Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!news.Brown.EDU!noc.near.net!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!iat.holonet.net!bsmall
From: bsmall@iat.holonet.net (Brad Smallridge)
Subject: Re: San Francisco Robot Competition
Message-ID: <CAznA4.7MK@iat.holonet.net>
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access System: 510-704-1058/modem
References: <CAxwxw.CMx@iat.holonet.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 17:30:01 GMT
Lines: 44

Thanks for all your inquiries.
 
No. There is no pre-registration required. If you intend to compete, you
will be asked to fill out a registration page, which gives valuble
information to the Master of Ceremonies so that he or she has something
intelligent to say about your robot when it's competition time comes up.
We never know how many robots will show up until the day of the event. We
have always had at least a dozen, and this year I believe we will have
more considering the calls I've been getting.
 
Yes. There are potatoe peelers out there. I don't know how many, but there
will be competitors for this new event.

Yes. We do have trophies and some small prizes for the for the first,
second, and third place winners of the three events. The prizes are
donated from our membership so we don't know yet what they are. First
place winners get first pick.

No. There is no Grand prize for overall best robot this year because the
events are so different.
 
The maze construction has not been determined yet. Last year it consisted
of wood shelving held at right angles with brackets laying on the
Exploratorium's not too smooth floor. This year we may make a maze with
it's own floor, and paint the entire thing gray or blue. The maze will be
more complex than last's year with 12 or 16 cells. There will be at least
one T intersection with the wrong turn leading to a dead end.
 
The Exploratorium always has a crowd of 2000+ people through the course of
the day. You can expect about 100 to 300 people watching all the time.
There will be tables so that you can show your robot to the crowds. Bring
your robot no matter what it's completion. First of all, it will get you
in the door for free, which is a 6 or 7 dollar savings. Second, there will
be lots of media there, TV, Radio, and Press, and your robot might get on.
Third, it generally helps promote robotics, and encourages other people to
bring their robots (even if their's aren't finished).
 
Someone suggested the walls of the maze be shorter for better visiblity of
small robots. Too late this year to chang the rules, but what do you all
think about next year?

Brad Smallridge
Director SFRSA

