Global Conference on Educational Robotics™ Questions
- Who is able to participate in the International Botball Tournament?
- Does the game change for the International Botball Tournament?
- Besides the International Botball Tournament, what happens at the Global Conference on Edcuational Robotics?
- Who needs to register for the Global Conference?
- Do all the team participants from the regional tournament need to attend the international tournament in order for the team to be eligible to compete?
- Can Botball teams change their robots for the International Tournament?
- Who can participate in Beyond Botball?
- Who can submit a paper for the ‘Call for Papers’?
- Who is eligible for the Autonomous Robotics Showcase?
- Is there a documentation requirement for the International Botball Tournament?
Q: Who is able to participate in the International Botball Tournament?
A: Participants in each regional competition are eligible to participate in the International Botball Tournament regardless of how they finish at their regional event. Travel grants may be awarded to top teams in each region depending on available funding.
Q: Does the game change for the International Botball Tournament?
A: The game design and rules generally are the same for the International Botball Tournament as they are for the regional tournaments. However, minor edits to the rules and the game can be made prior to the International Botball Tournament. Teams are encouraged to review the FAQ section of their Team Home Base prior to the International Botball Tournament.
A: The Global Conference on Educational Robotics (GCER) is a full conference with breakout sessions featuring student and teacher led presentations, invited guest speakers, a robotics poster session, the International Botball Tournament and the Beyond Botball Tournament for adults.
Q: Who needs to register for the Global Conference?
Short Answer: EVERYONE!
Long Answer: Every Botball team that participated in a regional tournament is eligible to participate in the International Botball Tournament regardless of how they finished in their regional tournament. Please keep in mind that all Botball and Beyond Botball team members participating in the International Botball and Beyond Botball Tournaments must be registered for the conference package, and not just for a la carte items.
People traveling with the team who only wish to view the tournament do not need to register. People traveling with the team who wish to view the tournament and other conference events such as breakout sessions, guest speakers, or the Autonomous Robotics Showcase must register for a conference package or purchase a la carte tickets onsite.
We realize that cost is a deciding factor for team members planning to attend the National Conference on Educational Robotics. We don’t put any limitations or criteria on how many members must be on a team because every situation is different. ‘Teams’ consisting of one participant have competed in the International Botball Tournament in the past.
Q: Can Botball teams change their robots for the International Botball Tournament?
Teams are allowed to rebuild and reprogram their robots as they wish between now and the International Botball Tournament. The game rules and robot construction guidelines are identical to the regional tournament.
Q: Who can participate in Beyond Botball?
Beyond Botball teams must consist of AT LEAST one team member who has finished high school or its equivalent by January of the current year. Team members who are middle or high school aged are required to be on a regular Botball team in order to participate on a Beyond Botball team. Read more about Beyond Botball, here.
Q: Who can submit a paper for the ‘Call for Papers’?
The Call for Papers is directed at students, teachers, mentors and parents of robotics’ teams.
Q: Who is eligible for the Autonomous Robotics Showcase?
Any student, teacher, mentor or robot enthusiast is eligible to submit a display idea for their autonomous robot projects.
Q: Is there a documentation requirement for the International Tournament?
There are NO online documentation or onsite presentation elements at the International Tournament. Overall tournament scores are based on a team’s performance in the seeding and double elimination rounds only. We encourage teams to focus their creative and writing efforts on submitting entries for the Call for Papers.