RoboMission

Senior Game Rules

Season 2023

CONNECTING THE WORLD

AUTONOMOUS PORT
Official Game Rules for the WRO International Final. Version: January 15th 2023
(Note: Rules for local WRO events may vary!)

WRO International Premium Partner

 WRO 2023 – RoboMission – Senior

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Game Field ................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Game Objects, Positioning, Randomization ....................................................................... 4
4. Robot Missions ......................................................................................................................... 10
4.1 Load the small ship ......................................................................................................... 10
4.2 Fuel the big ship ............................................................................................................... 10
4.3 Load the big ship .............................................................................................................. 10
4.4 Unload the special container ........................................................................................ 11
4.5 Escort the ships to open sea ........................................................................................ 11
4.6 Bonus points ..................................................................................................................... 11
4.7 Moor the robot vessel ..................................................................................................... 11
5. Scoring ........................................................................................................................................ 12
6. Local, regional, and international events .......................................................................... 19

Information on how to use these game rules in countries:

We deliberately have a mix of simple and more difficult tasks in the game rules. These rules
are also used for the WRO International Final, where we expect to see many teams that
can solve all missions. At a local, regional, or national level however, there will be many
teams that do not have the experience, knowledge or time to solve everything. This is
intentional. By offering simple and more complicated tasks all teams will be able to solve
parts of the challenge and can keep trying to improve their work. (Also see chapter 6)

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1. Introduction
Our modern-day society relies on container shipments that transport all kinds of goods over
the oceans. In the past, particular routes would involve ships having to take long, dangerous
journeys around the edges of continents, such as around Cape Horn in South America or Cape
of Good Hope in Africa. But the construction of the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal have
made it possible for ships to reach their destinations much faster and more safely. Many
modern transport ships have even been built exactly according to the Panamax or the new
Neopanamax standard: the maximum size for crossing the Panama Canal.

Standardization and automation are other aspects that have made international transport over
sea more effective. The introduction of standard shipping containers is an example of this
standardization. These containers can easily be transferred from a ship to a truck or a train,
making transportation faster. In modern ports many processes are automated, for example,
unloading of containerships and even piloting of ships. Even autonomous ships are a thing
that we can expect to see in the near future.

On the Senior game field, the robot will help to load and unload ships, fuel them and
pilot them to open sea.

2. Game Field
The following graphic shows the game field with the different areas.

If the table is larger than the game mat, put the side with the container depots and the ship
information centre towards the wall.

For more information about the table and game mat specifications, please take a look
at WRO RoboMission General Rules, chapter 6.
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3. Game Objects, Positioning, Randomization

Big ship (1x) and small ship (1x)

There is one big ship and one small ship on the field. Both ships are always placed at the
same position at the beginning of the match, aligning the rectangular part of the ship with the
rectangular marking on the game mat.

Big ship Small ship

Start position of the big ship Start position of the small ship

Containers
There are different kind of containers on the field that should be loaded onto the ships:
• 2 small white containers that are always placed in container depot B
• 2 small green containers and 2 big blue containers that are randomly placed on the
four positions in container depot A

2 small white containers 2 small green and 2 big blue containers

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One possible placement of the containers in Placement of the containers in depot B,

depot A, containers are always placed in containers are always placed in this
this orientation, green containers always on orientation
the light grey marking in front, blue
containers on the full light and dark grey
area

Special container
There is one special container with important goods that is always placed on the big ship

Special container (red) The container is always placed in the inner

position between the black parts of the ship

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The container is always placed exactly in the middle

with the orientation of the loop as shown in the picture.
Fuel station
There is one fuel station on the field that includes one 2x2 yellow brick that symbolizes the
fuel. Please note, that the base of the fuel station needs to be fixed on the field (see General
Rules, chapter 6).

Fuel station Start position of the fuel station with fuel

block (2x2 yellow brick) on top

Fuel brick is always placed at this

position on top of the fuel station

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Crane A and B
There are two cranes on the field. Both cranes are constructed in the same way and
positioned in the same way on the game field. Please note that the cranes need to be fixed
on the field (see General Rules, chapter 6). Make sure that, as well as fixing the crane to the
mat, you also fix the mat directly to the table underneath the game object for more stability.

Crane Setup of a crane on a crane position

(rubber band is missing in animated 3D,
please check the photos and building
instruction for that)

Larger photo to show the start position of a crane

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Marking blocks (4x)

There are four marking blocks (2x green, 2x blue). Two marking blocks are randomly selected
and then placed on the positions 1 and 2 in the ship information centre. The other ones won’t
be on the game field. The marking blocks indicate two containers that should be loaded on the
big ship.

All marking blocks One possible placement of two marking

blocks in the ship information centre

Harbour walls (4x)

There are four harbour walls on the field that divide the field into the harbour and outer sea
area, these barriers are not allowed to be moved or damaged. The part with the lighthouse is
always placed towards the middle of the game field.

Harbour walls (2x) Placement of the harbour walls at the

beginning of each round (one black wall
and one lighthouse element should be
placed on the marked harbour wall area on
each side)

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Summary randomization
On this field, the following objects are randomly placed in each round:

• Placement of containers in the container depot A

• Placement of marking blocks in the ship information centre

One possible randomization you can see here:

• Green and blue containers are on positions in depot A
• One green and one blue marking block is in the ship information centre
• (Always: two containers are placed in the depot B)

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4. Robot Missions
For greater clarity, the missions will be explained in multiple sections. The team can
decide which parts of the missions they will do and in which order. Final scoring will be
based on the situation on the field at the end of the run.

4.1 Load the small ship

The robot should help to load containers on the ships in the harbour. On the small ship the
robot can place two containers to get points. It is not important which colour the containers
have (green, blue and/or white).

Points are awarded for each container that is loaded onto the ship. Additional points are
awarded if the loading is completed (two containers are on the ship). It does not matter where
on the ship the containers are placed. It is allowed that the robot moves the ship to make the
loading easier or faster. The ship itself should not be damaged, but it is OK if the flag, flagpole
and/or blue round brick holding the flagpole are damaged or fall off.

4.2 Fuel the big ship

Robots do not only help with loading containers on the ships, but they can also help with
maintaining ship vessels. A task of the autonomous robot vessel in this harbour is to fuel the
big ship.

For this, the little fuel brick (2x2 yellow brick) should be added to the ship. It can either be on
the ship or in the ship (e.g. in the little triangle at the front touching the mat). To fuel the ship,
the robot can activate the fuel station and get the fuel brick itself. The robot can also push the
big ship into the fuel station. Then the fuel station is activated and the little fuel brick falls into
the ship.

4.3 Load the big ship

Loading the big ship is a bit more complicated than loading the small ship. For a complete
loading three containers must be loaded on the big ship:

• Always one white container

• The other two containers of the colour defined by the marking blocks in the ship
information centre, example: If a green and blue marking block is placed in the ship
information centre, a green and a blue container should be loaded onto the big ship.

Points are awarded for each container that is loaded onto the ship. Additional points are
awarded if the loading is completed (all three containers are on the ship). It does not matter
where on the ship the containers are placed. It is allowed that the robot moves the ship to
make loading easier or faster. The ship itself should not be damaged, but it is OK if the flag,
flagpole and/or blue round brick holding the flagpole are damaged or fall off.

For points in this task it does not matter what happens with the special container (see 4.4).

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4.4 Unload the special container

At the beginning of each round, there is one special container (the red one) already loaded on
the big ship. It is the task of the robot to help unload this container with the help of a crane.

For this, the robot could either fetch the container from the big ship and transport it to a crane
or push the ship in front of one of the cranes and unload the container automatically.

Points are awarded for different end situations. You get points if the robot holds the container,
more points if the container is at crane A and even more points if the container is at crane B.

Additional points are awarded if the crane with the container is activated, and the container is
lifted.

4.5 Escort the ships to open sea

Once containers are loaded onto the ships, the autonomous robot vessel should pilot the ships
out of the harbour to the open sea.

For that, the robot should push or pull the ships across the dotted dark blue line between the
harbour walls that differentiates the harbour area from the open sea. Points are awarded if the
ships have completely crossed the line on top-view but points are only awarded if at least one
container is loaded onto each ship.

4.6 Bonus points

Bonus points will be awarded for not moving or damaging the harbour walls on the field.

4.7 Moor the robot vessel

At the end, the autonomous robot vessel should be moored. This, the team can do by either
ending in the Start & Finish area or by ending in the mooring station at the open sea.

In both cases, it is OK if the robot is partly within (top-view) one of these areas.

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5. Scoring
Definitions for the scoring
“On/Onto the ship” means that a container is only touching the corresponding ship and
no other parts of the robot or the game mat. Please note that there is a new rule about
damaged game objects in the RoboMission General Rules (Rule 6.8).

Tasks Each Max.

Load the small ship with 2 containers
(no points for this task if more than 2 containers are loaded onto the ship)
Any container is successfully loaded onto the small ship 10 20
Ship is completely loaded (two containers are on the small ship) 9
Fuel the big ship
Fuel block is in/on the big ship 11
Load the big ship with 3 containers
(no points for this task if more than 3 containers are loaded onto the ship, the red container does
not count, so with the red container a total of 4 containers could be on the ship)
White container successfully loaded onto the big ship 10
Other containers of the correct colour successfully loaded onto the big ship 11 22
Ship is completely loaded (one white container and two containers of correct 9
colour, red container doesn’t count)
Unload special container
Robot is holding red container 10
(container is not touching the big ship or the game mat)
OR: Tip of crane A is through the loop of the red container (container can still 14
touch the robot, the ship and/or the game mat)
OR: Tip of crane B is through the loop of the red container (container can still 20
touch the robot, the ship and/or the game mat)
Additional: The crane that holds the red container is activated, and the container is 11
lifted (container is not touching the robot, the ship or the game mat)
Pilot the ships to open sea
Ship has crossed the dotted dark blue line between harbour and open sea 12 24
completely and at least one container is loaded onto the ship (not the red
container)
Get bonus points
Harbour walls are not moved or damaged 3 12
Moor the robot (only if other points, not bonus, are assigned)
Projection of the robot is at least partly in the start & finish area 10
Projection of the robot is at least partly in the mooring station at open sea. 17
Maximum Score 165

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Scoring Interpretation

Definition for all containers in all mission:

“On/Onto the ship” means that a container is only touching the corresponding ship and
no other parts of the robot or the game mat. To score points it does not matter how or
where the container is positioned on the ship. You can see the examples in the first
mission for the small ship, the interpretation is the same for the big ship.

Load the small ship with 2 containers

(no points for this task if more than 2 containers are loaded onto the ship)
Any Container is successfully loaded onto the small ship. è 10 points
Ship is completely loaded (two containers are on the small ship). è 9 points

10 points (onto the ship) 10 points (onto the ship) 10 points (onto the ship)

10 points (onto the ship) 0 points (touching the mat) 29 points (two containers
loaded + completely
loaded)

29 points (two containers 29 points (two containers 0 points (more than 2

loaded + completely loaded + completely loaded, it containers are on the small
loaded, it does not matter does not matter where the ship)
which containers loaded on small ship is on the field)
small ship)

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29 points (two containers

loaded + completely
loaded, OK if flagpole is
fallen off)

Fuel block is in/on the big ship. è 11 points

Note: It does not matter how the fuel brick falls or is placed into the ship; it must be in/on
the big ship at the end of the match.

11 points (ship is pushed 11 points (ship is somewhere 11 points for fuel brick (ship
forward, fuel fell in ship) else on the field, fuel is in is somewhere else on the
ship) field, fuel on top)

Load the big ship with 3 containers

(no points for this task if more than 3 containers are loaded onto the ship, the red container
does not count, so with the red container a total of 4 containers could be on the ship)

White container successfully loaded onto the big ship. è 10 points

Other containers of the correct colour successfully loaded onto the big ship. è 11 points
Ship is completely loaded (one white container and two containers of correct colour, red
container doesn’t count). è 9 points.

Note: In this example the marking blocks show that a green and blue container should be
loaded onto the big ship. Only if then one white (always) + one green + one blue containers are
loaded onto the ship, the ship is considered to be completely loaded).

10 points (white container 21 points (white container + 41 points (10 for white
on big ship) green container on big ship) containers, 22 for green

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and blue containers, 9

points for completely
loaded)

21 points (white container + 0 points (more than 3 41 points (10 for white
one other correct container containers loaded onto containers, 22 for green
on the ship) the big ship) and blue containers, 9
points for completely
loaded, OK if flagpole is
fallen off)

Robot is holding red container

(container is not touching the big ship or the game mat). è 10 points.
OR: Tip of crane A is inside the loop of the red container (container can still touch robot, the
ship and/or the game mat). è 14 points.
OR: Tip of crane B is inside the loop of the red container (container can still touch robot, the
ship and/or the game mat). è 20 points.
Additional: The crane that holds the red container is activated, and the container is lifted
(container is not touching the robot, the ship or the game mat). è 11 points.

10 points (robot holds 10 points (robot holds 10 points (robot holds

container) container somewhere else on container, crane A is not
the field) through the loop)

14 points (robot holds 25 points (container loop is 14 points (container loop is

container, with crane A on crane A without the robot on crane A, it is activated
through the loop, top-view holding it and the crane is but the robot still touches it)
counts for being through) activated)

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20 points (robot holds 31 points (container loop is 0 points (red container on

container, with crane B on crane B without the robot the ship but the crane is not
through the loop, top-view holding it and the crane is through the loop)
counts for being through) activated)

14 points (crane A through 25 points (container loop is

the loop, top-view counts on crane A without the robot
for being through, container holding it and the crane is
still touching the ship) activated)

Ship has crossed the dotted dark blue line between harbour and open sea completely and
at least one container is loaded onto the ship (not the red container). è 12 points.

Note: The same logic applies for both the small and the big ship.

0 points (line not crossed) 0 points (line not 12 points (line

completely crossed) completely crossed)

Harbour walls are not moved or damaged. è 3 points per element.

Note: In total there are 4 wall elements, two per side of the harbour wall. The scoring is done
separately for each of the 4 parts (so, for example, if only one of the four has been moved or
damaged then they would still get 9 points). An element is considered to be moved if it is
outside of the white area.

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6 points (all ok) 3 points (one part moved) 0 points (both parts moved)

3 points (one part

damaged)

Projection of the robot is at least partly in the start & finish area. è 10 points.
Projection of the robot is at least partly in the mooring station at open sea. è 17 points.

Note: For the mooring station the inner white rectangle counts. For the start & finish area only
the white rectangle inside counts. For both areas, cables only do not count for the projection of
the robot.

17 points (projection of the 0 points (projection of the 0 points (projection

robot is partly inside the robot not inside the inner not partly in the start &
mooring station) rectangle of the mooring finish area)
station)

0 points (only cables 10 points (projection is partly

do not count) in the start & finish area)

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Scoring Sheet
Team name: _______________________ Round: ______

Tasks Each Max. # Total

Load the small ship with 2 containers
(no points for this task if more than 2 containers are loaded onto the ship)
Any container is successfully loaded onto the small ship 10 20

Ship is completely loaded (two containers are on the small ship) 9

Fuel the big ship
Fuel block is in/on the big ship 11
Load the big ship with 3 containers
(no points for this task if more than 3 containers are loaded onto the ship, the red container does not count, so
with the red container a total of 4 containers could be on the ship)
White container successfully loaded onto the big ship 10
Other containers of the correct colour successfully loaded onto the big ship 11 22

Ship is completely loaded (one white container and two containers of correct 9
colour, red container doesn’t count)

Unload special container

Robot is holding red container 10
(container is not touching the big ship or the game mat)
OR: Tip of crane A is through the loop of the red container (container can 14
still touch the robot, the ship and/or the game mat)
OR: Tip of crane B is through the loop of the red container (container can 20
still touch the robot, the ship and/or the game mat)
Additional: The crane that holds the red container is activated, and the 11
container is lifted (container is not touching the robot, the ship or the game
mat)
Pilot the ships to open sea
Ship has crossed the dotted dark blue line between harbour and open sea 12 24
completely and at least one container is loaded onto the ship (not the red
container)
Get bonus points
Harbour wall elements are not moved or damaged 3 12

Moor the robot (only if other points, not bonus, are assigned)
Projection of the robot is at least partly in the start & finish area 10
Projection of the robot is at least partly in the mooring station at open sea 17
Maximum Score 165
Surprise Rule

Total Score in this run

Time in full seconds

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6. Local, regional, and international events

WRO competitions take place in around 90 countries, and we know that teams in each country
expect a different level of complexity. The challenge as described in this document will be
used for international WRO events. This is the last stage of the competition, where the teams
with the best solutions participate. That is why the game rules are challenging.

WRO feels that all participants need to be able to have a good experience in the competition.
Teams with less experience should also be able to score points and succeed. This builds
confidence in their ability to master technical skills, which is important for their future choices
in education.

We deliberately have a mix of simple and more difficult tasks in the game rules. This means
that all teams will be able to solve parts of the challenge and can keep trying to improve their
work.

WRO Association recommend that our National Organizers consider the situation in
their country. They can adapt the rules for events in their country even further. They
can decide to make the challenges easier for local, regional, and national events, so
that all participants have a positive experience.
All National Organizers can make their own choices, so each competition fits their
specific situation and ideas. Here we provide some ideas to make the challenges easier.

Ideas for simplifications:

• No randomization of the containers in container depot A

• Take out one element of both harbour walls (in this case adjust the scoring for
bonus points)
• Decide that it is ok that the red container is always brought to crane A (then delete
the points for the option to bring it to crane B

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