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Innovation Base Quiz

Winners of the previous Quiz

25/07/2025

Jail Gupta

Jail Gupta

Class 8

National Public School, Kengeri

Bhavya sri bysani

Bhavya sri bysani

Class 4

Sri Chaitanya

Sai Rahul

Sai Rahul

Class 9

Vidya Jyothi school

rhea bopanna

rhea bopanna

Class 4

airaa academy

Note: Quiz prizes will be awarded to ten randomly selected students who submit correct answers before the deadline. Winners will be declared on the website and the weekly newsletter.

Winner cup

July 25, 2025

Q1.

As part of a hobby project, you and your friends are developing a Smart Lock System that uses a microcontroller, a keypad for PIN entry and an OLED screen to display messages. During final diagnostics of a newly developed system, the device unexpectedly enters firmware debug mode after receiving a system breach alert. 

In this mode, the lock displays the last 6-digit PIN entered. But instead of regular decimal digits (0–9) it appears in octal format (base-8), which is commonly used in microcontroller systems.  

System Display: 

A sequence of octal digits appears on the Serial Monitor. ( Refer Referance Image)
Display Error: CHECK ORIENTATION SETTINGS

Decode Clue: 

The string shown is not the actual answer — it’s a disguise. 

First, expand each octal digit into its 3-bit binary equivalent. Then, split the full binary sequence into groups of 4 bits — starting from right to left.
Finally, rebuild the actual PIN by converting those 4-bit codes into normal decimal digits (0–9) using the reference table.

Hint: Octal → Binary. And remember — what you see might be flipped! 

(This is not the actual method of converting octal to decimal. The team has developed a unique set of rules to enhance security and prevent direct decoding.)

Conversion Reference Table: 

Decimal Digit  0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Binary (4-bit)  0000  --- 0010  0011  --- 0101 ---  0111  1000 1001
Octal-style (3-bit)  000 001 --- 011  100 --- 110 111 --- --- --- ---

Note:  Use logical reasoning to complete the missing data and decode the actual PIN. 

Question: 

What was the actual PIN entered before the lock activated security mode? 

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Q2.

As part of a hobby project, you and your friends are developing a Smart Lock System that uses a microcontroller, a keypad for PIN entry and an OLED screen to display messages. During testing, the device unexpectedly enters firmware debug mode due to a diagnostic alert. 

In this mode, the lock shows the last PIN entered but not as regular decimal digits (0 to 9). Instead, it appears as a binary code (a sequence of 1s and 0s), which is how microcontrollers store numbers internally. 

System Display: 

A binary string appears on the Serial Monitor, along with the following warning. (Refer Referance Image)
Display Error: CHECK ORIENTATION SETTINGS

Decode Clue: 

The string shown is not the actual answer it’s a disguise. 

  1. Split the binary string into groups of 4 

  1. Convert each group into a decimal digit (0–9). 

Hint: Binary → Decimal. And remember what you see might be flipped! 

 



Decimal Digit  0  1  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Binary (4-bit)  0000  ---  0010  0011  ---  0101  ---  0111  1000  --- 

Note: Fill in the missing binary values to decode the hidden PIN correctly. 

Question: 

What was the actual PIN entered before the lock activated security mode? 

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July 19, 2025

Q1.

Scenario: 

Rishi is preparing his delivery robot for a school-level innovation challenge. The robot uses a microcontroller for control and a load cell to measure package weights. It operates on a 40000 mAh battery. 

The robot can carry multiple packages per trip, provided the combined weight does not exceed 7000 grams. After each trip, the robot must return to the charging dock to recharge to 100% before starting the next trip. 

Rishi aims to complete all deliveries using the least number of return trips, while also minimising battery power consumption.  

Robot Rules & Constraints: 

  • Battery capacity: 40000 mAh 

  • Maximum load per trip: 7000g 

  • Battery usage per metre (based on load weight): 

  • 0–2000g → 300 mAh/m 

  • 2001–4000g → 500 mAh/m 

  • 4001–7000g → 700 mAh/m 

Package Delivery Information: 

Package  Weight  Block Distance from Dock 
P1 2000g  Block A  120 metres 
P2 4000g  Block B 150 metres 
P3 2500g  Block C 100 metres 
P4 3000g  Block D 150 metres 

 

Question: 

Which delivery plans enables Rishi’s robot to complete all deliveries with the least number of returns to the dock, while also using the least amount of battery power? 

 Note: 

This is a beta version of the software, which supports only fixed delivery routes. The robot must return using the same path. This limitation will be addressed in the alpha release with dynamic reverse path planning. 

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Q2.

Ananya is working on a school project to build a smart delivery robot. She programs a microcontroller to decide the delivery routes and uses a load cell to measure the weight of the packages. 

The robot must deliver three packages: 

  • P1 (3000g) to Block A 

  • P2 (1500g) to Block B 

  • P3 (4500g) to Block C 

The robot can carry more than one package per trip, provided the total weight does not exceed 6000g. After each trip, it must return to the charging dock to recharge 100% before starting the next trip. 

Ananya wants the robot to complete all deliveries with the fewest return trips to the dock while using the least amount of battery power, all within a 32000 mAh battery limit. 

Robot Rules & Constraints: 

  • Battery capacity: 32000 mAh 

  • Maximum load per trip: 6000g 

  • Battery usage per metre based on load weight: 

  • 0–2000g300 mAh/m 

  • 2001–4000g500 mAh/m 

  • 4001–6000g700 mAh/m  

 

Package Delivery Details: 

Package  Weight  Room  Distance from Dock 
P1 3000g  Block A  140 metres 
P2 1500g  Block B 120 metres 
P3 4500g  Block D 160 metres 

 

Distances between Blocks: 

  • Block A to Block B: 100 metres 

  • Block B to Block C: 120 metres 

  • Block C to Block A: 220 metres 

  

Question: 

Which of the following delivery plans allows the robot to complete all deliveries with the fewest return trips to the dock, while also using the least amount of power? 

Note: 

This is a beta version of the software, which supports only fixed delivery routes. The robot must return using the same path. This limitation will be addressed in the alpha release with dynamic reverse path planning. 

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