Robot Roundup

Name and Purpose

• Robot Roundup is a cooperative pair game where one player navigates their partner safely around a shared space using a unique signal.
• Players practise communication, spatial awareness, trust, and playful problem-solving.

a.k.a.

• Robot and Remote, Human Robot, Remote Control

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-14 | 6-30 players in pairs | 15-25 minutes | Open indoor or outdoor space, clear of obstacles

Materials

• No materials required.
• Optional: cones or chalk lines to mark the play boundaries clearly.

Quick-Run Card

1. Players pair up: one is the Robot, one is the Controller.
2. The Controller chooses a unique word or sound for their Robot. When the Robot hears that sound, it stops.
3. On Go, all Robots walk forward in a straight line across the space.
4. When a Robot bumps gently into something (a person or a boundary), it stops and repeats its unique sound until the Controller arrives and points it in a new direction.
5. Controllers move freely to redirect their Robots. Play continues until time is up. Swap roles for a second round.

Setup and Boundaries

• Mark a clear play boundary before the game begins. Cones, chalk, or a natural edge work well.
• Signal: one whistle means pause all Robots; two whistles means stop and gather attention.
• Remind Robots before starting: slow walking pace only, and gentle contact with boundaries. No running.
• Check the space carefully for any objects that could cause a fall or injury.

How to Play

1. Players find a partner. One player is the Robot and one is the Controller.
2. The Controller chooses a unique word or sound that is their Robot’s signal. When the Robot hears that specific sound, it stops and waits. The Controller should practise calling the sound before the game begins.
3. Staff say Go. All Robots begin walking in a straight line across the space at a slow, steady pace.
4. When a Robot reaches a boundary or makes gentle contact with another person, it stops walking and begins repeating its unique sound out loud.
5. The Controller hears the signal, runs to their Robot, and physically points it in a new direction. The Robot begins walking again.
6. Continue until time is up. Then all pairs swap roles: the Robot becomes the Controller and vice versa.
7. Robots keep their eyes closed or look downward if the group is experienced and the space is well-controlled. For first-time players, eyes-open walking at slow pace is recommended.

I-OPt Options

Start:

• A (Active): Choose to be the first Robot and experience the walking challenge.
• S (Support): Help your pair decide on a clear, distinct unique sound before the game begins.
• Q (Quiet): Choose a soft or whispered unique sound for your Robot rather than a loud one.
• O (Observer): Watch one full round before joining as a pair.

Mid:

• A (Active): As a Controller, move quickly and efficiently to redirect your Robot.
• S (Support): As a Robot, repeat your sound clearly to help your Controller find you.
• Q (Quiet): Move at a calm walking pace and signal softly.
• O (Observer): Watch the space and let a staff member know if any pair needs help.

Late:

• A (Active): After swapping, try being the Controller with energy and precision.
• S (Support): Help a nearby pair if their Controller and Robot lose track of each other.
• Q (Quiet): Keep your Robot at the calmest possible pace for the second round.
• O (Observer): Prepare one observation about communication for the debrief.

End:

• A (Active): Volunteer to demonstrate a perfect redirect for the group.
• S (Support): Help bring all Robots back to a central gathering spot.
• Q (Quiet): Return to your starting position quietly.
• O (Observer): Share one thing you noticed about how pairs communicated.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Robots who are not comfortable with eyes-closed walking can play with eyes open throughout. The game works equally well both ways.
• For players with mobility considerations, the Robot role can be a very slow walk or a rolling motion in a wheelchair. Controllers adapt their redirecting accordingly.

Stewardship Moment

• No materials are consumed. The space is used, not changed.
• Reflection: You and your partner worked together in a space shared with everyone else. How did you avoid making the space more difficult for other pairs?

Consent

• Pre-brief: This activity involves walking through a shared space while your partner directs you. For those not comfortable walking with eyes closed or with light physical redirection, keeping your eyes open and redirecting by voice only is another option.
• Mid-game check: After 5 minutes, pause all Robots. Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How is everyone feeling?
• Opt-out and re-entry: Any player may step outside the boundary and observe for a round. Rejoining is as easy as stepping back in with your partner.

Risks and Mitigation

• Robots collide with each other at speed: enforce slow walking pace from the start and remind players before each round.
• A Robot walks into a hazard: staff complete a thorough space check before the game and clear any obstacles from the boundary.
• A Controller loses track of their Robot in a large group: distinctive, loud unique sounds help; staff can also assign one Controller per zone in large groups.
• A player is uncomfortable with the physical-redirection element: voice-only redirecting is an equally valid option stated in the pre-brief.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Stop and Go: the group walks freely around the space and stops instantly on a clap. Repeats three times to practise the stop signal.
• Mirror Walk: pairs walk side by side and mirror each other’s pace and direction to warm up the controller-robot dynamic.

Debrief Questions

• What? What was it like to rely on your partner to redirect you?
• So What? What made some Controller and Robot pairs work better than others?
• Now What? When in your life do you need to trust someone else to guide you?

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect cones or clear boundary markers if used.
• Check the play space for any litter or hazards.