Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!iat.holonet.net!bsmall
From: bsmall@iat.holonet.net (Brad Smallridge)
Subject: Re: Robot Sumo Contest Announcement
Message-ID: <CH0Fzz.Fr8@iat.holonet.net>
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access System: 510-704-1058/modem
 
References: <HATTORI.93Nov24152844@gaea.csrd.nkk.co.jp>
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1993 19:11:58 GMT
Lines: 26

Dear Matto, 

Thanks for the tips on Sumo Bots.  Perhaps you can tell us a little more.
One thing I was wondering about is how the robots get started. A false
start could give a tremendous advantage to a robot, being able to gain
more speed and momentum. Do the contstants start their machines by
flipping a switch when the judge says go?
 
The other concern is one of friction. It would appear to me that a machine
that sensed when its wheels were slipping, and could adjust the power to
the motors accordingly, would have the advantage. The static coefficient
of friction is more than the dynamic coefficient of friction. 
 
You mentioned speed. Is there a way to determine the best speed? The top
end, I suppose, is a maximum acceleration determined by the coefficient of
friction times the 3KG. Hmm. Seems to be a weight factor on both sides of
the F=MA formula since F=Weight*Coeffictient of Friction.

The robots that ran off the ring, were they braking or using their motors
in reverse?

Brad Smallridge
bsmall@holonet.net



