National STEM League: ROVER

OUTSOURCE THE DIRTY, DANGEROUS & DULL.

Curriculum Info

This page is dedicated only to the National STEM League: Rover Series.  It discusses only how students collaborate and compete with one another.  The Student Rover Challenge curriculum page provides details on the curriculum that can be implemented in formal classrooms, clubs and camps.

Ultimate Goal

The ultimate goal of Student Rover Challenge teams is to learn how to teach machines to do dangerous, dirty and dull (repetitive) jobs … and to think innovatively about how these emerging technologies can improve your life, project, business and/or community.

To lead in competition, teams must engineer a robust Rover and build a strong event strategy.  That will get them half-way there.  As in professional life, teams must also have a strong R&D focus (Data-Driven Design and MODS), marketing strategy and work toward becoming leaders in their communities.

2015-16 Competition & Categories

Rover teams compete online in an annual points race and face-to-face at Open Invitationals across the country. Points leaders and Invitational winners are invited to the NSL Finals at Homestead-Miami Speedway on May 20-21.

• Head-to-Head Maze Navigation
• Time Trials
• Automation
• MODS! Modify the stock robot …
  • User interface OR
  • Hardware
• Data-Driven Design Project
• Enterprise
  • Pitches and Presentations
  • Business Modeling
  • Project Planning
  • Marketing & Public Relations
  • Graphic Design
• Community Leadership

Competition Flyer

Download the NSL ROVER Series Flyer

Wall Post Overview

Download “Wall Posts” … that hang on the wall.

Thanks to the U.S. Army for its support of youth and education through the National STEM League.

Technology

Schools and organizations that have the Student Rover OR Racing Challenge kits can enter into this competitions series.  One or the other is required so that teams have a background in Enterprise, Innovation and Data-Driven Design that is provided through Ten80’s curriculum.

Automate the Student Racing Challenge car, clean out your closet to build something from scratch or use Ten80’s Rover kit.  Click here for design constraints if using anything other than Ten80’s Rover.

The brain behind Ten80’s Rover is an Arduino chip.  The interface is a computer screen so a computer or tablet that runs Processing is required.  The chassis combines metal with 3-D printed parts.  Because it uses totally open-source technology, you can re-purpose the parts for the next project that may have nothing to do with robotics.

The Rover chassis can be completely modified using whatever tools are available to you.  Use SolidWorks 3-D CAD (or other CAD programs) and fabricate them using 3-D Printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, etc.  Add arms, spacers, extenders or whatever you can dream up to help improve its performance.  SolidWorks is available for free to all students involved with a Student Rover Challenge team.