Second Annual MiniBot Challenge



So many FLL and FTC teams had a blast participating in last year’s MiniBot Challenge that we are doing it again!  Are you ready?


To play, you must design a MiniBot, measuring 12"x12"x12" or less, using only parts allowed in the 2014-15 FIRST® Tech Challenge Game Manual Part 1 or FIRST®LEGO® League allowed parts. The only exception to this rule is that the NXT does not have to be physically attached to your MiniBot (if it is, it must fit into the 12"x12"x12" space) and you may use an EV3 in place of the NXT brick.

What does the mini-bot do?  It can do anything you want it to, but the cooler, the better.  That's because you're going to upload a video of your robot in action to YouTube and share the link with us.  We'll watch it and if it meets the time criteria (see below), we'll add it to a YouTube playlist.  Then the community will vote on the coolest Bot, and at the end of the contest period the MiniBot with the most likes (1 pt) and comments (2 pts) will be declared the winner.

Check out the MiniBots from last year’s MiniBot YouTube Playlistand be sure you DO NOT copy any of those ideas or re-submit your robot from last year. All new ideas, please.

Now get building, FLL and FTC teams!

Build and Video Specifics:
This contest is open to both FTC and FLL Teams!
  • Create a mini-bot (12"x12"x12" or smaller; NXT does not need to be attached, but must fit inside the 12"x12"x12" dimension if it is) that can crawl, drive, walk, shoot, whatever you can imagine.  For allowed parts, follow the guidelines in the FTC Game Manual Part 1 or FLL allowed parts (the EV3 is permitted as a processor in place of the NXT).
  • Produce a 60-second (or less) video of your robot in action.  Please include your Program (FLL/FTC), Team number and/or name (we'll use the main contact we have on file for your team to contact you if you win).  Use a ruler at the beginning of the video to demonstrate your robot's dimensions
  • Upload your video to YouTube
  • Share the video link with us: social@usfirst.org.  We'll add it to a YouTube Playlist and share that link with the community
 Voting Specifics:
  • Get everyone you know to go to the playlist and vote for their favorite video by giving it a thumbs up or a comment.  Please be gracious professionals and don't give videos a thumbs down (we won't count these against anyone anyway).  Comments aimed at artificially inflating comment count (i.e. the same user posting repeatedly or spelling out words one letter per comment at a time) will not be counted (judges reserve the right to determine if this is the case).
 Deadlines:
  • Submission Deadline: April 15, 2015
  • Voting begins: April 17, 2015
  • Voting Deadline: May 6, 2015
 The winning team will of course receive bragging rights and recognition among the community, as well as a unique trophy. Thanks for participating and have fun!

CONGRATULATIONS!
The 2015 MiniBot Challenge winning entry:
FTC Team #5604 Thunderbots

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