opportunity for students, team leaders, mentors and parents to network and interact with others who share an interest in educational robotics.
Precision Seeding Rounds
In the morning, teams compete unopposed on the game board as their robots attempt to score as many points as they can. The seeding rounds are a great opportunity for teams to show what their robots can really do.
Head-to-Head Double Elimination
The action heats up in the afternoon as teams go head-to-head in the double elimination rounds. Robots from two different teams compete on the game board simultaneously in an effort to score as many points as possible, but also to keep their opponent from scoring. It's all in good fun since Botball tournaments are designed to be exciting and educational, but non-destructive.
Creative Onsite Presentations
During the 7-9 week building process, teams are required to document their engineering process in an online project documentation area. Teams are also required to do a presentation at the tournament for designated judges, which summarizes their process throughout the program. Students are encouraged to be creative with their presentations.
Awards Ceremony
The tournament concludes with an awards ceremony where teams are acknowledged for their victories both in points scored and for non-scoring related achievements. Trophies and certificates are awarded for top scorers in seeding rounds, double elimination, and documentation. Awards are also given for non-scoring achievements in areas such as "best team spirit", "best use of sensors", and "best engineering".