Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!bigbrd!crs-sys!nextedm!spl4!cuugnet!hrynkiwd
From: hrynkiwd@cuug.ab.ca (Dave Hrynkiw )
Subject: BEAM Engines / BEAM Olympics wrap-up
Summary: Just my review of the BEAM '94 games & kit order progress
Message-ID: <CMFn9G.AKG@cuug.ab.ca>
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 1994 05:00:52 GMT
Organization: Calgary UNIX User's Group
Keywords: BEAM Solar Olympics Kit Orders 
Followup-To: hrynkiwd@cuug.ab.ca
Lines: 98

Hey all.
	Thanks to the following for ordering my kit.  Your purchases, plus
the sales at the '94 BEAM Robot Games juuuust covered the major expenses
(guess I'll have to put off that retirement for another decade or 3...).
 
	Here are those who ordered, the date the money arrived, and the
shipping date.  If you haven't received your kit by 2 weeks after the shipping
date, let me know, and I'll see what I can do.
 
                           $$$      Kit
    |       Name        | Rec'd  |Shipped
    +-------------------+--------+--------
    |George E. Scott    | 31-Jan | 04-Feb
    |Brian W. Sullivan  | 03-Feb | 07-Feb
    |Jorge L. Cordina   | 04-Feb | 07-Feb
    |Luc Beaudin        | 08-Feb | 14-Feb
    |Mark Tilden        | 09-Feb | 10-Feb
    |Tom Knorr          | 17-Feb | 18-Feb
    |Yan Yuan Lin       | 18-Feb | 22-Feb
    |Dave Rodefer       | 22-Feb | 23-Feb
    |Daniel L. Wilcox   | 25-Feb | 01-Mar
    |Colin Mcconnell    | 28-Feb | 01-Mar
    |Steve M. Davidson  | 07-Mar | 09-Mar
    |Deryl B. Shields   | 07-Mar | 09-Mar
    |Mondo-tronics, Inc.| 07-Mar | 09-Mar
    |Joel Plutchak      | 09-Mar | 10-Mar (tomorrow, I promise!)
 
 
	As for the Games, I must say I learned a lot.  The "CANADA 1st"
competition (parallels USA's games) dominated much of the floor space and
forced our contests to Sunday only.  Needless to say, it felt a little rushed.
Mark Tilden & Andrew Miller (the BEAM principal "energy") were there in full
force, displaying & explaining their latest & greatest creations.  Mark's
VBug 1.3 (sorry if I got that wrong), the "Lobster" was a great attraction,
demonstrating multiple walking gates and excellent obstacle detection &
reaction.  Miller's "Solar Flea" was a jump in the right direction (sorry - 
bad pun) in regards to solar locomotion - 1 cm up, 1 cm forward per jump.
Not bad for 1st generation after Mark's T.H.A.B.
 
	Mark also showed off more of his unique creatures, like his "Super
BEAMants", with their impressive touch & light sensor arrays.  I know they
work - I personally saw his time-lapse video of them in action.  He also had
completed some very slick new photovores spawned from an idea of Miller's.
These little guys either a) moved in a straight line, direction determined
by interaction in the environment, or b) in a sloooow spinning-top style
motion that allowed it to navigate it's surroundings.
 
	Personally, I did quite well in the Solaroller event.  My
"Sluggy, Too" did the 2 meters in 2minutes, 9 seconds (by my watch).  My
4WD "Herbie" did the same distance in approximately 1minute 40 seconds, but
in an exhibition-type test.  "Sluggy" barely did 6 cm in the allowed 3 minute
heats.  My Solar-Fly (hangs in the window, flapping wings every 20 minutes)
in conjunction with Herbie, managed to fascinate adults & children alike.
It was *great* fun watching people walk by, then jerk their heads around
when they caught the movement out of the corner of their eyes.  Not to mention
that I had a 1/2 dozen model train enthusiasts cornering me for the free
Pager motor samples I had brought along.  After giving away dozens and dozens,
I personally am hoping that more people participate next year, using the
motors & the component kit I produced.  I need some better competition at
the next games in the Solaroller "Drags" ("Vroom, VROOOOOOOM!!!")
 
	Besides this, there were other really neat pieces.  University of
Alberta had their autonomous, solar-powered submarine.  Mike Okincha had
the nitinol-motivated succesor to the six-legged wolf spider robot
"Archimedes".  Byron Bignall, my "neighbour" had a devil of a time getting his
solarollers to work, but sure impressed the public with the shear smoke he
was generating at his table.  Mind you, my blown power bar may have something
to do with the smoke... 8-P.  Richard Weatt came in 2nd in Solaroller with his
roving hamsterball, and also got some award in the Photovore competition too
I think.  Sorry, I was _very_ busy answering questions on my own 'bots all
3 days to take notes.  Robert Bierer (Beerman!) also brought his amazing
"Solar Roller Coaster" again, showing off the ultimate executive toy.  There
were many other cool beasties, like the winner of the legged race.  If he'd
put the word "NIKE" on them little sneakers, I'm sure NIKE would pay for the
advertising on such a cute robot.  Sorry, I misplaced the name (please forgive
me!).
 
	There was more, but I'm getting pooped.  My internal clock is still
re-adjusting.  Sorry for those projects & roboticists I missed, but a man
can only cover so much territory!
 
	Keep in mind that our own Calgary Sumo competition is coming up this
April 9 at SAIT's "Western Canadian Robot Games".  I will be displaying my
own BEAMbeasts, running my videos, and hopefully running a few workshops on
building Solar Engines.  Maybe we can even pull off an "exhibition" Solaroller
race if a few more can be produced.  Over 35 confirmed Sumo entrants, with
more still in the wings.  Should be a good fight night!
 
	That's it from this unofficial observer.
 
	G'night!
 
	-Dave
-- 
Um, no - that's H,R,Y,N,K,I,W. No, not      \ hrynkiwd@cuug.ab.ca
K,I,U,U, K,I,_W_.  Yes, that's right.       \ Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Yes, I know it looks like "HOCKYRINK."      \ Home of the Western Canadian
Yup, only 2 vowels. Pronounciation? "SMITH" \ Robot Games - APRIL 9 1994 
