Q: How can I register my team?
A: You will create an Account on robochallenge.ro and fill in the information for the admin of the account. Please use a valid email address. You will receive an email to activate your account. Please check the spam folder if you didn't receive the email.
2. Log in with your account on robochallenge.ro. At this point you can manage your team until October 15th. After that, the system will be closed.
3. Team
4. Members
5. Robots
6. Shop
7. Checkout
8. Pay
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Q: How can I implement the start stop sensor on my robot?
A: Remote start and stop explanation of use
You can find detailed information about the usage of the startmodules on:
The start/stop module can be powered by a 5V or 3v3 power supply and has a total of 4 pins which 2 are used for supplying the module (pins labelled VCC and GND).
The other 2 pins (labeled as Start and Kill switch) are used to signal the robot when to start/stop and when to perform the kill switch. In our competition the kill switch is not mandatory to be used but this pin will be briefly explained. It’s up to you for your robot’s safety to use the kill switch.
For safety reasons we highly recommend the 4 pins configuration. Besides monitoring the start pin you can also monitor the kill switch pin and act accordingly.
Important: What if your code reaches a state that it doesn’t monitor the start pin correctly or your robot experienced a short brown out/loss of power while competing against the opponent. The robot will not be able to monitor the start pin correctly. In a situation like this you can monitor the kill switch as well or follow the diagrams below.
This module also features a green LED which will tell you if the module has received the start/stop command correctly or if something is wrong with your robot.
Important: When you first power on your robot you have to make sure that the green LED is OFF. This means the robot is ready to accept the remote signal.
Important: If by any chance the green LED is ON then the robot will not receive any other start signal. In this situation you have to ask the referee to press the stop button on the remote and then you have to do a power cycle or just turn the robot off and on again.
Below you can see the layout of the start module. Check that the module fits in your robot and make sure you have 4 pins available.
How does the module work:
The start pin explained:
The kill switch explained:
When you power on your robot the kill switch pin is in a “1” logic state. You can either monitor the kill switch pin in your code or power on the motor driver circuit. You can follow the diagram at this link to control a relay or optocoupler but remember that this is not mandatory.
https://p1r.se/startmodule/kill-switch-relay/
https://p1r.se/startmodule/kill-switch-oc/
For inexperienced users:
The code below is more or less a pseudocode. You have to adapt it to your microcontroller type and to your code structure. You can change it the way you like it but you have to verify that the code works flawlessly so that you don’t get penalized if the robot doesn’t behave as it should.
The pseudocode is not efficiently designed because each user has its own ideas of writing software. It should be viewed as a start for inexperienced users who just started to program robots. The code uses while loops which keeps the robot locked in different loops which are not flexible.
1. When you power on your robot you have to check that the start pin is in a “0” level state.
robot_ready_state = false;
// initial check
initial _start_pin_state = digitalRead(start_pin);
If (initial_start__pin_state == 1) {
// error, the start pin should be 0 when you power your robot
// if start pin state was “1” at the initial check you have to ask the referee to press the
// stop button and then power off and on your robot
while(true) {
// for safety reasons the robot is locked in this loop
// you can flash a separate LED to let the user know
// the only way to exit this loop is to do a power cycle
}
} else if (initial_start_pin_state == 0) {
// correct state
// the robot is ready to accept the start command
robot_ready_state = True;
}
2. If the initial check has passed you can proceed to the following part where you have to monitor the state of the start pin to catch the start command triggered by the referee:
current_start_pin_state = 0;
while (current_start_pin_state == 0) {
// keep the robot locked in a loop until the start command
// is received
current_start_pin_state = digitalRead(start_pin);
}
// the program will continue only if the start command is received
3. When the start command is received the robot can start operating on the dohyo. When the stop command is received the robot should stop all activities (moving, turning).
If (current_start_pin_state == 1 and robot_ready_state == True) {
// the start command was received and the robot was in a ready state
// this is where the robot will start to compete against the opponent
// the if condition will not execute unless the robot is in a ready state.
while (current_start_pin_state == 1) {
// keep the robot locked in a loop until the stop command is received
current_start_pin_state = digitalRead(start_pin);
}
// the program will continue only if the stop command is received
If (current_start_pin_state == 0) {
// the stop command was received
// this is where the robot should stop all operations
while(true) {
// for safety reasons the robot is locked in this loop
// you can flash a separate LED to let the user know
// the only way to exit this loop is to do a power cycle
}
}
}
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Q: How can I prepare for my trip to Romania?
A: Here you have a travel guide that can help you with all the information that you need.
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Q: If I organize a competition how can I request accreditations from Robochallenge?
A: To become a partner competition you must submit a request by e-mail to robochallenge.romania@gmail.com.
Please send the following information
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Q: How can I request invitations from Robochallenge?
A: If your team needs invitations for travel or visa purpose please send the request on email robochallenge.romania@gmail.com with the following informations:
Try to submit the request in advance if you are scheduled for a visa interview. We can not send invitations on the same day.
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Q: Can you tell me some hotels in the competition area?
A: Here is a list of hotels in the Politehnica area
https://ibisbucharestpolitehnica.ro/
https://sirhotels.ro/listing/hotel-sir-lujerului/
https://hotelduke.ro/hotel-ambiance/
https://cityhotelbucuresti.ro/
Also you can try on airbnb or Booking in the Politehnica area
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Q: If I am under 18 years old in which challenges I can compete?
A: If you are under 18 year old you can compete in Mini Sumo Kids, Line Follower Kids, Freestyle Showcase Kids and all the other challenges (except Mini Sumo, Line Follower, Freestyle Showcase)
