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From: adenmark@nbn.com (Alan H. Denmark)
Subject: Register NOW - 2 weeks till Exploratorium Robot  Competition and Exhibition
Message-ID: <adenmark-050994143313@srf-35.nbn.com>
Followup-To: comp.robotics
Sender: news@nbn.com
Organization: Computer Professionals
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 1994 22:33:12 GMT
Lines: 110

                   CALLING ALL ROBOTS!!!!

The annual EXPLORATORIUM ROBOT COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION is nearly here! 
Come one, come all -- serious roboticists, weekend tinkerers, child
geniuses and robot groupies!  The San Francisco Exploratorium is again
hosting the San Francisco Robotics Society of America ROBOT COMPETITION and
EXHIBITION.  This year it will be held on September 18, 1994 from 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. at the San Francisco Exploratorium in the Palace of Fine Arts,
3601 Lyon Street.

The schedule is:  Warm-ups, fine-tuning, last-minute duct-taping and
Lego-bolstering, etc...11 to 1; Competitions are from 1 to 4 p.m.; Awards
Ceremony at 4 p.m.

Admission to the Exploratorium is free for those roboticists who register
and bring a robot for competition or exhibition.  

The competitive events are as they were last year with two new additions: 
1.  The Robotic Arm that peels a potato will also need to squeegee a window
(now this is practical application!)  and 2. ROBOT SUMO -  a robot
wrestling competition in a ring (for those roboticists desirous of a more
confrontational activity).

--- COMPETITION EVENTS AND THEIR RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

*** ROPE CLIMBING ***

Robot climbs a 1/4 inch, #8 braided nylon rope 11 meters high.

Scoring:  Up to 200 points - calculated as 200 seconds minus the
                             time to climb up and come down.
          100 extra points - if your robot uses a hand over hand
                             latching mechanism.

This is a contest for mechanically inclined people.  Computer and
electronics are optional.  No rockets, catapults, or balloons.  Robot must
have a safety ring to insure that it doesn't disengage from the rope.  2 kg
weight limit.

*** THE MAZE ***

Robot maneuvers a maze, the aisles of which are 3 feet or wider (actually,
the aisles turned out to be 34 inches wide in some places - so sue me :-)
and the walls approximately 10-12 inches high.  

Scoring: Up to 200 point - calculated as 200 seconds minus time to
                           escape from maze then divide by these
                           autonomy factors:
                             1 Autonomous with Sensors
                             2 Dead Reckoning or Bump-Run
                             3 Manual (radio or wire control)

          Extra 100 points - if your robot can AUTONOMOUSLY plug
                             into the electrical outlet in the
                             maze.
          Extra 100 points - if your robot can AUTONOMOUSLY find a
                             full, unopened coke can randomly 
                             placed on the floor of the maze and 
                             move it (by any means) out of the 
                             maze.

*** ROBOTIC ARM POTATO PEELING AND WINDOW SQUEEGEE ***

Robotic arm takes an inexpensive peeler and peels a potato.  Later, the arm
takes a window squeegee and wipes a wet 20 by 20 inch window.  The potato
can be staged into any desirable position before the arm goes into action. 
The window will be framed and upright.

Scoring: Up to 100 points for a 100% peeled potato.
         Up to 100 points for a 100% dry window.

*** ROBOT SUMO ***

With innovative design, brilliant programming, brute strength or just shear
luck, Robot Sumos push and shove their opponents out of a 4' diameter ring.
 

Official Fuji All Japan Rules (i.e.  3 kg weight limit, 20 cm by 20 cm
footprint, no height limitation, no sucking, gluing, damaging the surface,
no destructive strategies, 5 second startup delay) with these exceptions:
       1.  Autonomous Robots Only - No remote control.
       2.  Round Robin Competition - Best 2 out of 3 matches.
       3.  Robot Demolition Derby at the end.
       4.  The ring is 4 feet in diameter.

Email the words "get sumo" to info@sfrsa.com for more Sumo information.

--- REGISTRATION:

Registration is $5 and due by September 8.  Please send your check  with
the following information to:

The Robotics Society of America
208 Jamaica Street
Tiburon, CA  94920-1011

NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:                            STATE:           ZIP:
DAY PHONE:                       EVE. PHONE:
EMAIL ADDRESS?:

WHAT EVENTS ARE YOU REGISTERING FOR?
ROPE CLIMBING_____ THE MAZE_____ ROBOTIC ARM____ ROBOT SUMO_____

ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS, COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS?  _____________


If you have any questions, call Toni Denmark at (415)789-0061 or Email
adenmark@nbn.com
