Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!gatech!concert!sas!mozart.unx.sas.com!sasrer
From: sasrer@unx.sas.com (Rodney Radford)
Subject: Sumou Wrestling Tournament question
Summary: How do I build the playing surface?
Sender: news@unx.sas.com (Noter of Newsworthy Events)
Message-ID: <sasrer.732814941@cinnamon>
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1993 15:42:21 GMT
Nntp-Posting-Host: cinnamon.unx.sas.com
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Lines: 44

   Subject: questions about building the robot sumou playing surface

   Our local robotics club is having a robotics sumou contest in two weeks
   (April 4) and I need to build the sumou playing surface (I think it is
   called the doyou, but my spelling is probably wrong!).

   PS: If you are not familiar with the contest, the basic rules are that
   two robots try to actively push the opponet out of the circle within the
   3minutes alloted time. There is an international robotics sumou contest
   held in Japan every year.  I tried emailing Mato Hattori, the person that
   distributed the robot sumou packet last year, but email to his old address
   at hattori@convex.com is being returned by an automated mailer stating that
   he is no longer with convex.

   The current playing surface is built out of plywood, but since it is not
   possible to get plywood that is 1.5 meters across (aprox 5'), we have
   some seams in the plywood. So we took advantage of this and designed a
   playing surface that consists of 4 pie shaped wedges and we were able to
   get it out of one sheet of plywood, and have the ability to dismantle the
   playing area so it can be carried in the car. Unfortunately, these seams
   will not work with the wedge-shaped design that I am building, as the front
   edge of the wedge is getting caught in the cracks.

   So, how are the 'official' robot sumou wresting playing surfaces 
   constructed? Specifically, what material is the playing area made of, and
   is it covered with anything (I remember hearing that a rubberized membrane
   was stretched over the playing area, but if this is so, what material is
   used for the membrane?)  Also, how do you move (and store) the 1.5meter
   playing surface - is it constructed such that it can be dismantled?

   As the contest will be in two weeks, I need to have the final playing
   surface ready by next weekend, which will allow a week of practice on the
   official playing surface. So if you can help me with this, please let me 
   know - thanx.

   Also, if you know of any other local clubs that are close to Raleigh, NC
   that would like to compete with ours, let me know as well. 

--
---
Rodney Radford          || Computer Graphics/Imaging
sasrer@unx.sas.com      || SAS Institute, Inc.
(919) 677-8000 x7703    || Cary, NC  27513

