Post all your questions for the Mission Horizon Challenge here. A response to your question will be provided by Doug as soon as time allows. If you would like to comment on others posts, feel free to share.
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Please post your question in the following way: Mission # Question Example: Question: Mission 1, How is my team supposed to construct the Team Space Probe? Doug's Answer: Mission 1, Students will be free to design and construct their Team Space Probe with as many LEGOs as possible, from any source. Finished probe must meet all the requirements of the mission to receive a score. |
If you have questions that cover more than one mission, please submit multiple questions.
This will make it easier for everyone to review the Q&A as they search the comments.
Comments
Jump to comment formGayla Webb said:
Mission 4 – Star Gate
Do the items sent through the star gate have to touch the mat on the competitor’s board?
Doug RCX said:
Mission 4: Star Gate
First, lets clarify “through the Star Gate”. The referee will NOT monitor if the Star Gate Object went through the Star Gate. The referee will only monitor where the robot positions the Star Gate Object on the opponents mat.
Now to your question.
The Star Gate Object does not have to touch the mat.
The referee will look downward, from above the Star Gate Object. If in the referee’s opinion the Star Gate Object is partially or completely in the Space Station Staging Area, you receive a score.
Gayla Webb said:
MIsion 4 Star Gate
Where do you measure from when placing the star gate?
Doug RCX said:
Placement of the Star Gate is located on the Coaches Meeting video, minute 17:00.
Your tape measure should start at the inside edge of the wooden board. The wooden board and the mat should be at the same distance.
Your wooden board may have some age to it, meaning the board may have bowed or worped outward. Measure to the best of your ability such that the tape measure is lined up with the edge of the mat.
Gayla Webb said:
Mission 2
When measuring to add the flying asteroid, where do you begin measurements?
Doug RCX said:
Placement of the Flying Asteroid is located on the Coaches Meeting video, minute 14:45.
Follow the same process as explained for the Star Gate.
Gayla Webb said:
Mission 2 – Drill
How many times do you wind it?
Doug RCX said:
Mission 2
The Drill Bit will be wound 1×.
Additional info can be found on the Starting/Scoring doc.
Tammy said:
CAn you show me a pic of 2 boards put together like they will be at competition? I can’t get my boards lined up right. Thanks.
Doug RCX said:
Mission 4 Star Gate
I added 2 documents to the webpage to help teams prepare.
Mission Horizon 4 Table Layout
Mission 4, Practice Mat
aleasha said:
Mission 1
How do I make the satellite dish for the space probe? As long as it is made of Legos, can I just use my imagination?
doug.rcx said:
Use your imagination.
The team will have to discribe the Team Space Probe to the referee. Public Speaking is the purpose, have the team members rehearse the description at practice to build confidence.
Mechelle said:
Mission 6: Telescope
The mission document states that the telescope must touch the map. Does that mean that one of the green ends must be touching? If that is the case, will it count if the green is pointed down? On the one we are practicing with there is sometimes a small gap between the telescope & the mat, but the green end is pointed down. Thanks!
Doug RCX said:
Hello Mechelle
Any LEGO piece of the Telescope will count. Green, red, black, yellow, whatever color the piece is does not matter. Make sure that at least 1 LEGO is touching the mat in the target ring area.
Arthur Freeman said:
We have 2 mats, we are having the same issue with both. The drill sometimes detaches from the mat when the robot interacts with it. Anyone else having this issue??
Doug RCX said:
Mission 2, Drill
Mission Object Design
Thanks Arthur for your question. I have noticed this issue. I have designed a fix, but you are the first coach to bring it to my attention.
If other coaches express concern, I would be glad to send out an update to correct this issue. The LEGO pieces necessary to fix this are technic style LEGOs that most teams would have access to at their school.
Doug RCX said:
Mission 1 Team Space Probe
At the Referee Training Meeting, the question was when & how will the referee score the Team Space Probe?
The referee is supposed to stay impartial. Meaning the referee is only supposed to score the performance of the the Team and the Robot. If the referee prompts a Team Member, that is looked upon as providing a strategy to the Team, which provides an unfair advantage to that team.
Therefore, the referee will score the Team Space Probe BEFORE the Match starts while the team is setting up for their turn.
Team Members must show and describe the Team Space Probe to the referee for a score. Make sure the description includes the terms “multiple LEGOS”, demonstraght the moveable arm, and point to the satelite dish. Team members are encouraged to include additonal descriptions about the Team Space Probe.
Jerry Broyles said:
Mission 5
Asteroid Belt Warning Markers
When the referee is scoring the Code Markers, what number code should be documented when the marker is between 3 and zero? Should they record a “3” or a “0”?
Doug RCX said:
Scoring the Asteroid Belt Warning Markers
Thanks Jerry
“Benefit of the Doubt”
When scoring the Asteroid Belt Warning Markers, or any mission object for that matter, the referee should follow the description provided on the score sheet. Key words: Touch, In, On etc.
When the mission object is “above a line” like the arm of the Asteroid Belt Warning Marker(there are 4 lines), the referee should look downward from above the mission object, determine the direction of the arm and record the number of the sector they feel the arm is pointing toward. If the referee connot determine which direction the arm is pointing, then award the team the higher value. So to answer your question, when the arm is above the line separatling sectors “0” & “3”, the referee should record a 3.
Jerry Broyles said:
On Mission 10A.
What if part of the Team Space Probe comes apart while traveling across the board, but the majority of the Team Space Probe is placed on the Quad (black hole) in a scoring position?
Doug RCX said:
Your making me think Jerry!
I can see the problem. Teams may construct a probe with wheels, arms, on so on.
The Team Space Probe is the only object that the team should deliver to the Quad to score for Mission 10a.
The team should design their probe in a maner that allows the probe to be delivered under the Quad.
Due to the design of the Team Space Probe, I foresee that when the probe is delivered, the probe could sustain damage when the robot pushed it under the Quad. Resulting in part the the Team Space Probe NOT being under the Quad Platform, thus not being able to score and the referee upon reveiw to score would “see” part of the probe not under the Quad.
Therefore, if any part of the Team Space Probe falls off as it is transported to the Quad Platform, the referee will have to record “Not at Quad” on the score sheet, resulting in a score of “0” for the team.
Scott B said:
Mission 7B
For the maintenance module, is it correct that if it winds up in the living quarters of the space station it still gets points? Thanks!
Doug RCX said:
Hello Scott
The Maintenance Module will receive a score if it is above, or touching any “Grey” part of the printed area Space Station Xtreme on the mat.
Robyn Wilson said:
Mission 2
The drill keeps coming off the table when the robot interacts with it. Do you have a fix?
Doug RCX said:
Thanks Robyn,
You are the second person to bring this to my attention. At this time there have not been enough concerns about this mission object to change things.
At practice, confirm the following:
The Drill is Dual Locked down as instructed.
The Arm, the Tire, make sure the arm is rotated ONLY 1×. Before you rotate the arm, unwined the drill backwards, so that the tension is completely gone. From the location closet to the mat, rotate the drill 1x, adding tension, then slide the tire in place.
Delanna said:
If my teams are creating jigs to use to position their robot in the safe zone, is the jig allowed to be outside of the safe zone to help with positioning, or must it all be inside the safe zone?
Doug RCX said:
Good Question Delanna
Using “jigs” is a very good practice to help your team.
When using a “jig”, the jig is no different than any other item the Team Members may use. It must be constructed of LEGOs.
The “jig” may not be touching any area of the mat outside of the line of the Safe Zone..
It will be treated like a Touch Penalty by the referee if the “jig” touches outside of the Safe Zone. A Touch Penalty will be acessed and the robot will have to be restarted in the Safe Zone.
Daniel said:
Mission 7C
Are you allowed to move the small colored pegs that stick out from the Supplies module to be moved so that they don’t stick out. For example once the clock starts you move them in and continue on?
Doug RCX said:
Hello Daniel
Mission Objects
Mission Objects may NOT be reconstructed to the Team’s liking. Mission Objects must be constructed in the maner they are constructed in the Mission Object Building Instructions.
For this particular Mission Object, the LEGOs which extend out are moveable. So, Yes your Team Member may move the position of the LEGOs. They may not remove them, or reconstruct the Mission Object.
If the Team Member notices that a Mission Object is constructed incorrectly, bring it to the referee’s attention and have them construct it correctly before the match starts.
While there is no penalty, I recommend in the fairness of the game to NOT change the Mission Object.
Leigh Ann said:
The drill started coming off the mat. What do we do?
Doug RCX said:
Mission 2, The Drill
Hello Leigh Ann
Put it back on. LOL
Seriously, I have had a couple others question the Drill. At this point in time, I can not send out a fix, but the best you can do is this.
During a match, if the robot causes the Drill to come off, the Drill will NOT be reset.
At practice, make sure to secure the Drill to the mat the best you can. Use new Dual Lock if you have it. Or Double sided tape. If you sue Double sided tape, the height of the Drill will be different than the height at a tournament.
Doug RCX said:
Touch Penalties
Hello Aleasha,
Yes there is a point value.
0 Points if the object is taken by the Referee.
5 Points if the object is left on the mat,
10 Points if the object is recovered to the Safe Zone.
The reason there are Touch Penalties, is to prevent the students from touching the robot outside of the Safe Zone.
Students should program their robot to leave the Safe Zone, act on the Mission Object(s), then return to the Safe Zone autounimously. The value is the kids learn: programming, problem solve, be creative and so on. Without the use of remote control.