OverviewThe Union College Dutchmen and the University of Pittsburgh Panthers have made it to the final round of the Robot Rivals Tournament. In this final contest, the teams must design and build rescue robots that can (1) navigate through a maze, (2) collect three keys and contain them on board. Finally, the robots must (3) bring the keys up a ramp to a platform where DIY's robotics experts, Brian and Buzz, are waiting to be unlocked and released from captivity.
Union designs a compact robot with magnetized pneumatic clamps, while Pittsburgh builds around the idea of an octagonal base frame and a pneumatic arm with a magnet-lined scoop. The Dutchmen's "Locksmith" bolts through the course, while the Panther's "Mazemonger" struggles to cut the corners. Buzz crawls out from a pile of confetti, Brian remains under lock and key, and Dr. Engelberger presents Union College with the championship trophy.
The Teams
Union College
Adam Retersdorf, Senior, Mechanical Engineering
Marissa Post, Senior, Mechanical Engineering
Jason Fishner, Junior, Mechanical Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
Sam Scheinman, Senior, Physics
Mark Smorul, Senior, Computer Engineering
Ben McMillen, Graduate Student, Electrical Engineering
The DesignsUnion designs a compact, four-wheel-drive robot with magnetized pneumatic clamps to snatch keys and bring them through the maze.
Pittsburgh designs an octagonal, two-wheel-drive robot with a pneumatic arm and magnetized collection cup to scoop keys off the pegs and carry them up the ramp.
The "Household Item" Component
The teams are given a household item from which they may source parts for the construction of their robots. The team that uses the most parts from the household item receives a pre-determined advantage in the final competition. The (not-so-household) item for this competition: an industrial robotic arm.
Construction and Competition
Host Chris Chianelli introduces contest finalists Union College and the University of Pittsburgh to their challenge: to build a robot that can navigate a maze and retrieve keys that will unlock DIY's robotic experts. As both teams jump into the design process, Chris gives them sample peg-and-key stations for testing. Brian and Buzz make sure the lab is fully stocked.
The teams finalize their designs, gather building materials, and begin construction. The experts reveal the surprise household item -- an industrial robot arm -- which the eager students immediately disassemble.
Brian introduces a highlight reel featuring a best-of montage of Robot Rivals second season's fascinating and creative robots. Later, Brian presents a highlight reel of the second season's talented engineers.
With the drive train complete, Union gets some valuable practice on a mock-up maze and begin to assemble the pincer mechanism. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh divides up the duties of constructing the frame, building the key grabber, and wiring the electronics.
Chris Chianelli talks to Buzz and Brian about how the respective teams are doing so far with construction. Adam hones his driving skills. Issues with the pincer mechanism slow down construction. On the other side of lab, Pittsburgh continues to make progress despite a few adjustments to the original design.
Chris interviews Dr. J. F. Engelberger about his original invention, the Unimate industrial robot, as well as his latest endeavor, a nurse robot named Helpmate.
Pittsburgh performs a successful test of their rescue robot after making a significant structural modification to the key grabber. Similarly, Union scraps their original pincer for a more compact construction that tests well on the sample peg-and-key station. Chris calls an end to the day of building, and the teams finally get a chance to check out their competition.
Competition and Tournament Finale
Chris recaps the day of building and reviews the rules of the competition. Union's "Locksmith" bolts through the course, while Pittsburgh's "Mazemonger" struggles to cut the corners. Union celebrates their hard-won victory as Buzz crawls out from a pile of confetti. Meanwhile, poor Brian remains under lock and key.
Dr. J. F. Engelberger presents tournament champions, Union College, with the championship trophy named in his honor. Chris closes the second season of Robot Rivals.
The Tournament Championis: Union College
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_PittTm2_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_UnionRobot5_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Pitt11_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Pitt3_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Union10_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Union9_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_PittRobot_3_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_UnionRobot4_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Comp13_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Comp17_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Ceremony1_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/06/02/drob213_Engelberger1_e.jpg",350,450))
