Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!wupost!udel!news.sprintlink.net!qns1.qns.com!constellation!a.cs.okstate.edu!rjs
From: rjs@a.cs.okstate.edu (STOLFA ROLAND JOSE)
Subject: Re: SUMO competitor #8 4 days left
References: <1994Apr28.140143.19678@a.cs.okstate.edu> <H24iLc7w165w@sfrsa.com>
Message-ID: <1994May2.135623.10009@a.cs.okstate.edu>
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Computer Science
Date: Mon, 2 May 94 13:56:23 GMT
Lines: 44

In article <H24iLc7w165w@sfrsa.com>, bsmall <bsmall@sfrsa.com> wrote:
>rjs@a.cs.okstate.edu (STOLFA ROLAND JOSE) writes:
>
>> In article <ZwHFLc4w165w@sfrsa.com>, bsmall <bsmall@sfrsa.com> wrote:
>> [ ... stuff deleted ... ]
>> >My strategy is a two wheel driven device with a long saber like
>> >rod that sticks out in the front to help locate the opponent:
>> 
>> How about simply adding a second rod on the other side?  The same spin and
>> go forward stuff would work, and you would catch your opponent twice as
>> fast :-)
>> 
>> Let me hear how it comes out...
>> 
>
>I don't get it.  How does two rods help me find my opponent twice
>as fast.  And why do I want to find my opponent twice as fast?

Using a simplified diagram:


		wwwww   wwwww
		  m	   rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
		 mmm	 mmm
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr	  m
		wwwww   wwwww

Using this kind of arangement, you cut your 'time spinning' in half, in that
either rod would stop the spinning and start you on the 'push' phase of
operations.  Also, keeping Sumo's simple seems to be a good goal to me :-)

As to why you want to find your opponent twice as fast, with such a simple
system (no boarder sensing, last I heard?), you want to minimize the time
you spend in the ring.  Your motors probably do not operate perfectly, ie.
there is a bit of a wabble to your spin, that might, if the other opponent
just tries to avoid you, you might simply go out of bounds on your own.

Fight, fight, win (honorably)!

Roland Stolfa				Internet:	rjs@a.cs.okstate.edu
Computer Science Department
219 Math Sciences Building		Disclaimer:	You've lost your mind
Oklahoma State University				if you think anyone
Stillwater OK 74078-0599				speaks for this place!
