NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3 / NN_1993_3.iso / spool / comp / robotics / 3025 < prev next >

Wrap

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-23 | 17.0 KB

Xref: sparky comp.robotics:3025 sci.electronics:23248 sci.engr:2525 sci.engr.mech:832 sci.engr.control:443 sci.cognitive:1025 comp.ai.fuzzy:155 comp.ai.neural-nets:4963 comp.ai.edu:607 Newsgroups: comp.robotics,sci.electronics,sci.engr,sci.engr.mech,sci.engr.control,sci.cognitive,comp.ai.fuzzy,comp.ai.neural-nets,comp.ai.edu Path: sparky!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!torn!watserv2.uwaterloo.ca!watmath!mwtilden From: mwtilden@math.uwaterloo.ca (Mark W. Tilden) Subject: International Robot Olympic Games Reminder and Update. Message-ID: <C1AF0G.M1v@math.uwaterloo.ca> Keywords: Coming soon... Organization: University of Waterloo Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 03:29:04 GMT Lines: 438 A detailed update on: The Second BEAM Robot Olympics and Micromouse Competition: Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Apr 22 - 25, 1993 Sponsored by: IEEE Canada, ITRC, OSC, VSPANS Robotics, and the Un. of Waterloo. Yow! Only three months away! International! Non-commercial! Won't rot your teeth! The BEAM Robot Olympics is not so much a series of technological competitions as a chance for robot enthusiasts to present their designs to each other, the press, and the public. It is also an open forum for anyone who wants to get started in the field to compete and compare. Any and every robot will be considered so long as it does not come exclusively from a kit or store. Robots of similar ability will be pitted against each other in simple competitions, but generally robots will be judged on sophistica- tion of behavior, novelty of design, efficiency of power source, and quality of hardware innovation. Basically, if you built it, we'd like to see it. REMEMBER: Although you may register up to the first day of competition (Sat), please send in your registration form if you are competing. Registration rates are $40, $20 for students with valid student card, and $15 for IEEE members. If you want to be put on the real-mail list, please complete and send in the entrance form by real-mail. If possible, include a picture of your competitor(s). If you are competing but "just haven't got around to sending in your form", please send E-mail to confirm a display table at the show. Please indicate your power requirements and number of tables and chairs. Poster areas, secure display cases and presentation electronics can be made available on request. An entrance form is included at the end of this document. Please fill out and send in by re-mail. Must be signed to be valid. TRAVEL/ACCOMODATION ASSISTANCE: There are some fixed funds for travel/accomodation assistance for competitors. Valid applicants may be reimbursed up to 50% of their travel and/or accomodation costs, with preference going to student competitors with operational devices. Applicants must provide receipts showing expenses. HOTELS: Hotels close to the Ontario Science Centre. Bookings must be made by competitors. A group rate will be arranged based upon the number who call in to each hotel: Ramada Renaissance Don Valley 185 Yorkland Blvd. Willowdale, Ont. M2J-4R2 416/485-2693 $70-$85/night. Sheraton East Toronto Hotel & Towers 2035 Kennedy Road Scarborough, Ont M1T-3G2 416/299-1500 $65-$90/night. Prince York Hotel Toronto 900 York Mills Road Don Mills, Ontario 416/444-2511 $85-$90/night. SHOW STRUCTURE: The show is currently organized as follows. Please note that lecture, video and demonstration schedules will not be posted until the start of the show, pending the number of people who wish to talk. All competitors will receive a finalized show schedule when they confirm registration in person at the Science Centre during the week of the show. THUR - Lectures, testing, setup, press. FRI - Lectures, testing, setup, opening ceremonys. SAT - Major competitions and demonstrations begin. SUN - Major competitions close, award ceremonys. ABSTRACT: The BEAM Olympics main events are (but not limited to) the fol- lowing: SOLAROLLER: A self-starting robot dragster race. PHOTOVORE: Robots face a closed "world" and each other. HIGH JUMP:Robot creature leaps, lands on feet. ROPE CLIMBING: First up, first down, self-starting. LEGGED RACE: Walking creatures run for the money. INNOVATION MACHINES: Electronic chopsticks, for example. ROBOART/MODIFICATION: Mechanical/electronic aesthetics that move. ROBOT SUMO: Push/Bash an opponent out of a ring. LIMBO RACE: How low can you build? NANOMOUSE: A smaller and simpler form of the... MICROMOUSE: Where metal mice race for aluminum cheese. AEROBOT: Build a self-contained, flying dive-bomber. The Robot Olympics features a decathlon of formal competitions which range in difficulty from simple to complex. To this end, there is a guide available which contains competition rules, "get-started" instructions, discussion into the new science of Artificial Life (Alife), and full information for anybody who might want to run their own BEAM Robotic Games. Fresh copies of the Guide are available now at a cost of $10.00 Cdn, $15 American [US funds], and $20 international [US funds] for cost of copying and postage. Please make cheques or money-orders payable to BEAM Robotics Inc. Competitors are asked to register and fill out a "behavior sheet" for their robot(s) and more competitions will be run based on the variety of robots who do show up. Those in a class by themselves are still eligible for major awards, and everybody will be included in the subsequent BEAM Olympic portfolio, documentaries, and videos. All venues are open to the interested, young or old, so grab your soldering iron, raid the junk pile, and we'll see you there. RULES AND GENERAL GUIDELINES: These are the rules and guidelines for the Second BEAM Robot Olympic Games. Although the spirit of these Olympics stress few formal restrictions, these are some guidelines which every com- petitor should follow. If a design does not fit these parameters or may but you're not sure, please contact the organizers for a ruling. Consideration will be given to very innovative or ima- ginative designs. The BEAM Olympics is meant as an informal meeting of mind and robo-critter with the public and the media. It is hoped that everyone will abide by this spirit. All those wishing to compete should fill out and send in a regis- tration form for all robotic competitor(s) before Monday, April 5, 1993 to be included in the show dossier. Entries will be allowed after that, but they will not make that years dossier. A copy of the registration form is included at the back of this post. All who register will be put on a mailing list and kept informed of upcoming events. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ROBOTIC COMPETITORS: - All robotic devices must be either entirely custom built or a heavily modified toy. No commercial, store bought or kit robots will be allowed without heavy physical modification (modified or improved software is not sufficient modification). "Heavy" defined as permanent structural/electronic additions which extend, replace or enhance a functional aspect of the device (ie: replace batteries with solar engine, add functional arms, inter- face a unique touch/vision system, etc.). Any devices made from commercial construction kits (ie: Lego, Mecanno, etc.) must also feature obviously non-commercial, custom elements to indicate sufficient intent of innovation. - All robotic entries should be self-contained or have an option where they can execute behavior without human intervention. Tele-operated mechanisms are allowable only if it is obvious they have been designed around some BEAM competition guidelines, or are for some autonomous task-oriented purpose (ie: tele-operated moon rover with retrieval claw). Commercial radio controlled kit models will not be allowed unless they have undergone severe technical modifications. Devices which do not feature some auto- nomous ability are allowed, but will loose critical style points. - Any robotic entry may be disqualified if too large (ie: bigger than a standard upright refrigerator). The sole reason for this is that display space, access doors, and power are limited. Exceptions may be granted for exceptional, self-powered entries. Please contact the organizers for a ruling. - Any robotic competitor which is obviously of mass-produced, commercial manufacture and/or performs an obviously commercial task shall be disqualified as a competitor. We don't want this to be a blatant advertising opportunity for major corporations, that's what trade shows are for. Corporate research and design prototypes are the exception but they must be represented by their designer at the competition, not by the corporation. How- ever, robotics companies are allowed to hand out cards, flyers, posters, and device specifications. - If a robotic entry must use wall current, it can use only one plug at a nominal amperage (120 VAC, 3 Amps maximum drain). Any robot which uses a combustion process will be discouraged for safety reasons, and will not be allowed to run inside the com- petition auditorium. - For the most part, no "violent" robotic competitors will be allowed; that is, no competitor may have a functionally destruc- tive capacity (ie: drills, cutters, soldering iron, flame- thrower, chainsaw, etc.) although decorative or whimsical elements along this line are allowed (ie: waterpistols). Like- wise, any robotic competitor which may damage the competition courses, other robot competitors, organizers or audience will be disqualified. Robotic competitors may interfere with each other during the course of simultaneous runs (where rules per- mit) so long as they do not violate the "no damage" rule. Anybody who justly feels his/her device could be damaged by another entrant will not suffer penalties for not competing in that trail. Likewise, entrants who accept that their designs could suffer major damage will also be respected (ie: No-holds-barred Robosumo). BEAM Robotics and affiliates take no responsibility for damage incurred by or afflicted on robotic devices, persons, or reputations during the course of competition. - No robotic competitors can employ biological components (rats, chickens, lemon/potato batteries, jello, etc.) except by special permission from the organizers. Even then, no devices will be allowed which harm biologics in any way. - Multitalented robotic competitors are encouraged, however such capabilities must be declared ahead of time on the registration form as part of the robot's behavior description. - Partially finished robotic competitors are allowed (even encouraged) to compete so long as there is some function they can exhibit to show what they may eventually be capable of. Again, if you are in doubt as to the validity of your entry, please contact the organizers directly at the University of Waterloo. Exceptions will be made for particularly imaginative entries. ENTRANCE FORM: BEAM Robot Olympics and Micromouse Competition: April 22-25, 1993 This form must be signed and returned by all members who wish to attend the show. All robot competitors must have a separate registration form. A clear color or black and white photograph (ideally 4"x6") of each competitor is politely requested for the Olympic Dossier. All photos become the property of the Olympics organizers and cannot be returned. All who register will be put on a mailing list and kept abreast of upcoming international events. The registration fee is $40 per attending entrant per team ($20 per student entrant with proof). Any team may enter as many robots as they wish. The fee must be paid by cheque or cash on or before the day of competition. Please make out all cheques to the BEAM Robotics. If you do not register in advance, you can register on the day of competition (up to noon of Sat, April 24, 1993), however, you must pay the registration fee to compete even if you do not attend the entire conference. Any prizes awarded must be accepted as given. No cash substitutes, exchanges, or device warrentys will be honored by the Olympic organizers. Good luck and hope to see you there. Please return to: BEAM Robot Olympics Attn: Mark Tilden MFCF, University of Waterloo Ontario, Canada N2L-3G1 (519)885-1211 x2454 Internet: mwtilden@math.waterloo.ca TEAM MEMBER DETAILS: (If more team members, please copy as necessary) Team Name (if applicable): _____________________________________ Name _________________________________________________ Age _____ Address: Street/apt/town _______________________________________ Country/Zipcode ________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________ Age _____ Address: Street/apt/town _______________________________________ Country/Zipcode ________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________ Age _____ Address: Street/apt/town _______________________________________ Country/Zipcode ________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________ Age _____ Address: Street/apt/town _______________________________________ Country/Zipcode ________________________________________________ Institute Name (if any): _______________________________________ If you are active on Internet, please enclose your electronic mailing address: Internet E-mail Address: _______________________________________ ROBOT COMPETITOR DETAILS: Name _________________________________________________ Age _____ Behavior (please use point form):_______________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Please check which BEAM event your entrant may qualify for: ___ SOLAROLLER ___ PHOTOVORE ___ HIGH JUMP ___ ROPE CLIMBING ___ LEGGED RACE ___ INNOVATION MACHINES ___ ROBOART ___ BEST MODIFIED TOY ___ ROBOT SUMO ___ NANOMICE ___ MICROMOUSE ___ AEROBOT If none of the above, please state what skill best describes your device: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Do you wish to give a lecture on your device or some related aspect? yes ____ no ____ If yes, please describe your topic in two sentences: Topic: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Speakers:_______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ What extra equipment will you need? TV ___ Overhead Projector ___ VHS VCR ___ Slide Projector ___ Other _____________________________ 1993 BEAM Robot Olympics and Micromouse Competition: I/We hereby declare that I/We will not hold IEEE Canada, BEAM Robotics, The University of Waterloo, any sponsor, or the Ontario Science Centre responsible for any loss, damage or injury that may occur while in attendance at the 1993 BEAM Robot Olympics and Micromouse Competition. I/We have read the BEAM Olympics Guidelines, have understood them and will comply to the restrictions stated therein. Signature: Team leader ________________________________________ Team Members ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Is all. Mark Tilden: _-_-_-__--__--_ /(glitch!) M.F.C.F Hardware Design Lab. -_-___ | \ /\/ U of Waterloo. Ont. Can, N2L-3G1 |__-_-_-| \/ (519)885-1211 ext. 2454 "MY OPINIONS, YOU HEAR!? MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" -- Mark Tilden: _-_-_-__--__--_ /(glitch!) M.F.C.F Hardware Design Lab. -_-___ | \ /\/ U of Waterloo. Ont. Can, N2L-3G1 |__-_-_-| \/ (519)885-1211 ext. 2454 "MY OPINIONS, YOU HEAR!? MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"