[Robotgroup] Robot Challenge Help Needed

[Paul Atkinson]

Gray,

I agree that we need more space for the bots to move around in. Foam board
could still work for vertical surfaces and horizontal ones - if they are
well supported, say by a table. Could you make just the ramp and platform
area out of wood? Or foam board with wood supports.

I know DPRG (Dallas group) has had table top contests in the past. Might be
interesting to look at their rules and sizes for some ideas.
http://www.dprg.org/competitions/tt_specs.html

Clendon - I don't know about simulators for small robots. Seems like the
Parallax Scribbler has something like that, or perhaps I'm confusing
simulation with their programming GUI?

Paul

On Jan 11, 2008 2:23 PM, Clendon Gibson <bsandyman at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I have been thinking for a while that the chief impediment to a robotics
> hobby is expense. (Discounting time, effort, and the fear of looking like a
> nerd.)
>
> If you are using a standard robot with a basic arena, then perhaps what is
> needed is a computer simulation.
>
> Kids could develop the code wherever the computer is and on the night of
> the competition DL the code to a bot owned by the group.
>
> Are their robot kits backed with simulation tools?
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Gray Mack <gray_mack at yahoo.com>
> To: The Robot Group Mailing List <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 2:06:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Robot Challenge Help Needed
>
>
> Ok, now that I actually own a CR-01 which is only
> slightly larger than a boebot, I need to rethink the
> size of the Arena some. It would be rather difficult
> for a 5.5in bot to fit through a 6in corridor. Not
> impossible, but difficult with basic sensors like 2
> distance testers. I think for this 1st challenge, an
> extra 2-4 inches of passage width may be needed. I
> dont think we would get enough participants if we
> limit the bot size to 4"x4"
>
> Also the bots are heavier than I was thinking, so
> foam-board may not be strong enough, I will need to
> experiment.
>
> I had hoped an arena could be made at home in an
> evening with only a ruler, razor knife, and hot glue.
> building it out of wood makes it less likely that
> people will make their own. And I feel it will be more
> difficult for people to learn and program without the
> actual arena. I guess it is possible you could put
> some paper tape down on a rug and stack some books and
> get a usable enough simulation that the robot would
> work in the actual arena, but that does add a level of
> difficulty. I might also try using a silver tarp as
> the base of the arena.
>
> Comments?
>
> -Gray
>
> --- Gray Mack <gray_mack at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Unless I get feedback soon about typical bots, I am
> > going to make some assumptions in designing the
> > challenge:
> >
> > bot will fit within a 6in x 6in x 6in cube
> > bot can enter and traverse a 6in wide x 6in high
> > corridor without getting stuck.
> > bot can go over up to 1/4" bump or ledge without
> > catching wheel or sensors.
> > bot can travel up/down 15degree incline plane
> > bot can sense a black line boundary 1/2in to 3/4in
> > of
> > edge of falling off the playfield.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Gray
> >
> > --- Gray Mack <gray_mack at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Something I need help with is defining the size of
> > > the
> > > arena. I would like to do 2x2 feet or 2x3 feet.
> > > I need the dimensions on a typically built bot:
> > >  1. boebot with/without ping sensor attachment
> > >  2. mindstorms bot
> > >  3. vex bot (I can do this)
> > >  4. spybotics (I can do this)
> > >  5. Other common chassis?
> > >
> > > Will all of these likely fit within a 6" cube?
> > >
> > > What is the most narrow passage they could
> > > realistically travel through without careful
> > > steering?
> > > Can they drive over a 1/8" bump? How about 1/4"?
> > try
> > > things like a penny, coaster, or corrugated
> > > cardboard.
> > >
> > > Can they go up a 15degree incline like a 6"
> > > cardboard
> > > ramp to a 1.5" elevation like a 2x2 beam or thick
> > > book?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > -Gray
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
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