Awards
SAMABOT Awards represent the highest achievement for any teams with no matter which Championship tournament they compete in, receive judging for a group of awards that recognize a standard of excellence for all participants.
SAMABOT divides the awards into four main categories:
- Technical
- Team Presentation
- Special Recognition
- Judges’ Awards
Each category contains several individual awards. Some larger competitions may also offer second or third place awards in some categories. All Championship tournament organizers are required to present Technical and Team Presentation Awards, but they may use their discretion when presenting other award categories.
Technical Awards
Robot Design Award
Judges look for teams whose work stands out for innovation and/or dependability. To assess innovation, the judges watch the robots work and look for things that make them say “Wow!” They interview team members to reveal the less obvious unique and inventive ideas. To assess dependability, the judges interview the teams to learn what solid principles and best practices they used to reduce variability and errors, with preference to robots that best “back it up” throughout the matches.
Tournaments may choose to break the Robot Design Award into two separate awards for programming and design, or those involved may choose to give three separate awards for programming, innovative design, and dependable design.
Robot Performance Award
This award goes to the team whose robot achieves the best score on the competition field or in the elimination round. There are several options judges use to determine the winner:
- If no elimination round is held, the team with the highest score from a single round receives the trophy.
- If elimination rounds are held: a. the team(s) whose robot achieved the highest score in the elimination round receives the trophy or b. the highest scoring team using high score between two teams as the factor for advancement to the next round receives the award.
Team Presentation Awards
Project Award
SAMABOT presents the Project Award to the team whose quality research, innovative solutions, and creative presentation best reflect an in-depth understanding of the various scientific disciplines and issues involved with the Challenge project. Only teams that complete all three parts of the Project assignment will receive consideration for awards.
Judges look for the team’s ability to have as many team members as possible participating in the presentation. Judges assess how your team does the following:
- Clearly defines a question to guide its research
- Clearly and accurately outlines and understands all aspects of the problem
- Addresses the potential impacts if the problem is not resolved
- Captures the judges’ attention with the team presentation
- Presents the team solution and shows how it assists in resolving the problem
- Shows creativity and innovation in its solutions
- Shares its project with others
- Presents within the parameters of each year’s project
Tournaments may choose to break the Project Award into three separate awards:
Research Quality –The use and understanding of diverse resources to formulate an in-depth and thorough explanation of the team’s point of view and solution to the Challenge project.
Innovative Solution –Thought-provoking and innovative resolution, including how and why the team chose.
Creative Presentation –An imaginative, creative presentation demonstrating the team’s research and solution.
Teamwork Award
Teamwork is critical to succeed in the competition and is the key ingredient in any team effort. SAMABOT presents this award to the team that best demonstrates extraordinary enthusiasm, an exceptional partnership. The team receiving this trophy demonstrates the following attributes to the judges:
- Confidence, energy, and enthusiasm
- Group problem-solving skills
- Understanding of and respect for others
- Positive team interaction and group dynamics
- Demonstrated interest in science and/or technology
- Ability of team members to fill each other’s roles when necessary
