Introducing “SEED TO SPEED: battle of the seed sowing bots!”, brought to by FIRST Global Challenge India! Win an opportunity to represent India at the prestigious international robotics competition – FIRST Global Challenge 2024 – to be held at Athens, Greece during 26-29 September 2024.
More details about this exciting challenge are available here: https://first.global/fgc/
Note: this is the second challenge in the series of challenges for selection of FIRST Global Team India 2024. The submissions for first challenge – Walking Robot – closed on 26th April 2024. The last date for submission of the second challenge – Seed to Speed – is 15th May 2024. The best teams shortlisted from submissions to the two challenges will progress to Round 2 of the selection process. Note that it is not compulsory for teams to participate in both the challenges. Submission of any of the two challenges makes you eligible to progress to the second round. Teams that have submitted the first challenge can participate in the second challenge too and showcase their talent, determination and grit to compete!From Seed to Speed: Battle of the Seed-sowing Bots
SEED TO SPEED: battle of the seed sowing bots
Sustainable food production is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. This year’s theme challenges FIRST Global teams of students from around the world to learn about and address the obstacles and opportunities to provide the global population with equitable, safe, nutritious, and environmentally responsible food.
Traditional seeding methods often result in wasted seeds, uneven crop spacing, and can be labour-intensive. This contributes to inefficient use of resources and reduced crop yields, hindering efforts to sustainably feed a growing population while protecting the environment.
This year, India is searching for its brightest for the FIRST Global Challenge 2024. This international robotics competition, to be held in Athens (Greece) during 26-29 September 2024, unites students from around the world to tackle real-world challenges, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Eligibility Criteria
The team must consist of 3 to 5 students between the age of 14 and 18 years. The team must also include a technical mentor who could be a teacher, parent or even a professional.
Mission
Design and build a device/robot that can plant seeds in a field by minimising wastage and ensuring proper crop spacinghttps://first.global/fgc/
Rules of the Challenge
Here are some more rules that you need to keep in mind while you’re building the solution to this challenge:
The “field” in which seeds are to be planted by the device is a flat and horizontal rectangular area of size 100 cm x 100 cm. You may mark this area on a table or on the floor.
There is no material specified for the “field”. It can be a hard surface or a soft carpeted surface.
The robot/device should be capable of planting 400 “seeds” (or less) inside the “field”. The seeds should be uniformly distributed across the field with approximately 5 cm distance between any two neighbouring seeds.
The “seeds” should be of the chick-pea variety (white kabuli chana) that are approximately 5 mm to 10 mm in size.
The robot/device should be pre-loaded with all the seeds at the start. Once you start the device, the seeds must be manipulated by the device only and cannot be touched by the human operator of the device.
The device can be hand-driven or driven by mechanical / electro-mechanical means. You are allowed to use electric motors, sensors and microcontrollers (such as Arduino) but they are not necessary.
You are encouraged to create innovative designs of the device/robot and not simply replicate existing designs of similar devices that are already available
You need to submit a video of the robot/device in operation from start to finish in a single shot (no breaks in the video are allowed). The video should clearly show the design of the device as well as its operation during planting of the seeds
Dimensions of the seed planting device/robot: cannot exceed 100 cm (length), 100 cm (width) and 25 cm height.
Materials allowed:
Wood, plastic or aluminium, such as extrusions, channels, tubes, sheet
Joineries such as nuts and bolts, cable ties, string, sticky tape, glue
Motion components such as wheels, shafts, gears, pulleys, belts
Flexible components such as springs or rubber-band/tubing
Microcontrollers such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi
DC motors (maximum 12V) and Servos (5V)
Sensors such as IR proximity, distance, touch, colour
You are allowed to use individual parts from robot kits
Materials NOT allowed:
3D printed parts
Laser-cut or CNC-cut parts
Pre-built mechanisms (such as those from seed drills, robot kits or toys)
Remember that the total cost of constructing your device is an important factor in your solution to this challenge. Using cost-effective components such as Arduino are encouraged instead of expensive controllers such as REV Control Hub.
All parts of the device need to be constructed by the students themselves. You cannot take professional help for this purpose.
You may use any power source for the device such as springwind, wind energy, gravity, electricity (max 12V from a battery). The device may also be hand-driven
Judging Criteria
Accuracy: Is your device capable of planting all 400 seeds? Does it maintain 5 cm spacing between seeds
Speed: How much time does your robot/device take to plant all 400 seeds?
Innovation: What innovations have you used in your robot/device? What makes your design unique and effective compared to existing solutions?
Cost: This device is meant for farmers and needs to be cost effective. What design choices have you made to ensure that the cost is minimum?
Selection Process
FIRST STAGE: The first stage is a 5 minute video to showcase your device/robot’s uniqueness, innovation, and understanding of the scientific principles involved. This video should include:
Team introductions: Who are you and what school do you represent?
Design process: How did you come up with your robot’s design?
Robot demonstration: Show your device/robot planting the seeds
Explanation of unique features: What makes your robot stand out?
Hardware list: What materials did you use? How much did it cost?
Team strengths: Why should you be chosen for Team India?
The deadline for submitting your video is 15th May 2024. Upload your video to YouTube and include the link of the video in the application form.
SECOND STAGE: If you’re shortlisted, you will progress to the next round of
selections – the Q&A round with judges. In this round, you will first be given 5 minutes to present your solution, followed by Q&A by judges for 15 min.
Are you ready to take on the challenge? Get your team together, unleash your creativity, and build a robot that will seed your way into the FIRST Global Challenge!
But wait, there’s more! The winning team doesn’t just get bragging rights. They win pride and lots and lots of exposure!
The winning team will own the “Team India 2024” title and win an unforgettable experience: Also an amazing opportunity of travelling to Greece, the country hosting the FIRST Global Challenge 2024!
If you have any queries, you may reach out to us by sending an email to addresses displayed on the screen as well as given in the description box below.
Nominate your team by Clicking Here
(For general queries, email teamindiafgc2023@gmail.com. Or whatsapp on 82082107911 )