robotics education & competition foundation radc …

ROBOTICS EDUCATION &

COMPETITION FOUNDATION

RADC Team Guide

2021-2022

For Coaches, Team Members, Teachers, and Parents

REC Foundation Team Guide for RADC 2021-2022

RADC Team Guide

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Table of Contents

How to Use this Guide .....................................................................................................................3

Educational Goals ............................................................................................................................3

RADC Season – Start to Finish .......................................................................................................5

Stage 1. Team Registration ........................................................................................................ 5

Option 1 – New School/Organization ..................................................................................... 5

Option 2 – Returning Team at a Returning School/Organization ........................................ 10

Option 3 – New Team at a Returning School/Organization ................................................. 14

Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................. 19

Stage 2. Forms, Policies and Procedures ................................................................................ 20

Participant Release Form ..................................................................................................... 20

Student-Centered Policy ....................................................................................................... 20

Code of Conduct ................................................................................................................... 21

Stage 3. Before the Build: Starting A Team ............................................................................. 21

Develop your Team ............................................................................................................... 21

Equipment for Your Team ..................................................................................................... 21

Fundraising............................................................................................................................ 22

Registering Your Team for the Competition Schedule ......................................................... 22

Plan Your Schedule .............................................................................................................. 22

Plan Your Meetings ............................................................................................................... 22

Assign Team Roles ............................................................................................................... 23

Develop a Team Identity ....................................................................................................... 23

Stage 4. Engineering Design Process ...................................................................................... 23

Step 1: Engineering Design and Documentation ................................................................. 23

Step 2: Research and Brainstorm the Game ....................................................................... 25

Step 3: Prototype and Design ............................................................................................... 26

Step 4: Test, Troubleshoot and Iterate ................................................................................. 27

Step 5: Get Ready to Compete!............................................................................................ 27

Stage 5. Attending an Event ..................................................................................................... 29

What to Expect at an Event .................................................................................................. 30

Key Terms ............................................................................................................................. 30

In Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 33


RADC Team Guide


How to Use this Guide

Coach’s Corner: Congratulations, and “Thank You!” for coaching a team of students

interested in STEM. As the world grows increasingly complex the need for individuals

equipped with the knowledge and skills to tackle tough problems by gathering information,

evaluating it, and presenting effective solutions continues to increase. Still, relatively few

students are proficient in the core subjects of science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics (STEM) and even fewer express interest in pursuing these fields beyond high

school. Increasingly, educators and students alike seek hands-on, sustainable, and cost-

effective approaches to help engage young people and maintain their interest in STEM

through elementary school, middle school, high school, and beyond. Your willingness to

coach a robotic drone team is the next step in solving the STEM problem!

Note: Should anything in this Team Guide contradict the Game Manual, the Game Manual

will take precedence.

The intention of this Team Guide is to prepare you and team members for the RADC

competition season, the Engineering Design Process and your first event. Good luck this year

and may you and your team have a great season!

• The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation is a non-profit that hosts

world-wide robotics competitions. The REC Foundation’s mission is to increase

student interest and involvement in STEM by engaging students in hands-on,

affordable, and sustainable robotics engineering programs.

• REC Foundation Aerial Drone Competition (RADC) use programmable drones and

are considered robots. Being on a RADC team, means that you are on a robotics

team.

• REC Foundation robotics teams are associated with public schools, private schools,

after school groups, home school groups, scouting groups, 4H groups, etc.

• REC Foundation team coaches are not required to have a background in STEM

education. Coaches with all types of backgrounds are successful in a robotics

program. The Coaches role is to guide your students in this exciting adventure.

• A Mentor is a person associated with your team that volunteers time, knowledge,

energy and/or effort to help along the team’s season.

• A Project Manager is a dedicated REC Foundation employee that works to bring a successful season to every Team, Coach and Mentor.

Coach’s Corner: Your Project Manager is your best friend as you experience RADC. Reach

out directly to him/her if you have any questions throughout this Team Guide.

To find your Project Manager go to https://www.roboticseducation.org/radc or email

[email protected].

Educational Goals

The RADC program’s objective is to provide a STEM learning opportunity for students to explore aviation fundamentals by engaging in hands-on learning through an aerial competition format.

https://www.roboticseducation.org/radc

mailto:[email protected]


RADC Team Guide


Students will develop the ability to:

● Understand important aviation concepts and principles, such as: o Principles of Flight. o Four Fundamental Forces: lift, thrust, drag, weight. o Yaw, Pitch, Roll. o Newton’s 3rd Law & Bernoulli's Principle. o Airfoil and angle of attack. o Weight and balance. o Quadcopter motor and propeller rotation and torque.

● Identify quadcopter parts and functions. ● Apply FAA Airspace principles through the competition flights. ● Understand and use aviation operation terms. ● Develop and use models to pre-plan flight patterns. ● Design and strategies solutions to navigate complex game tasks and objectives ● Perform evaluation to optimize flight operations and performance. ● Use block-based coding to design and navigate a drone's flight path. ● Identify the connection between programming and real-world applications. ● Gain a foundation in computational thinking and problem solving. ● Incorporate 3D printing techniques.

o Using 3D modelling software, the workings of which can translate into other 3D modelling programs.

o Designing within constraints. o Overall project management. o Principles of geometry and measurement, as well as algebra and general

mathematics required to calculate dimensions. o 3D printer can be used to teach designing for manufacturing and assembly, the

principles of tolerance and safety factors, and other engineering principles. o Documenting the design process and discussing the project in judged interviews

teaches written and verbal communication skills.

NOTE: Teams are not required to have 3D printers

● Practice Remote Pilot safety procedures.

How does RADC Help with Career Readiness?

By the end of a competition season, students will have gained hands-on skills in remote aircraft operations. Learning and practicing the basic aviation principle for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will provide a deeper understanding of the current and emerging applications in a variety of industries. Growth in drone services are as diverse as the needs of the global communities, ranging from medical supply deliveries, to search and rescue, to disaster management, to artistic expressions such as light shows.

Unmanned aircraft systems UAS is a relatively low-cost option for high risk tasks such as visual inspections of energy infrastructures and civil engineering projects. In addition to protecting human safety, scientists are increasingly using drones as a non-intrusive tool to gather data for wildlife population monitoring and ecological health research.

In addition teams will gain soft skills including time management, decision making, communication (both listening and speaking) and teamwork.

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/forces.html

https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/where_can_i_fly/airspace_101/


RADC Team Guide


RADC Season – Start to Finish

Stage 1. Team Registration

Organizations will need to register teams on RobotEvents.com to participate in competitions for the RADC program. These instructions will guide new and existing organizations through the team registration process. If your team consists of family and friends, think of yourself as an organization that is not affiliated with a school.

Coach’s Corner: Please note the following regarding how team numbers work:

As such, all teams from a school or organization should have the same base number.

Team registrations will fit into one of three categories:

• Option 1 - New School/Organization

• Option 2 - Returning Team at a Returning School/Organization

• Option 3 - New Team at a Returning School/Organization

Click on one of the above options to jump to the set of instructions specific to your team.

Option 1 – New School/Organization

1. Navigate to RobotEvents.com and select Register to create a new account. If you already have an account, select Login.

2. Once you create an account and login to RobotEvents.com, select My Account to view your dashboard.

Register | Login

https://www.robotevents.com/


RADC Team Guide


3. Select +Register a Team to create your first team.

4. Under ‘Other Programs’, select RECF Aerial Drones Competition Team Registration - RADC, and then select Next

5. Complete the Team Organization fields and select Next


RADC Team Guide


6. Complete the Team Information fields and select Next. ● Use the Team Number generator to create the number prefix that will be

associated with your organization. You can also enter a custom number to see if it is available. Next, use the drop-down menu next to the team number to assign the first letter suffix. Certain letters, such as I, L, O and Q, are not available due to display issues.

● The Grade Level is based on age only. o Students born after May 1, 2002, are high school eligible. o Students born after May 1, 2006, are middle school eligible. o When registering for events, some events will restrict the teams who may

attend by grade level, e.g. some events might be open to middle school teams only or high school teams only. However, most events, including the World Championship are blended with middle and high school teams playing together.

o A middle school team should be selected when the team consists of only middle school students.

o A high school team should be selected if any students on the team are high school students or if a team of middle school students choose to “play up” as a high school team.

o A middle school team can elect to change its designation to be a high school team, but a high school team cannot revert back to a middle school team, even if eligible.

NOTE: Any qualifications won previous to changing the grade level

designations will be lost, and the team will need to qualify again as its new

grade level designation.


RADC Team Guide


7. Complete the Contact Information and select Next: 1. Primary Contact: The Primary Contact is the person that has been authorized

by the organization to manage the team and must be 18+ years of age 2. Financial Contact: The Financial Contact is the person that assists with the

payment of team and event registration. The Primary Contact can also be the Financial Contact.

● Secondary Contact: (Optional) An additional contact can be added to assist with team management on RobotEvents.com.

NOTE: Contacts must create a RobotEvents.com account to manage team

information, including team and event registration. These contacts can be

modified as needed later in the season.


RADC Team Guide


8. Complete the Team Profile fields to the best of your ability. Note that these fields can be modified later. Select Finish to complete the Team Registration Wizard.

9. After you complete the Team Registration Wizard, the team registration will be placed into My Cart.

● If this is your only team that you will be registering, please go to the Paying for Team Registration section of these instructions to complete the team registration process.

● If your organization would like to register additional teams, please go to the Register Additional Teams section of these instructions.

● If you have completed the registration and need no further instruction, you can click here to go to the next section on how to prepare for the season.


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Option 2 – Returning Team at a Returning School/Organization

Follow these directions to get your first team renewed.

1. Navigate to RobotEvents.com and Login:

2. Select My Account To view your Dashboard:

3. Select Renew Teams to view all teams eligible for renewal or select Renew next to a

specific team and skip the next two steps.

NOTE: If you do not see your team number(s) listed from the previous season,

please contact your REC Foundation Program Manager for assistance.

https://www.robotevents.com/


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4. Follow the Renewing RADC Team Wizard to update Organization, Team, Contacts, and Team Profile information. Remember to click Next to advance to each stage of the Wizard.


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5. Complete the Contact Information And select Next.

● Primary Contact: The Primary Contact is the person that has been authorized by the organization to manage the team and must be 18+ years of age.

● Financial Contact: The Financial Contact is the person that assists with the payment of team and event registration. The Primary Contact can also be the Financial Contact

● Secondary Contact: (Optional) An additional contact can be added to assist with team management on RobotEvents.com.


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6. Complete the Team Profile To the best of your ability. Note that fields without an asterisk can be modified later. Select Finish to complete the Team Registration Wizard.

7. After you complete the Team Renewal Wizard, the team registration will be placed into My Cart.

● If this is your only team that you will be registering, please go to the Paying for Team Registration section of these instructions to complete the team registration process

● If you would like to renew another team’s registration, select My Account And repeat this process.

● If your organization would like to register additional teams that have not participated in previous seasons, please go to the Registering Additional Teams Section of these instructions.

● If you have completed the registration and need no further instruction, you can click here to go to the next section on how to prepare for the season.


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Option 3 – New Team at a Returning School/Organization

This is also referred to as adding an additional team to an existing team.

1. Select Dashboard to return to your Dashboard view. Next, select +Register a Team.

2. Select the program associated with your team, and then select Next.

3. Select Add Another Team to register another team next to the base number that represents the organization. A new letter suffix will be selected in the next step.

NOTE: The Register New Organization button is only to be used when

registering teams from a different organization from the teams listed here.

Contact your RSM if you have questions.


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4. Update your Team Organization information for the current season. Some data may transfer from the previous season. Click Next.

5. Select a letter for this team from the drop-down menu in the Team section of the Team Registration Wizard. Only available letters will appear in the list. Complete the remaining sections of the Team Registration Wizard as you did for your previous teams.


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6. After you complete the Team Registration Wizard, the team registration will be placed

into My Cart. If you need to add additional team, return to your Dashboard and repeat

this process.

● If this is your final team that you will be registering, go to the Paying for Team

Registration section of these instructions to complete the team registration

process.

● If you have completed the registration and need no further instruction, you can

click here to go to the next section on how to prepare for the season.

Paying for Team Registration

Once your teams have been added to My Cart, you are ready to pay for the team registrations.

1. Select My Cart to view a summary of the team registrations.


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2. Select Begin Checkout, and this will create an order with all the registrations included in My Cart.

3. Review your order and select a Payment Method. Select Complete Checkout to finalize the order.


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● Paying by Credit Card will ensure your registrations will be immediately processed and you will be able to register for events.

● If paying by Purchase Order, the signed PO will need to be uploaded or sent to the REC Foundation Accounting office. Once the REC Foundation Accounting office receives and processes the signed PO, teams will be able to register for events.

● If you select to pay by Check only (not a PO), please note that the team registration will not be processed until the REC Foundation receives and processes the check. This may take up to 2 –4 weeks. Teams can only register for events when the check has been received and processed.

● If Pay Later is selected, the team registrations will not be completed. To complete the Checkout process later, select My Orders and update the Payment Method to complete the order.

NOTE: Approved POs that are uploaded, faxed, or emailed to the REC

Foundation may take 2-3 business days to process. Approved POs that are

mailed may take 2-3 weeks to process. Teams can register for events only

when the approved PO has been received and processed by the REC

Foundation Accounting Office.

4. The order will show as Paid if paid with Credit Card, or Unpaid (pending) if any other

payment method is selected. Until the order appears as Paid in your account, teams will

not be able to register for events.

If the order is Unpaid, and you wish to change payment method or finalize the order

using a more immediate payment method, click the Finish Checkout/Change Payment

Method button.


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If the order is Unpaid, and you wish to start over, click the red Start Over button, the

order will be deleted, and the items put back in My Cart. Shipping rates are subject to

change.

NOTE: This option is NOT available if Checkout has been completed and the order is Paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the Primary Contact for a team if a teacher leaves an organization?

The Primary Contact can be changed by the Primary Contact listed for the team. If this person is

no longer with the organization, then contact your REC Foundation Regional Support Manager,

and they will assist you with this process.


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Changing Primary Contact (If the previous Primary Contact is available)

1. It is recommended that the new Primary Contact first create an account on RobotEvents.com.

2. The previous Primary Contact will need to login to their account and select My Account.

Next, select My Teams to view a list of available teams from the organization. Then

select Manage Contacts by the team you would like to edit.

Stage 2. Forms, Policies and Procedures

Participant Release Form

All team participants (players, coaches, and mentors) must complete the Participant Release

Form as instructed on the form. The form is submitted by uploading to the team profile on

RobotEvents.com. Once your team completes the form electronically, it is applied

automatically to every official REC Foundation event the team registers for during the current season.

• English Version:

➥ https://www.roboticseducation.org/documents/2018/03/participant-release-form.pdf/

• Spanish Version:

➥ http://www.robotevents.com/consent-spanish

Student-Centered Policy

At REC Foundation competitions, teams of students showcase their knowledge and skill in

designing, building, programming, driving and strategizing during match play and skills

challenges. The Student-Centered Policy assures that all these activities are completed by

the students with minimal adult assistance.

The Student-Centered Policy addresses the expectations for organizations and their team

members. It contains examples of activities for transparency and to encourage student

learning opportunities. Frequent review of the REC Foundation Student Centered Policy is

encouraged as there are penalties for teams violating the policy.

To view the Student-Centered Policy, please see the following link:

➥ https://www.roboticseducation.org/studentcenteredpolicy

https://www.roboticseducation.org/documents/2018/03/participant-release-form.pdf/

http://www.robotevents.com/consent-spanish

https://www.roboticseducation.org/studentcenteredpolicy

https://www.roboticseducation.org/studentcenteredpolicy


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Code of Conduct

The REC Foundation considers the positive, respectful, and ethical conduct of all students,

teachers, mentors, parents, and other event attendees an important and essential component

of all REC Foundation sanctioned events. All stakeholders should review the expected

behavior and ethical standards for all REC Foundation sanctioned events and become

familiar with the reporting and violation procedures.

To view the Code of Conduct, please see the following link:

➥ https://www.roboticseducation.org/codeofconduct/

Stage 3. Before the Build: Starting A Team

Use the following resources to help your team get started in enjoying an amazing learning experience in RADC.

Develop your Team

There is no maximum to the number of students who can participate on a Robotics Aerial Drone Competition team. (Note: See game manual, link below, for the minimum number of student pilots required to participate). Keep the amount of your available resources and space in mind when developing your team, since students benefit most from a well-supported hands-on learning experience. If your student interest exceeds available resources, consider additional support and space to coordinate multiple teams or try the online challenges.

● RADC Average 3-5 students per team

For questions regarding Team and Student definitions, please reference the Game Manual for the current Game Challenges.

➥ RADC Game Manual

Equipment for Your Team

RADC competitors may only use the Parrot Mambo Fly Drone from For the Win. Parrot Mambo Fly Drones may be purchased from www.ftw-robotics.com. Please consult the game manual for exact rules about drone parts and equipment.

Your team needs at least (1) Parrot Mambo Fly Drone, access to a computer/device, and internet to utilize the online curriculum and programming resources. The number of drones that your organization requires depends on the number of students, the hands-on learning experience you plan to facilitate, and your available resources. Additionally, custom fabrication and attachments are allowed, therefore a 3D printer would need to be purchased separately if your team(s) chooses to add to their design and modification options.

The last optional items to consider purchasing are the Field and Game Elements. Field elements are reused each year, but the new game elements would need to be purchased annually. Field and Game elements can be purchased from www.ftw-robotics.com.

https://www.roboticseducation.org/codeofconduct/

https://www.roboticseducation.org/codeofconduct/

https://www.roboticseducation.org/resources_library/rec-foundation-aerial-drones-game-manual/

http://www.ftw-robotics.com/

http://www.ftw-robotoics.com/


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Fundraising

While our programs are among the most affordable available, the REC Foundation realizes that expenses over a season can add up and we want to lend assistance when possible. We are pleased to offer our community a selection of resources to help support your team and program all season long. Please consider visiting our website for some unique offerings to get the boost your need to keep your team competitive!

➥ https://www.roboticseducation.org/fundraising-resources/

Registering Your Team for the Competition Schedule

In order for your teams to attend events, they must be registered with the REC Foundation. You will log into your account at www.robotevents.com to register your new team or renew your existing team. While you are there, look to see if there are any events posted that you are interested in attending. If events are limited, look at what was available last year and their costs so that you can prepare for the seasons costs. It is always good practice to host a parent meeting for new recruits to discuss season and team expectations. Giving parents as much information as possible about the number of events you would like to attend and their cost helps parents prepare, especially if they need to budget for travel costs personally or for their fundraising responsibilities.

Important Note: If you haven’t already, follow the guidelines provided in the registration section to register your team on robotevents.com

Plan Your Schedule

In order for your team to be effective, develop a schedule that meets your team’s availability, needs, objectives, and resources and stick to it! For younger students, it may be helpful to limit meeting length to less than two hours. Some teams meet once or twice a week for a few hours, while others will meet more frequently and for longer periods of time. Teams benefit from the program proportionally to the effort they put into the program. As the event approaches, your team may decide to meet more frequently in order to better prepare for their participation in the competitions.

Plan Your Meetings

During the initial meetings, it is helpful for your team to develop a list of goals and a timeline for accomplishing these goals. Record these goals and deadlines in the teams engineering notebook (see details in the next section: Engineering Design and Documentation) and assign someone on the team to keep track of the team’s progress. Using a planning process supports the development of invaluable organizational time management and project management skills in your students.

https://www.roboticseducation.org/fundraising-resources/

http://www.robotevents.com/


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Assign Team Roles

Teams can vary in size. Your team is more productive if everyone is assigned a defined role. Consider rotating roles so that team members can benefit from the full program experience. Assign or have the students choose the roles that best fit their interests, skills, and needs. It is common for a student to perform more than one role on a team.

Drone Team Role Suggestions:

● Drone Pilots ● Visual Observers ● Flight Crew Member ● 3D Attachment Designers ● Team Scouts ● Online Challenge Competitors

Additional Team Roles Suggestions:

● Team Captain ● Outreach Coordinator ● Fundraising Coordinator ● T-Shirt Designer ● Videographer ● Web Designer ● Flight Crew Manager

TIP: Consider assigning backup roles in order to sustain your team when an

illness or schedule conflict occurs.

Develop a Team Identity

Developing your team identity can be a valuable, fun part of the team building process. Your team members should use their creativity to establish their own unique identity. Developing a team identity can include choosing a team name, creating displays for your team space, designing a team shirt, or creating a teach cheer or song. These activities need not cost a lot, but they go a long way in fostering great teamwork, team spirit, and a strong sense of community. The more you celebrate your team’s efforts and accomplishments, the easier it will be to engage other students and potential supporters that will help you build your team's RADC program.

Stage 4. Engineering Design Process

The engineering design process is a series of steps that engineers follow to come up with a solution to a problem. Many times, the solution involves designing a product (like an attachment or computer code) that meets certain criteria and/or accomplishes a certain task.

Step 1: Engineering Design and Documentation

Engineering Notebook: A book in which an engineering (or engineering team) formally documents, in chronological order, all the work associated with a specific design project. Teams may choose to purchase a bound notebook or use a digital notebook that has a time stamp functionality.


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Digital Engineering Notebooks may take any form that is accessible by clicking a link without any special software other than a web browser or PDF reader. A bound notebook that is scanned as a PDF and stored in a cloud service meets the definition of a Digital Engineering Notebook. A document stored in a cloud-based service meets the definition of a Digital Engineering Notebook.

The REC Foundation believes that the use of engineering notebooks exposes team members to a variety of critical life skills including project management, time management, brainstorming, and teamwork. Documenting the engineering design process helps students acquire real-world life skills that will benefit them in their academic and professional futures. There are many documentation models, so investigate and use the one that fits your team.

Successful engineering requires effective and efficient communication and documentation. While it isn’t mandatory, we encourage having team members document the design process using an engineering notebook.

The notebook provides teams with a tool to:

● Document the team’s strategic thinking, gameplay ideas, and engineering design process throughout the season.

● Assign task(s) to complete. ● Assess/Evaluate through testing ● Enter sketches, pictures, calculations, and programming notes. ● Document a team's experience as they prepare for the competitions. ● Continue to document their design analysis and their final building process including any

iterations of the design they may go through over the season. ● Project Management including:

o Time Management- How the team uses the time of team members and mentors. o Scheduling- What is the timeline the team uses the financial resources, and

technical resources and expertise available to it.


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Each notebook is created through a concerted effort by a team to document their design decisions. Throughout the season, many larger events send their Flight Plan Award and High Flyer Award winners to the Regional Championships that qualify for the World Championships. Be aware that a design notebook is required to be considered for either the Flight Plan or High Flyer award at VEX Worlds and local events. Start your notebooks early and update them often.

Judges Guide Tip: Judges use the information contained in the notebooks to assist with interview questions.

All Engineering Notebooks should contain these elements:

● Team number on the cover ● Written in ink with errors crossed out using a single line (so errors can be seen) ● All pages intact; no pages or parts of pages removed even if they contained errors ● Each page numbered and dated in chronological order ● Each page signed by student author ● Team meeting notes as the relate to the design process ● Pictures, CAD drawings, documents, examples of code, or other material relevant to the

design process are glued into the notebook (tape is acceptable, but glue is preferred)

Judges Guide PRO Tip: Outstanding Engineering Notebooks contain these additional elements:

● Table of Contents ● Each page is signed by a student witness as well as the student author ● First entry is the first team meeting and each team meeting has an entry ● Descriptions of brainstorming sessions ● Descriptions, sketches, and pictures of design concepts and the design process. ● Observations and thoughts of team members about their designs or design concepts ● Team organization practices as they relate to the design process. ● Project management practices as they relate to the design process ● Notes and observations from competitions to consider in the next design iteration ● Descriptions of programming concepts, programming improvements, or significant

programming modifications

Ultimately, your best Engineering Notebooks allow for a person unfamiliar with the team’s work to recreate the drone’s design and program based only on the information in the notebook.

Step 2: Research and Brainstorm the Game

Learn the Drone Game Rules

Have the team learn about the current game rules by reviewing the Official Game Manual.

➥ RADC Game Manual

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/593826/


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Brainstorm

After your team members learn about their current game challenge for the year, they will be excited to start work with the drone. However, encourage your team to analyze the challenge and develop a game strategy for scoring points successfully. Use a brainstorming process to determine if there is a need for 3D printed accessories. Before any building starts, chart the pros and cons of each accessory idea in your engineering notebook so that a variety of approaches are considered. If your team begins the building process too soon, an effective strategy and design idea may be missed. One simple way to brainstorm is to have the team list all of its strategies and design ideas and then categorize them by “Need, Want, and Wish.” Thus, if your team only has time to accomplish its “Needs” by the time a competition rolls around, it is still competitive. Later, your team can get the list of “Wants” and “wishes” as time allows. Remember, this is only one of many viable brainstorming processes a team can use.

Test your Drone’s abilities

Many elements of the game can be accomplished by using the drone itself. Give each team member time to practice piloting the drone and scoring. This practice gives the students a chance to understand basic aviation skills that could be utilized for scoring. Have your students chart in the engineering notebook which drivers are successful at accomplishing each task of the game. This will allow your students to see who the more competent drivers are for competition, but also allow them to determine what modifications need to be made to either their drone or their strategy.

Step 3: Prototype and Design

Modifications and 3D Printed Accessories

TEAMS are permitted to customize their drones while bearing in mind other rules contained in the Game Manual. This rule is intentionally open-ended. Put simply, most plastic components of the STOCK DRONE can be customized by most means. Customization that presents a safety hazard or prohibits sustained flight are not allowed.

Custom ATTACHMENTS are allowed while bearing in mind other rules contained in the Game Manual. This rule is intentionally open-ended. ATTACHMENTS that present a safety hazard or prohibit sustained flight are not allowed.

Before your team begins fabricating custom parts or accessories, there are a few things teams should consider:

● Follow all game rules as outlined in the official game manual. ● Search the Official Q&A forum first if you have any questions. If you don’t see your

answer, post a question. There is a link to the Official Q&A in the game manual, but it can be found on Robotevents.com. The primary and secondary contacts can post questions to clarify game rules. Find the Q & A by clicking “robot competitions” drop down menu and selecting the RADC program.

● Ask technical questions in the RADC Forum. Some answers may already be there, so do a quick search first.

● Drone or 3D modelling experience is not necessary. A supportive community is ready to assist.

● Designing with a CAD tool is helpful, there are many options available to choose from. Many are offered free to educators and students and can be found by doing a google search.


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Step 4: Test, Troubleshoot and Iterate

Test & Iterate

The great thing about 3D printing is having the ability to build, test, and iterate a design in a

rather rapid fashion. Many great designs in our world took many, many attempts to perfect.

While iterating, encourage team members to make only one change at a time and to

document the impact of the change. While this may seem overly burdensome, it is the best

process to document design changes and their results. Design is an iterative process, so

embrace the notion and keep going until the mechanism yields the expected, repeatable,

desired behavior.

NOTE: When testing new programming code always save new code under a new filename. Programming files are small and take up almost no hard drive space so develop a naming system and stick with it throughout. You never know when something won’t work and you’ll regret having to recreate something that already worked well.

It is also important to remember that the design and programming phases can be difficult,

and these processes almost never go as planned, especially in earlier iterations. Always treat

a “failed” design as an opportunity to learn and try to make sure all team members walk away

with something positive each time you meet. Learning key interpersonal skills and

perseverance is every bit as important as any engineering, programming or design

knowledge gained by the students on your team.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and we need a little assistance. The RAD Forum is a

great place to interact with other teams to share successes, failures and ask for help.

RAD Forum:

➥ https://www.radforums.org/

Step 5: Get Ready to Compete!

Event Registration

Register to participate in one or more events during the season. Details of scheduled events are updated throughout the season on www.robotevents.com. Teams must first pay their team registration (See: Team registrations) for the season before they can register for an event. Competition event registration fees vary by event, but usually range from free scrimmages to $25-$65 for qualifying events. Signature events and Championships usually carry higher fees.

Events can fill up quickly. Be sure to plan your season and register for events early so that students and their families can plan accordingly. If an event fills early, you can add your teams to the waitlist tab of the event and possibly be added as space allows.

NOTE: Events are run by Event Partners (EP). The EP’s contact information is found on Robotevents.com under the general tab. This is the resource for all event-based questions.

https://www.radforums.org/

http://www.robotevents.com/


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Event Types

Workshops: Workshops are non-qualifying events that provide in-person or online opportunities to gain skills, promote STEM, and inspire students.

Tournaments: Tournaments are the most common event type and are qualifying events. Tournaments are typically one day events that feature Qualification Matches followed by Elimination Matches. In most cases, judged awards are offered and judging for those awards run concurrently with the event. Tournaments without judged awards are allowed and may be an easier alternative for new Event Partners or for Events that have fewer volunteers.

Scrimmages: Scrimmages are like Tournaments but are non-qualifying events that are typically one day events. These events are usually run exactly like a tournament but are meant to give teams an opportunity to test their drone skills and designs.

Leagues: Leagues are qualifying events that are like tournaments but provide multiple opportunities for a group of teams to participate in drone events. Instead of a one-day event, the tournament is spread over (4) or more match sessions spaced over several weeks or months.

NOTE: Some leagues are set up as non-qualifying scrimmages depending on the region.

Signature Events: Signature Events provide students with an opportunity to experience a world-class event with teams from the outside of their normal event region. These events have stricter requirements than regular events to give teams a min-VEX World Championship like experience. Signature Events are qualifying events and qualifying teams go directly to the World Championship Event.

Championship Events: Team must qualify at a prior event to attend a Championship Event. Some Championship events are qualifying events. Go to the awards tab of the event of Robotevents.com for more information. Contact your RSM for more information about your region's Championship Event.

NOTE: Qualifying is a term used to signify that a team winning certain awards at these events (per the Awards tab on robotevents.com) are invited to move on to the next level of competition, culminating in the RADC World Championship.

Preparing for Competition

After your team has completed the customization and programming of their drone and has practiced piloting, all the while documenting their progress in their engineering notebook, it is time to get ready for competition.

It is common for team members to get nervous before their first ever competition, but proper preparation can help transform that anxiety into confidence.


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Here are a few ways your team can prepare for their upcoming competition:

● Review the rules and run through the Inspection Checklist about a week before competition so there is ample time for any adjustments, if needed.

● Check the official Q & A forums for rule clarifications. ● Visit the event’s page on robotevents.com and read it carefully. Specifically look for

details about your team’s arrival instructions, concession areas, electrical sources, and any venue-specific rules.

● Review the description and criteria for the awards that are given during the tournament ● Prepare to answer questions from the judges. ● Review how the Qualifying and Eliminations matches work. ● Assign tasks or roles for each member of the team - have a plan for delineating

responsibilities during the competition. Have a backup plan if a team member cannot make it.

● Pack for the event the day before the day of departure. Most competition days start early and it’s easy to miss something when in a rush. Here are some items the team will need:

o Safety glasses o Spare parts and tools o Spare drones (optional) o Batteries and chargers o programming cable o laptop computer/device for programming o Engineering notebook o Banners or signs to identify your team (show your school spirit) o Giveaways (if you have them)

Stage 5. Attending an Event

Safety of participants is always a major priority at a RADC event. Students must be accompanied by a supervising adult who must be present at all times. Students and adults are subject to the safety rules both within the venue and outside the entrance. Below are just a few of the safety practices participants and guests should follow:

Outside the Venue:

● It is always good practice for students to travel in groups, never alone. ● Have a basic understanding of entrances and exits to the building. If a map is available,

keep it on hand. ● Be aware of the traffic flow and walking hazards to and from your transportation. ● Keep vehicles locked.

Inside the Venue:

● If you have physical limitations, contact the Event Partner prior to the event for possible accommodations.

● Carry First Aid or know the location of First Aid and safety devices for the venue. ● Assign a person to safety for your team at the event. ● Drones must be stored in the Hangar when not in flight. Check with the Event Partner for

the location of the Hangar, which is the designated space for storage, maintenance, and testing of drones.

● Work on the drone in the Hangar only.


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● Locate the approved Flight Zone areas o Learn the specific rules for each Flight Zone area. (e.g. where to stand when

piloting the drone, when it’s OK to retrieve the drone) o Remember to fly under the ceiling requirement of 10 ft. o Teams may not fly their drones in any areas not designated as a flight zone,

including but not limited to parking lots, fields, hallways, etc. before, during, or after an event. Violators will be disqualified and will be required to remove the drone from the event.

● Wear safety goggles in and around the Flight Zone, including the hangar. ● Check with the Hangar Chief for the location to connect your battery charger. You will

not be permitted to launch if the drone’s lights are red. (be sure to label your charger with your team’s name or number as all chargers will be identical)

● Appropriate shoes must be worn. Open toed shoes and sandals are discouraged. ● Running pushing, shoving, and other aggressive behavior must be avoided. ● Keep trash and other debris pick up ● Report any safety concerns to the Event Partner.

What to Expect at an Event

Tournaments are busy, fast-moving days. Here are a few tips to help teams enjoy the day:

● Make sure your team is well rested and hydrated. Bring nonperishable snacks. ● Dress comfortably and wear closed toed shoes. Wearing team shirts or costumes adds

to the fun. ● Ensure your drone is charged and ready for action! ● Make sure all equipment and parts are labeled with your team number or contact

information. ● Arrive a few minutes early, if possible, and become familiar with the event venue. ● Ensure that an adult associated with the team supervises the students throughout the

event. ● Review the event agenda and match schedule. Make sure the students know their team

number. ● Assign a timekeeper, who ensures the team arrives on time for their matches. ● Encourage your team to interact and share with other teams to enhance their learning

experience. ● Always demonstrate courtesy & respect to event staff and participants. ● Offer positive support and encouragement throughout the day. ● Share your team spirit and HAVE FUN!

Key Terms

Event Partner

A person responsible for organizing and running the event.

Hangar

An area designated by the event partner for storage of drones when they are not in match play or skills match play. Drones must be stored in this location when not in use.


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Inspection

Process completed of the drones upon arrival to a tournament and before each match. This process ensures that the drone is in compliance with regulations to parts, modifications, and safety. What is legal or not is defined in the game manual. Inspections usually takes approximately 5-minutes and is done in the Hangar. Inspection checklist can be found here.

Event Meeting

An event meeting is typically run by the Head Referee and/or the Event Partner. All participants including students, coaches, and other adults associated with the team are expected to attend. In this meeting, safety, rules, and behavioral expectations are reviewed. Event specific information, like where to line up and/or any adjustments to the schedule are also provided.

Judging

Teams of students showcase their knowledge and skill in designing, customizing, and programming their drone. As part of many events, volunteers review all submitted engineering notebooks, observe team performance and conduct team interviews. The criteria to determine the winners of the Judged Awards are in the Judge Guide.

Qualifying Matches

The Qualifying Match schedule is available once all teams are checked in. This schedule shows the match your team is assigned and who they are randomly paired with. For tournaments with multiple fields, the schedule also indicates which field the match will take place. Qualification Matches are used to determine ranking for the Alliance Selection.

RADC Game Summary

Each 3-minute match consists of two teams of the Red Alliance and two teams of the Blue Alliance. The object of the game is for each alliance to outscore the other alliance. See game manual for complete game rules.

Skills Matches

During most events, teams have an opportunity to participate in Skills Matches. These are usually held on a separate field near the competition fields or on the main field in the morning or lunch. Teams should check the event agenda to determine when the Skills Fields open and close. Most events run the Skills Matches on a first-come basis, so teams should plan accordingly to ensure that they get their Skills Matches completed.

Skills Matches are 1 team competing autonomously for 60-seconds for the highest score. Please review the game manual for Skill Match field set up and scoring rules as they may be different compared to qualifying matches. Skill Matches are optional, but highly recommended since many awards utilize Skills rankings and scores may be used to fill Championship qualifying spots.

Tournament Finals

https://www.roboticseducation.org/documents/2020/11/radc-inspection-form.pdf/

https://www.roboticseducation.org/documents/2019/08/judge-guide.pdf/


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Part 1: Alliance Selection/Elimination Matches

The period of a RADC tournament which happens after the Qualification Matches. During this period Alliances are determined for Elimination Match play. Alliance Selection proceeds as follows:

1. The highest ranked team at the end of qualification matches becomes the first alliance captain.

2. The alliance captain invites another team to join their alliance. 3. The invited team either accepts or declines as outlined in <T5>. 4. The next highest ranked team at the end of QUALIFICATION MATCHES becomes the

next alliance captain. Alliance captains continue to select their alliances in this order until all alliances are formed for the elimination matches.

Elimination Matches are played using a bracket format. Byes are awarded when fewer alliances are used.

Part 2: Determining a Winner

Red Alliances and Blue Alliances face off against each other in a “bracket” format; the winning alliance moves on to the next round until one alliance has won over all opponents. Any ties will result in additional Matches until one alliance wins and advances. If a team is disqualified during and Elimination Match, then their alliance partner will also be disqualified, and the match is recorded as a loss. The bracket continues to converge with winners moving until a Tournament Champion alliance is declared!

NOTE: Both teams in the winning alliance are acknowledged as a winner of the tournament.

Awards

There are three types of awards: Performance awards, judged awards, and individual awards. Not all awards are offered at all events. The Event Partner provides a list of the awards offered at the event on RobotEvents.com under the “Awards” tab. For details on the awards go to the end of the Judges Guide.

Ranking

After your team attends an event and participates in the Skills Matches, those scores are compared to the scores of teams from around the world! Check out where your team stands in the Global Rankings.


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In Conclusion

Using Resources

Please know your entire experience as a RADC team is fully supported by the REC Foundation and For the Win staff, Event Partners, volunteers, and your fellow teams. Please utilize the resources and ask questions as needed.

● Be sure to know who your Project Manager is. They can be found at www.roboticseducation.org/radc, or by emailing [email protected]

● Review information from community members on the RADC Forum. ● Read the judges guide to know what to expect during the judging process. ● Give your students a copy of the inspection checklist and judging rubrics so they know

what to expect. ● Read about the awards offered during the events, some events offer more awards than

others. ● Visit www.ftw-robotics.com for curriculum, stock drones, and stock accessories.

Celebrate Your Team’s Hard Work

After each event, be sure to celebrate your team’s accomplishments. Every team has room to grow and improve, but the experience and knowledge that your team gains from participating in an event is worthy of celebration. Consider inviting sponsors, teachers, and community members to post-event celebrations. This is an excellent opportunity for your team to share what they have learned, plan their participation in more robotics learning experiences, and develop community support for their efforts.

http://www.roboticseducation.org/radc

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.radforums.org/

http://www.ftw-robotics.com/

robotics education & competition foundation radc …

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