From aaai97-owner@cc.gatech.edu Thu Mar 13 00:12:27 1997
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 22:52:31 -0600
To: aaai97@cc.gatech.edu, mars-talk@footfalls.com, srs@lists.hhhh.org
From: Jim Brown <jbrown@why.net>
Subject: DPRG robotics contest
Cc: dprglist@dprg.org
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Dear Robotics Enthusiasts:
The Dallas Personal Robotics Group will be holding a robotics contest
on May 17th, 1997 in Dallas, Texas at the Infomart in room 1061 at
12:00pm to 2:00pm. Any and all robotics enthusiasts are invited.
This robotics contest is to build interest and participation in
personal robotics. The contest is relatively easy so everyone who
can is invited to create a robot to run the contest. There's even
some modest prizes.
You can find out more info about the contest by going to the DPRG
online newsletters at: http://www.dprg.org/nl_mar97.html or by
going to the DPRG web site at: http://www.dprg.org
----- following is an excerpt from the March 97 online newsletter -----
DPRG will be having a robotics contest in May with trials to start
in April. The purpose of the contest is to raise participation in
the group. Hopefully this will inspire those who have half-built
robots to get them built so that they can do the course. Last time
(Nov 93) we had the contest many said they'd have a robot, but only
4 actually tried (although there seemed to be some dispute about
that number). Roger Arrick's D-Bot won.
At the February meeting we talked about wall hugging robots could
use the side wall of room 1061 with the end wall being the back
wall of the room. That would allow a wall along the course and a
wall at the end of the course. This is a slightly modified course
from the one in the February Newsletter.
The last contest we had was in November of '93. Everyone I spoke
to said that we should have contests on a more regular basis
(than every 3-4 years). Some mentioned that they'd like to see
a contest every 3-4 months.
The simple premise for the contest is for a robot to autonomously go
from the start area (on the right) to the end area (on the left),
and back in the best time. Although this seems like a simple task,
it's amazing how few were able to come up with a robot that could
do it for the last contest. (click on the image to see a 120k
animated gif of a robot running the course).
The contest area will be the length of the current room we are
meeting in. The length will be roughly 36 feet total: 6 feet
on each end and 24 feet in the middle. Also the contest area
will be 6 feet wide. The bounds of the contest area will be
marked with 1 inch masking tape. For line following robots, a 1
inch piece of masking tape 1 foot from any bounds will run the
back side of the course, will have a turning radius (about 4 feet
in diameter) end the end area, and will run the front side of
the course back to the start area (again 1 foot from the bounds).
The tape designating the start of the end area will not intefere
with the line following tape 6 inches on either side.
DPRG Robot Contest Rules and Regulations
Reasons for the Contest:
To enourage homebrew robot builders
To increase interest in personal robotics.
To increase participation in the Dallas Personal Robotics Group.
Robots:
Robots must be self-controlled, human-build machines, submitted by
DPRG members. (You can pay your dues the day of the meeting.)
Robots must not rely on human intervention except for starting
and stopping.
Robots can have on-board or off-board controllers.
Line following robots can follow a 1" tape line that will go the
course, but may not use any other guide lines or tracks.
Robots must not be more than 48" length, 48" width, 96" height and
300 lbs.
Goal:
To create a robot that will begin at the START AREA, travel to the
END AREA (completely over the line) then return to the START AREA in
the shortest time possible.
Scoring:
The winner will be judged by applause. More recognition should be
given:
If the number of seconds to complete the course is low.
If the robot is completely self-contained (no tether).
If the robot starts by receiving a sound command (voice or tone).
If the robot makes computer generated sounds during the course.
If the robot does not touch any wall.
if the robot turns around in the END AREA.
Each robot will have 3 tries to complete the course.
If no robot completes the course, we'll try again at the next meeting
until we get one.
Setting:
The contest will begin at 12:00pm during the May DPRG meeting at the
Dallas Infomart - trial runs to be held in April.
Prizes:
AI CD Roms from Network Cybernetics Corporation, Two richochet cars
bought at a thrift store (they make great robotics bases), One EE512 Eprom
Emulators from Tech-Tools, and more.
To be sure, these rules will probably be changed before the actual contest
so be sure to keep up on the email list. (
http://www.dprg.org/listserv.html )
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Brown jim_brown@bigfoot.com or jbrown@why.net or
jbrown@spdmail.spd.dsccc.com
http://users.why.net/jbrown
Rom 3:23,24 http://www.dprg.org (next meeting is March 22nd) Bring robots!