Video's

Here's some video clips from our evening challenge... building a lego mindstorm robot which must pop balloons scattered through the lab with only a flashlight for a controller.  Keep in mind, these were built in only about 1 hour!  (They start on mouse-over)

Minutes

(Taken by Paul Godin)

Western Canadian Robotics Society

January 9, 2003

Annual General Meeting opened at approximately 7:10PM.

MARS NEED EXECUTIVES

We are looking for future new executives to come forward.  Craig recommended for the future to have a term limit of 1 year for presidency to reduce burnout and to keep a fresh outlook on things.  Tonight, the current president is acclaimed.

Brad’s new creation, the robotic spider, is the new poster child to announce and advertise the Western Canadian Robot Games.  Look for the “new look” promotion card for the 2003 games.

There is a new web site for the WCRG and the WCRS.  All the newsletters, pictures and other archive files can be found on the site.

We have purchased another URL called www.robotgames.net, and are looking for suggestions on what we should do with this new url.  Suggested is a robotics site with more resources and purpose (like electronics, mechanics and other resources).  Perhaps we should look at hosting this site as a general Robotics Societies site where we can invite other organizations from across the country to maintain their sites on our server.  Please forward any suggestions to the Yahoo discussion board.

The ICETA conference is coming to SAIT this summer during the robot games.   Many Electronics Teachers will be on campus for the event.   This is a great opportunity to show off what the Robotics Society and the WCRG are all about.  We will run workshops.  We also need our own keynote speaker for the games and Craig is looking for suggestions on who may be available to do this.  The WCRS and the WCRG have some funds available to help with this.  Looking for suggestions.  Please provide some ideas for the conference.

The new newsletter from Chris McNaab's is here, linked, and hot off the press! 

The Annual Return has been completed, and the budget for the society has been approved.

The guest speaker on motors has cancelled for tonight, so we’ll try again at a future meeting.

New Business

 

Quentin:

Asked about having new competitions for the games.  For the current competitions, there is a lot of talk about different hardware designs (like sticky tires and low scoop designs).  It’s a lot of fun looking at the different designs but its time to introduce something different.

He recommended introducing a class for mud wrestling ring.   Create a ring filled with water, dirt and rocks and create an arena.  This will encourage a whole new design approach for autonomous robots.  No longer will there be concerns about minimum clearance; instead the needs will be perhaps for maximum clearance.  It should be interesting and fun to create a robot that is waterproof, can navigate in the real world, and that can function outdoors. 

We want to see if there is anyone interested in making a robot for this demonstration event for the upcoming games.   A few people in the room stated that they would be interested in creating a robot for this competition.  We will need more rules and regulations.  This year’s competition would be an exhibition event.  We are hoping to have at least 3 competitors.

Quentin also demonstrated some LEDs that operate under UV light.  He stated that they could order from off shore, or via eBay.

Next speaker is Dan.  He is involved with the Calgary School board.  They’ve run the CO2 cars created by students at Sir John A. MacDonald high school.  In the past they have has a competition on various locations.  The students design a car from a 2x4.  They use CO2 cartridges for propulsion.  This year they will have an opportunity to race their cars at the games in exchange for free entrance to the games.  As a side benefit, the students also get a chance to do some drafting.  Nancy is a science teacher at the same school who is interested in building robots with the students.

Dave came in to demonstrate a robot.  When ordering some books, he noticed a McGraw Hill Sumo Bot kit that’s available, and ordered one. The kit contains a sumo robot.  His comments were as follows:  This robot is the wrong size…too big for mini but too small for standard sumo.  It also lacks edge detection but has a remote control.   Has a Basic Stamp 2 and PIC platform.  There are two CDS cells for ambient light detection.  Behaviors:  Has obstacle avoidance built-in (is this what you want for a sumo robot?).  Has protovore, photophobe  and wall-following modes.  Not really a sumo bot, as it has no edge detection.  Has good processing capability.   There is an RS232 connector and programming software, but there is no cable.  Costs about $160 CDN.  Doesn’t have enough power to spin its tires.   The motors and transistors are of low quality.  Documentation is on CD.  Junon and others may have better robots.

Guests from St Mary’s High School.  They will compete in the Canada First contest.   (There is a large entrance fee).  They have received the kit and are looking to us to provide some guidance.  The society would like to track their progress.  Their competition is at the end of February in Toronto, where they will bring their creation to the competitions.  The students have driven the interest in this event.  The cost is $9,000 and that doesn’t include the cost of getting to the games in Toronto.  They’re also busy with fundraising.  They’re looking for a place to build it together.  They’ve separated themselves into groups and committees to decide how to approach construction.   The theme this year is hockey where the robot has to control and shoot the puck. 

There will be 4 robots playing at the same time.  Different color balls will be picked up by the robot and shoot the puck into the net.  Must be capable of stick handling, but this is a remote controlled device.   There are 3 skills competitions:  has to go through 4 pylons, take shots at the net, and play a 2 minute game.

The kit includes large batteries, large main motors (about the size of a windshield wiper motors), and some lighter-duty motors.  The hockey stick is supplied, and the ball is a standard street hockey ball.  There is even a roll of duct tape.  Also supplied are a box of electrical devices and components (including a fuse).  The target size is about the size of a standard practice target. 

The students are also facing creating a web site explaining the team and the robot.  They must also make a presentation and enlist the help of engineers.

The students still need to raise funds, and have until mid-march to raise the funds.  There are 25 people in the team.

The group is looking for some technical help from the group, and already some SAIT Computer Engineering Technologists have volunteered their time.

Craig wrapped up the meeting shortly after 8PM  with a challenge:  Create 2 teams.  With Lego Mindstorm components, create an autonomous robot that can burst a balloon.  A needle and a flashlight is given to the competitors and they may only use a flashlight to steer the robots. They’re to pop a balloon.

There is also a basic motor kit building area is anyone is interested.  We are also renewing the annual membership.

PGODIN