1. Who can participate in Unified Robotics?

Unified Robotics is open to students at all educational levels, including elementary, middle, and high school. This ensures that young learners of various ages can participate and compete, fostering a diverse and inclusive community.

2. How many people are required to form a team?

A typical Unified Robotics team consists of a balanced mix of students with and without special needs. The exact number of team members can vary, but teams are encouraged to include multiple members to promote collaboration and inclusivity.

3. Do participants need prior experience in robotics?

No prior experience is required to join a Unified Robotics team. The program is designed to be inclusive and supportive, providing resources and guidance to help newcomers learn and succeed.

4. How can I join or form a team?

Interested individuals can join or form a team by reaching out to their local schools or robotics clubs. These organizations emphasize inclusivity and teamwork, making it easy for anyone to get involved.

5. What are the opportunities for volunteering?

Unified Robotics offers numerous opportunities for volunteering, including roles as coaches or mentors. Volunteers can help guide and support teams, sharing their knowledge and expertise to inspire and empower students.

6. What are the game rules for the competition?

The Unified Robotics competition is based on the VIQC Competition - Rapid Relay, with modifications. A match includes a driver control segment of 1:05 total time, split evenly between regular ed students and special needs students, and an autonomous segment of 1 minute. Teams collaborate with two robots on the field accomplishing tasks and scoring points.

7. What is an engineering notebook?

An engineering notebook is a special book where engineers document their ideas, designs, and experiments. It's like a diary where they record all the important information about their projects, including drawings, notes, and explanations of their thoughts and plans.

8. What types of awards are given in the competition?

Awards in Unified Robotics include Exemplary Driving, Exemplary Coding, Virtual Skills High Score, All Scores Combined, Exemplary Engineering Notebook, Documentary Awards, Community Award, and Penguin Awards. These awards recognize excellence and unique achievements in various aspects of the competition.

9. Can students participate in virtual competitions?

Yes, there is an optional VR/virtual skills competition component. Teams can choose to participate in this component as an add-on, but they cannot participate solely in virtual skills. The scoring for virtual skills is not included in the match score.

10. How do engineering notebooks factor into the competition?

Engineering notebooks are an essential part of the competition. There are no restrictions on the modality of the notebooks; they can be paper, digital, or mixed media. Entries should be signed, dated, and verified by a mentor. Notebooks are submitted prior to the competition for evaluation and should document the entire project process, including robot designs, iterative design processes, and reflections.