This rule of this page is the draft version.

Welcome to RC Logistics League Technical Challenge “StartUp”

Concept-Proposal for a technical challenge teams to entry into logistic league

Idea of RC Logistics League “StartUp” technical challenge

The RC Logistics League faces different main problems:

• The league needs a lot of material to be able to hold a competition.
• The basic costs for a new team are relatively high.
• The requirements for a new team are very complex.

These basic problems lead to a shortage of new teams interested in RCLL. Furthermore, new teams are facing a lot of problems to find their way into the many requirements of the RCLL. This leads with interested teams to an excessive demand and a mostly sobering, thereby not motivating, first participation in the cup.

With the new technical challenge, teams on the lowest level (standard platform) are to be picked up and led step by step to the requirements of the RCLL. In different stages it should be possible to get points and learn the skills that are necessary for the RCLL. In addition, teams with advanced skills have the opportunity to successively prepare for the RCLL challenge.

Also important for the new technical challenge

The following points are important for the new technical challenge:

• New Teams should be able to get points with the standard-platform and standard software
• Teams should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills until they have mastered all the basic skills to switch to the RCLL.
• The playing field should be as free as possible from complex structures and, as far as possible, without the stations (use of simple dummies, if necessary).
• With the format “Technical challenge” there is no need to build a new league and the teams are challenged to switch to RCLL, after they get the most important skills.

Time Schedule for the technical challenge “StartUP”

Like RCLL, the TC “StartUp” should last over 3 days. Additionally, 2 setup days are available. A skill sequence should not last longer than 15 minutes including preparation time of playing field and setup of the team. This should allow 4 sequences in one hour. If the first two days are from 9.00 to 19.00, 80 skills-slots would result (If needed). If we assume that 10 teams participate, then over 8 timeslots would result per team.

In the first two days the goal is to score as many points as possible.

The best 4 Teams are playing in the final on the third day, each team 3 skills.  

Skillsmatrix

The basic idea is that the teams can select their skills from a matrix. The skills are divided into 5 focus topics (still to be defined). Focus means that the focus is on this topic. However, complementary skills may also be required. The focus topics correspond to a requirement in the RCLL. In the individual focus topics there are 3 levels of difficulty which give different points when reaching them. 4 crossover challenges with 100 - 200 points are also available.

Concept of matrix with 5 focus topics

Level	Points	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic	Topic
		Driving	Positioning	Detecting	Gripping	Communication
3	50	Nbr 13	Nbr 23	Nbr 33	Nbr 43	Nbr 53
2	30	Nbr 12	Nbr 22	Nbr 32	Nbr 42	Nbr 52
1	10	Nbr 11	Nbr 21	Nbr 31	Nbr 41	Nbr 51

Crossover Challenges: Nbr 61, Nbr 62, Nbr 63 and Nbr 64

Important:

• With the standard platform and the standard software at least 5-6 skills should be reachable
• Most skills do not require any functioning stations and in most cases no RefBox? (see flexibility for different organizations).

Possible Rules:

• General
  • Each team can choose the skill before the start (to define lead time)
  • The exact rule is defined in the skills rule
  • Once a skill has been successfully passed, it may no longer be chosen.
  • If a skill has started, one maintenance per robot is possible (Like RCLL).
  • For communication, we assume that OPC UA, the industry standard, will be used in the future.
  • The tags used to recognize the stations are based on the tags of Roboview (AR tags, the “dll” exist)
  • Whenever possible, the standard Refbox should be used so that no 2nd Refbox has to be programmed and maintained. For some crossover challenges an adaptation will be needed.

• Area
  • The skills area is about 5mx5m with 25 square zones 1mx1m, just like RCLL
  • Ideally, no boarders are used for the TC. If necessary, 2 boards of 1m each are installed in the corner area S11, S15, S55, S51.

 

• Points
  • A successfully completed skill cannot be repeated.
  • If 2 or more teams have the same number of points, then whoever has reached the highest level in an exercise wins, or if this is the same, whoever has more of higher levels wins.
  • If the robot leaves the game area (out of the border the skill is not fulfilled) = 0 points
  • If the robot touches an obstacle, for each obstacle -5 points.

Flexibility of different organisations

In order to hold an event, for example a preparation tournament, at least 3 topics with the 3 levels must be selected. It is not necessary to offer all topics as in the RC.

Skills- Definition (Proposal)

See Skills definition on separate sheets