| Water-Transporting Robot - The Contest |
From "Robot Rivals"
episode DROB-113 |
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Time is up, and the two teams meet for the final competition -- a high-tech robotic dunking booth. Here's a look at the contest rules: The robots must - Gather water from pool
- Contain water in / on the robot
- Drive up ramps and deposit water into bucket.
The winning team soaks the other team's expert! The results of the surprise-household-item bonus: Southern Utah used 10 items -- but so did Virginia Tech, so no one gets the head start. - Thety're off, and Virginia Tech has an early lead, but Southern Utah gets out of the starting gate close behind.
- The VT Tanker reaches the pool first and starts scooping, (figure A).
- The Thunder Mug moves in and dips its first load (figure B).
- Virginia Tech begins carefully steering their robot up the ramp (figure C), taking care not to spill the water.
- For an instant it looks as if the Thunder Mug is going to tip over when it reaches the bend in the ramp (figure D), but careful steering saves the day, and it's onward and upward for Southern Utah!
- Both teams pour their first load of water simultaneously (figure E) and go back for more.
- The Tanker nearly takes a spill (figure F), but it rights itself and heads back down the ramp.
- Southern Utah has a few problems rounding the corner (figure G), and Virginia Tech takes advantage of the delay (figure H).
- Southern Utah finally gets back down the ramp and heads for the pool, but VT has pulled ahead and is delivering its second load of water. Then -- disaster! The Thunder Mug crashes into the wall (figure I) and topples right off the ramp!
- VT, meanwhile, has made its second water delivery (figure J).
- Southern Utah finally makes it to the top, but they've lost half their water.
- Virginia Tech gets their third bucket of water and heads back up, but suddenly Southern Utah races down, fills their bucket and makes it to the top ahead of VT!
- Virginia Tech misaligns the bucket and loses some of the water (figure K).
- Southern Utah lines up and dumps their final load of water (figure L). It looks like they have enough!
- All of a sudden, VT's robot throws its bucket into the water tank and topples over backward (figure M)!
- The errant bucket is removed, and the clear winner is -- Southern Utah! All that's left now is to tip the tank and soak Buzz!
In the post-game follow-up, Virginia Tech acknowledges that the displacement of the bucket and some problems with the signal wire on the speed controller cost them the win. Had they had a little more time to test the robot, they feel that they might have been able to anticipate these problems and solve them, but the team members all agree that they feel good about the quality of their work. They take home $500 for their school's robotics department. Southern Utah admits that for a while, they were afraid that their robot was going to lose -- but Brian's voice, correcting their driving, was what saved the day. The team takes home $2,000 for their robotics department -- and the trophy, which is presented by Dr. Engelberger himself.
RESOURCES :
Robot Builder's Bonanza
Model: 0071362967
Author: Gordon McComb
Build Your Own Robot!
Model: 1568811020
Author: Karl Lunt
Robots, Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build
Model: 0070328048
Author: John Iovine
Personal Robotics : Real Robots to Construct, Program, and Explore the World
Model: 156881089X
Author: Richard Raucci
Mobile Robots : Inspiration to Implementation
Model: 1568810970
Author: Joseph L. Jones, et al
Sensors for Mobile Robots : Theory and Application
Model: 1568810482
Author: H.R. Everett
Special Thanks for Robot Rivals 100 series
The Robot Store
provided various robotic components for Robot Rivals.
www.robotstore.com
IFI Robotics
makers of the "Isaac 32" control system.
www.ifirobotics.com
NPC Robotics
provided wheels and motors for Robot Rivals.
www.npcrobotics.com
Robotic Power Solutions
provided battery packs.
www.battlepack.com
Parallax Inc.
Provided microprocessors, on-board robotic cameras, autonoumous programming.
www.parallaxinc.com
Hobbico
provided Futaba control system.
www.hobbico.com
Alloy Frame Systems
provided extruded-aluminum frame materials.
www.alloyframesystems.com
SMC Corporation of America
provided pneumatic systems.
www.smcusa.com
Team Delta
provided wiring kits and electrical wiring.
www.teamdelta.com
Radio Shack
provided component cabinets.
www.radioshack.com
Campbell Hausfeld Tools
provided pneumatic tools and compressor used on Robot Rivals.
www.campbellhausfeld.com
Delta Machinery
provided tools used on Robot Rivals.
www.deltawoodworking.com
Porter Cable
provided tools used on Robot Rivals.
www.porter-cable.com
Waterloo Industries
provided tool chests used on Robot Rivals.
www.waterlooindustries.com
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