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A diagram of a rectangular course divided into three sections. The left section contains a robot positioned next to a ball in the Robot start zone, the center section is the Collision zone, and the right section is the Ball only zone, which contains 10 circles arranged like bowling pins

Strike Challenge

In this challenge, you will program your robot to transfer energy to a ball as you compete in bowling!

Challenge rules:

  • The robot must begin in the Robot Start Zone.
  • The ball must begin anywhere on the Ball Placement Line.
  • The robot can only be touching the ball when the ball is:
    • On the ball placement line
    • In the collision zone
  • Each game consists of 10 frames and follows standard bowling rules (Google / .docx / .pdf).
  • The person or team with the most points at the end of the 10 frames wins!
  • Have fun!

Teacher Tips icon Teacher Tips

Be creative and increase engagement by crafting a backstory or purpose for this activity! Bowling is currently being considered for addition as an Olympic sport. Are the students preparing to be part of an Olympic team, practicing for a national bowling competition, or are they hoping to apply for a collegiate bowling scholarship?

Click here (Google / .pdf) for an optional Strike Challenge Score Sheet.

Teacher Toolbox icon Teacher Toolbox - Solution

Solutions will vary depending on the velocity set. Students will have to find the balance of choosing a higher velocity to push the ball harder but also not lose control.

View a sample solution below: Image of a sample solution for the Strike Challenge in VEXcode V5 Python 

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