2013 Illinois 4-H State Robotics Competition
StormBot Challenge
For this challenge, your team will design an autonomous StormBot to help respond to a natural disaster of
your choice (e.g. hurricane, tornado, flood). The scenario is that a first wave of the storm has already
passed through and caused severe damage to a town. Debris is scattered around your town (mat) but
one building/structure is still standing. The main tasks for your StormBot to complete will include 1)
moving debris to a dropoff zone and 2) constructing a protective barrier for the building/structure that is
still standing. Your team will design a mat that includes debris obstacles (e.g. broken boards, downed
power lines, etc.) which may be placed anywhere the team chooses, with a building at the center of the
mat that is no more than 5” by 5”. The debris and building may be made from any materials.
3”
CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES
Materials used to create a
protective barrier around
the building must be
located within the 3” zone
at one end of the table
Main Playing Field
Building /
Structure
(no larger than
5” x 5”; no smaller
than 2” x 2”)
3”
DEBRIS DROP OFF ZONE
and ROBOT START Robot
must start with at least
one wheel in the 3” zone
from one end of the table
You are encouraged to be creative in the design of your mat, as well as the design of your robot. You will
be judged based on the number and complexity of functions built into your StormBot program. Outlined
below are the points that are available for each task that you accomplish. Please remember that the
challenge is designed for all levels of robotics experience – from first year (rookie) teams to more
experienced teams. Even the most experienced teams may not receive all the possible points, depending
on what they can achieve in the 3minute time. Each team should choose tasks within this challenge that
are goals matched to their interest and experience level.
Storm Cleanup: (90 points max)
1. StormBot individually transports debris
item to dropoff zone +20 points (Max. 40
pts total)
2. StormBot transports two pieces of debris
that are initially stacked in the main
playing field and moves items individually
to the dropoff zone (Additional +25 pts)
3. StormBot stacks debris on top of each
other within the dropoff zone at completion
of Task 1 or 2 above (Additional +25 pts)
Storm Protection: (240 points max)
 Each unique piece of construction material
moved to within 2” of building structure
+30 pts (Max. 120 pts)
 Each side of building structure that is
protected (construction material is parallel
to building and covers width of structure)
+30 pts (Max 120 pts)
 Each side of building structure is partially
protected +15 pts (Max +60 pts)
StormBot Song & Dance: (30 points max)
 Stormbot makes sounds; when it is NOT
moving: +10 points OR while moving: +20
points
 Stormbot does victory dance at the end of
its mission: +10 points
Navigating Debris Field: (70 points max)
 StormBot encounters 3D or painted
obstacle in the field and changes direction
when sensed: +10 points per obstacle
(max. 20 pts)
 StormBot encounters 3D or painted
obstacle and sensor activates robot
arm/grabber/kicker to remove obstacle
from path: 20 points per obstacle (max. 40
pts)
 StormBot uses more than one kind of
sensor to navigate the field: +10 points
Total possible points: 430 points
Competition Tables: At the challenge event, you will demonstrate your StormBot on a performance
table. These tables match the dimensions of those used for FIRST LEGO League competitions (94” x 46”
x 3/8” or thicker with a rim to contain the robot). NOTE: The dimensions of your mat must be around
93”x45” to fit in the table. They are made of plywood with flat black paint. The mat used for your
StormBot field should fit within the dimensions of this table.
Supplies: Each team is responsible for bringing their own robot and StormBot field mat. Teams can
choose any material for their mat, as long as it fits within the performance table. As one option, teams are
encouraged to look for groups in their community who have participated in past FIRST LEGO League
(FLL) competitions. The FLL mats could be turned over to create a blank surface and then customized
with different colored electrical tape or other materials to create your STormBot field. Because FLL
creates new mats for each year’s competition, FLL clubs may be willing to donate or loan their old mats.
Any materials may be used for field obstacles and decoration.