WHEN: Monday December 10, 2007. Plan to arrive at 2:20. The show will go on, even if we have a blizzard.
WHERE: McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN, on the East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota. A map and photo of the building is posted at http://onestop.umn.edu/Maps/McNamaraCt/
PARKING: Bring your University of Minnesota parking ramp ticket to the registration desk for validation (jury members only). We can only validate for U of M ramps. We can't tell you in advance which ramps will have space because each day it is different, but we suggest you try the ones below in the order listed. Note that the University Avenue ramp is connected to the McNamara Center by a skyway.
University Avenue Ramp
http://onestop.umn.edu/Maps/UnivRamp/
Washington Avenue Ramp
http://onestop.umn.edu/Maps/WashRamp/
Huron Blvd Parking Complex
http://onestop.umn.edu/Maps/HuronComp/
Fourth Street Ramp
http://onestop.umn.edu/Maps/4StRamp/
WHAT DO I DO WHEN I ARRIVE?: Go to the registration table located near the southwest entrance. Find your jury package which contains a name badge, instructions, and a pen. Please recycle the name badge at the end of the show. Then find two others to form a jury team of 3, or we may be forming the teams for you. Please mix it up and work with 2 others not from your organization. Send one person to the registration table to collect a team scoring assignment and a stack of score sheets. Assign one person on the team to be the recorder to mark scores on the sheets. When ready, your team launches out on its own to do the work. Start as close to 2:40 as you can.
WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR WHEN JUDGING?: Full instructions are in your registration package. Robots are judged on 5 categories including whether it works, meets rules, is creative, is sophisticated, and is well constructed. More info is in the instructions.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?: We are asking each team to judge 14 robots. At 8 minutes per robot, this will take 112 minutes, less if the team is inefficient, more if it is efficient. We encourage you to be efficient, even if it means you don't get as long as you like at each station.
WHAT IF I GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC OR CAN'T COME AT THE LAST MINUTE?: Arriving late is not a problem. If an emergency arises and you can't come at all, we understand perfectly. We have arranged for sufficient jury members that a loss of one or two should not be a problem. You don't have to tell us on the spot if something comes up, but please do send Durfee an email sometime later.
WHAT IF I HAVE TO PASS ALONG A MESSAGE?: There is no convenient way to get in touch with us during the show, but if you really have to get a message thru, call Tori (612-625-6808) or Betsy Antinozzi (612-625-0705), either of whom can reach us at the show in an emergency.
DO I HAVE TO DO ANYTHING IN ADVANCE TO PREPARE?: No, just show up.
DO I HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MECHANICAL ENGINEERING OR ROBOTS?: No, you just have to be interested in design and interested in the work of creative students.
WHO ELSE IS ON THE JURY?: Tentative jury list is at www.me.umn.edu/courses/me2011/robot/jury
ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?: Complete jury instructions and scoring criteria will be in your jury package at the show. If you want a preview, go to www.me.umn.edu/courses/me2011/robot/jury where you will find the jury instructions and a sample score sheet.
Thanks for helping!