Scoring Team Websites

Objective: Clearly present the team, vehicle design, and competition approach.

Submission Format: Website

Overview: Delivering ideas in a clear and convincing manner is critical to bringing the project to life and helping project supporters understand ideas and be convinced of potential.

What are teams expected to do?

1. Follow the guidelines provided in the Team Handbook (excerpt below)

2. Treat as an opportunity to advertise who they are and what their team can do

3. Use as venue to promote their team, including papers their team members have published, include visuals and video products, include any engineering products they've created during their design process

4. Acknowledge and thank their sponsors and supporters: funding, contributions, mentorship

5. Consider the user: Keep menu navigation clear and understandable. Avoid flash and clutter.

Submission Requirements

1) Website Content: Layout and detailed contents of the website are left for the teams to develop; however, the team website should include:

• Team name and contact information

• Vehicle photos and/or videos

• Supporting media, which may include:

  • Instructional/Informative videos

  • Procedures (text, images)

  • Design decision documentation (text, images, videos)

  • Blogs for historical records of build progress

• List of sponsors with logos

2) Website Quality: Websites are often the first impression of a project. Potential supporters such as supervisors, sponsors, or advisors must find the website visually appealing and easy to navigate. Development of the website should include careful consideration of user experience, including:

• Written in English, or English translation provided

• Clear prioritization of key content

• Site search functionality

• Basic design elements: contrast, repetition, alignment and grouping to organize/highlight content

• User accessibility, as defined by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: www.w3.org/WAI

• Cross browser compatibility for modern web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, MS Edge)

• A mobile friendly display

Point Breakdown

To complete the Website evaluation, judges use a detailed scoring rubric. The maximum score for the Website submission is 180 points. Reviews can be done anytime convenient for you, as long as your scores are submitted by February 24th at 11:59 PM ET.

Point Allocation by Category

Team Information | 20% of score

Outstanding	Team website includes all required team information, including the team’s name and contact information, and a list of team members and sponsors. All mentions of the vehicle are relevant to the current competition year.
Strong	Team website provides a brief introduction to the team, team members and sponsors. There is supporting media on the vehicle.
Average	Team website introduces the team and/or team members.
Below Average	Team website provides little to no information on the team. There is no mention of the vehicle.
Requirements Not Met	The required team information is not included on the website.

Vehicle Design Documentation | 40% of score

Outstanding	Vehicle development and testing process is thoroughly documented with instructional and informative supporting media and historical recording. This could include photographs, diagrams, videos, procedures (text + images), design documentation (text + images + video), or blogs for historical records.
Strong	Good documentation on vehicle development and testing process is provided. Supporting media is accessible.
Average	Vehicle development and testing process is adequately presented with some evidence of supporting media.
Below Average	Few pictures or videos of the vehicle, but no instructional or informative documentation included.
Requirements Not Met	No visuals or documentation of the vehicle is available on the website.

Website Quality | 40% of score

Outstanding	Website places a heavy emphasis on human factors. Layout is visually appealing, easily maneuverable, and does an excellent job of drawing user’s attention to relevant content.
Strong	Website considers user experience. Layout does a good job of drawing user’s attention. Users can navigate the site easily and quickly.
Average	Website quality was adequate. Users can navigate the site to find most information.
Below Average	Layout and/or design makes it difficult to find information. Website does not have a user-friendly display.
Requirements Not Met	Website is busy and difficult to read; no guidance on maneuvering site.

Judge Comments

JUDGE'S COMMENTS FOR THE TEAM

One of the main requests we receive from our teams every year is to receive comments and feedback from you, our judges.

You will see this section at the bottom of each scoresheet where you can leave your feedback and comments. These comments will be shared with teams following the competition.

Please see the Judge Comment Guidelines lesson below for tips on writing effective comments for the teams.

JUDGE'S COMMENTS FOR ROBONATION

The comments you leave here are only visible to the RoboNation team and will not be shared with the teams.

Use this comment section to recommend the team for a special award, emphasize something that really stood out to you, or share any concerns you have.