Frequently Asked Questions

1. May we enter more than one team from our school?
   Yes, if your school has additional hardware to support more than one team. Multiple teams are encouraged to allow more students the opportunity to participate. Each team must use separate hardware and software. ION provides one LEGO MINDSTORMS Education kit to your school the first year you participate in the competition.
   
   
2. Can non-Lego items be used to decorate the car?
   Decoration items such as stickers, paint, etc. are acceptable. Non-LEGO items that provide structure/support/functionality may not be added to the car; the car should be able to operate without the decorations.
   
   
3. How much time will each team have between receiving the LEGO city map and the beginning of the 60 minutes time in the Lego city?
   A map of the city will be available when your team arrives for registration. Teams can inspect the city from a short distance prior to other teams competing. Your team will receive your assigned stops at the beginning of your one-hour calibration/prep time.
   
   
4. The rulebook states “no additional sensors” may be used. What does this mean?
   No additional sensor types may be used. Extra sensors of the previously approved (and provided) types may be used. Procurement of extra sensors is up to individual teams.
   
   
5. What do the speed limit signs along the road look like? How far away are the signs from the road?
   The information for the speed limits is encoded by the colored line on the road bed. Any speed limit signs are for aesthetic purposes only.
   
   
6. Are the buildings' parking lot sizes uniform?
   No. Some parking lots have more spaces than others. Each parking space is 20cm wide.
   
   
7. Is it possible to have a parking lot at the corner of 2 intersections?
   Yes. If a parking lot is located on an intersection, your car may enter the lot from either street.
   
   
8. Are the intersections all of the same size (length/width)?
   Yes, the intersections are all the same size and correspond to the width of the roadways.
   
   
9. Do you allow U-turns?
   No.
   
   
10. Are there curved roads in the city? If there are, what are the speed limits on the curves?
    Yes, there are curved roads. The speed limit of the curves will be the same as that of the corresponding roadway.
    
    
11. Can mentors or teachers be interacting with the team during the competition?
    Yes, but in an advisory role only. Once the team is granted access to the city only the students are allowed to touch the hardware, car, laptop, software, etc.
    
    
12. How big is the city?
    The city is approximately 20’x20’.
    
    
13. How many controllers (RCX or NXT) may the robot have? For example may we link together 2 controllers?
    Only 1 controller per robot may be used.
    
    
14. May the robot travel BELOW the speed limit?
    You may go below the speed limit, but if you exceed it, you will be penalized.
    
    
15. Are there any height restrictions on the robot?
    No, there are no height restrictions.
    
    
16. Our school includes both middle school and high school grade levels. Can the middle school students join our team?
    Teams may only consist of high school students, defined as those enrolled in grades 9-12 as of the date the team's application is submitted. Middle school students are welcome to attend the competition as spectators.