DIY Network

River-Crossing Robots -- Harvard vs. University of Kentucky From "Robot Rivals" episode DROB-107

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The Harvard University team. The University of Kentucky team. Host Chris Chianelli assembles the teams to explain the rules of the competition. Robotic expert Brian Nave advises the Harvard team. NASA engineer Buzz Dawson advises the Kentucky team. The "surprise household item" is an exercise machine. The team that utilizes the greatest number of salvaged parts from this item in their robot wins a 5-second head-start advantage in the final contest.

The Teams

Harvard University

• Michael Sullivan, Senior
  Major: Computer Science

• Benjamin Pierce, Graduate Student
  Major: Engineering Science

• Trevor Williams, Sophomore
  Major: Mechanical Engineering

• Rich Corner, Senior
  Major: Electrical Engineering

• Casey Harr, Senior
  Major: Electrical Engineering

• Darren Brown, Senior
  Major: Electrical Engineering

The Project

Design and build a robot that can:

• Move up to a 2-foot gap (i.e., "river") in the floor surface.
  
  
• Cross the gap.
  
  
• Continue to the finish line, leaving nothing behind.
  
  
• Remain self-contained throughout the competition.

The "Surprise Item"

The teams are given a "surprise" household mechanical-item from which they may make use of any of the functional parts by incorporating those parts into their robot. The team that makes use of the most functional parts receives a 10-second head-start in the competition that takes place at the end of the design and construction period. The surprise items for today's competition is an exercise machine.

The Experts

• Working with the Harvard University team is Brian Nave, industrial robot engineer and champion robot builder.

• Working with the University of Kentucky team is Buzz Dawson, engineer for NASA Kennedy Space Center, president of Davinci Robotics, and mentor to youth-robotic teams across the country.

• Harvard team designed a three-segment robot with a chain-and-gear actuator in the center segment which can extend to span the gap and then contract again to its original size.

• The University of Kentucky team designed a drawbridge robot that lays its own bridge, crosses the gap, and finally retracts the bridge on the other side. Construction

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Robot Builder's Bonanza
Model: 0071362967
Author: Gordon McComb

Build Your Own Robot!
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Robots, Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build
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Author: John Iovine

Personal Robotics : Real Robots to Construct, Program, and Explore the World
Model: 156881089X
Author: Richard Raucci

Mobile Robots : Inspiration to Implementation
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Author: Joseph L. Jones, et al