2011-2012 Rules

[bugsrcool]

For years I have heard how hard it is for many teams to compete in Mission Possible, Junkyard Challenge, Robot Ramble and Sumo Bot due to the complicated and expensive nature of these events. Now I am reading that the committee wants to bring in an even more complicated and more expensive event than any two combined??? At our regional, one-third of the teams entered a Mission device and less than half entered a Sumo Bot. How can the committee even consider removing these events until mastery is achieved. The top teams will always be in the running for the top scores no matter what event is out there. The teams trying to compete no sooner get a hold on the event and it is gone. Rather than unilaterally deciding to scrap great events to the arbitrary two year cycle, poll the regional and state supervisors and see where they think an event is in its maturity. If an event reaches its peak as did Wright Stuff, then it should be replaced until the current batch of students is through the cycle. If not, keep changing the tasks like Mision Possible continuously replaces the tasks with more variety than the previous year. Keep it that way. Let ALL of the teams in science olympiad have a shot rather than just the elite few that happen to have the funds or a specialists know-how in how to approach an event.

That is more than I have written in all the years I have been associated with this fine organization. I hope you realize what it does to teams when they are out competed by funding and complications.

[illusionist]

First, Mission Possible is in no way an expensive event. With a little creativity, absolutely EVERYTHING for the device can be found in items you or someone on your team already has. Take apart an old electronic device for wires and motors. The rest of our device was built using house-hold items.
Robot Arm (I have not seen the rules yet, so this might not be applicable) could be made using the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit. Thousands of kids have this set, and it has everything you need to build a working robot arm.
But I agree on Sumo Bot. It is an expensive event, and not many teams participate in it at the regional level. Even if they do, they are at a large disadvantage to a team with resources.
Anyways, I think Mission Possible should be kept for atleast another year, with changes to all the tasks.

[Primate]

Robot Arm (I have not seen the rules yet, so this might not be applicable) could be made using the Lego Mindstorms robotics kit. Thousands of kids have this set, and it has everything you need to build a working robot arm.

The Mindstorms kit would be an excellent resource for the actual structure, but do you have any ideas on how to control the arm during competition? Does anyone know if a computer would be allowable as a controller? Obviously, it wouldn't be an automated program, but just an interface for moving the arm around.

Also, chalker/chalker7, what does it take to keep an event around for another year? I don't necessarily mean what we competitors could do (rioting?), but what would you nationally-involved coaches/coordinators need to do?

Edit: Big request if Robot Arm is chosen. Up the voltage limit on the batteries to 14.4v or whatever it is for sumo. Teams can at least save $40 by not having to buy another battery.

[illusionist]

For $50, you can buy a PS2 controller that comes with the software and wireless receiver that are compatible with NXT software. You literally just plug it in like a sensor, and now you can control your robot using the PS2 controller.

[illusionist]

Sorry for the double post, and I don't think this is the right thread, but is it possible to somehow keep Mission and cut Keep the Heat? Keep the Heat looks like it won't be challenging enough. The scores for the building will be in a very small range. The test scores will carry a great value, making it basically a study event. Mission however is a true building event in my opinion. It requires creativity, thinking outside-the-box, team work, and decision making under pressure. This is my first year doing Mission Possible, and I am already hooked onto it.

[chalker7]

Also, chalker/chalker7, what does it take to keep an event around for another year? I don't necessarily mean what we competitors could do (rioting?), but what would you nationally-involved coaches/coordinators need to do?

It's a relatively complicated process, but the national committees try hard to stick to the planned event rotations, as there is quite a lot of time and effort that has gone into planning these things to make sure everything evens out among the 23 events. That being said, the final slate is voted upon by the state directors after nationals. They have deviated from the planned rotation a number of times, but generally not by much.

[chalker]

Also, chalker/chalker7, what does it take to keep an event around for another year? I don't necessarily mean what we competitors could do (rioting?), but what would you nationally-involved coaches/coordinators need to do?

What does it take? Technically all it takes is for Rules Committee Chairs such as myself to convince the SO Executive Board to make the change. However, as I've tried to emphasize already multiple times, there are a LOT of factors that come into play and a lot of thought is put into these issues over a multi-year period. We typically have tentative plans for event rotations 4+ years out (so right now we have projections though 2015).

Regarding Mission, please keep in mind the following:
Mission Possible in some form ran continuously from 1994-2005. In 2006 and 2007 it was B division only. It rotated out in 2008 and 2009. It was back in division C in 2010 and 2011, and will tentatively be in divsion B in 2012 and 2013.

The 2 year rotation cycle serves a lot of good purposes and I doubt will be changed anytime soon, although there are always exceptions to every rule in extenuating circumstances.

P.S. - ditto what my brother said above, although technically the executive board, not the state directors, have the ultimate say.

[chalker]

Sorry for the double post, and I don't think this is the right thread, but is it possible to somehow keep Mission and cut Keep the Heat? Keep the Heat looks like it won't be challenging enough. The scores for the building will be in a very small range. The test scores will carry a great value, making it basically a study event. Mission however is a true building event in my opinion. It requires creativity, thinking outside-the-box, team work, and decision making under pressure. This is my first year doing Mission Possible, and I am already hooked onto it.

Check out my post in the other thread, which explains why this wouldn't suffice for us: http://www.scioly.org/phpBB3/viewtopic. ... 75#p150901

[chalker7]

I apologize, I should have said the state directors vote on the tentative slate of events, pending executive board approval.

[The Eviscerator]

Chalker/Chalker7:
This is probably the wrong thread and thinking a bit farther ahead, but do you think it's possible to have Oceanography rotate in 2013 (after 2 years of Dynamic Planet Freshwater) rather than Dynamic Planet Glaciers? Glaciers just don't seem to be that interesting and vast a topic in comparison to the oceans.