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Minutes of WCRS Meeting November 14,2001

Acting Secretary : Paul Godin

November 14, 2001

Meeting started at 7:05 by Craig Maynard. 23 people in attendance (roughly ½ adult).

Opening: Craig briefly reviewed the minutes from the last meeting.

1. Craig introduced suggested discussion topics and meeting objectives, as listed on the www.robotgames.com web site.
2. Membership cards are being made soon.
1. One suggestion is that they should be numbered.
2. Looking for suggestions for what should be on the card, i.e. supplier logos.

WCRG cards to be printed for next games May 10-12. How should they be distributed?

Suggestions included:

1. mailing lists
2. leaving some at Science Centre
3. electronics stores and other locations where robotics hobbyists may go
4. looking for sponsors, and ask for their help distributing the information
5. word of mouth/membership

1. Committee members of the WCRG may build robots to compete in other games. Robot builders are to offer design ideas.
2. A suggestion discussed was that robot kits should be built. These kits may be used to quickly assemble robots. Some suggestions from the floor included:
1. Lego kits suggested
2. Some members urged designing and building our own kits
3. Include "battle" aspect to the kits
4. Also look at building competition grade robots.
5. Document/photograph process of designing/building robots

Craig proposed a meeting on a Saturday at his garage to begin building prototypes of the kits.

The Yahoo survey results - 9 want to build a competition grade battlebot.

Craig urged members to vote on items/issues (must reply to link to vote).

Suggested build night will be discussed on-line

3. State of associate membership. 54 on-line now as members of Yahoo group.

(For reference, Seattle Association=800 people on-line).

4. Discussion on full membership.
1. full versus associate. Full membership benefits suggested benefits suggestions:

• extra discounts

1. access to speakers

• build nights
• access to tools
• giveaways

1. Membership pricing vote:
1. $5.00 suggested
1. 16 for, 0 against….motion passed
2. membership pricing structure will be revisited next year.

1. Suggest membership launch at next meeting
2. Craig introduced itemized list as possible discussion topics. Called for other suggestions. These included:

• Tours of other companies including
• Solarbotics
• HW Tech
• JCM
• Facilities @ SAIT ® for instance, Mechatronics lab
• Gizmo Shop

1. Call for new issues:

• Need to find a location where can donations be placed (printers, copiers)? (Some are large).
• 300 party storage locker?
• SAIT location? (probably not available)
• Suggested: question placed to the membership - who’s got space?
• Transport may also be needed for larger items.
• Possibly find a new meeting space without parking costs?
• Free parking is often available at the Jubilee, Mall, or north of 16^th Ave.

1. Next meeting Wednesday 12^th December. This will be the Annual General Meeting. Election of officers will take place. Currently WCRG electorate are acting officers.
2. Jim provided a brief introduction on robots. He noted that there are few people with experience

• There is a large assortment of robots that can be designed and built
• We do have some members tonight that brought in robots
• Spoke briefly on the different types of robots that may be built (for instance, autonomous, sumo, etc)

The meeting broke shortly after 8PM with members visiting and inspecting robots that have been brought to the meeting. Some robotics-related items were given away to some lucky attending members.

November 14, 2001 Agenda

Time:  November 14, 2001 (Weds)  7PM - 9PM

Place:  MD203 / MD213 HEART Building

Meeting Objective:

Tonight is rather a "robo-show and tell" evening!  We might have packed TOO much stuff into tonights event, but better more than less!

For the beginners...

Tonight's meeting will feature a number of robotic demonstrations from many of the WCRG's current events.  These robots range from the very simple BEAM robots to advanced Sumo and fire-fighting machines.  Robot demo's will occur where possible.

For Intermediate / advanced robot designers...

There will also be a demonstration of two robotic devices by some SAIT CNT Students:  a OWI robot arm modified to be controlled via the internet with a custom hardware and  web-cam feedback AND a robot controlled via custom RF transmitter and monitored by webcam over the internet.  Too cool!  

Craig would also like to preview his latest invention, the QueenAnt!

For discussion...

Building tear-down sumo kits for WCRS visits...  Membership Drive...  New promotional material for WCRG/WCRS.... Upcoming events for us to visit!

Agenda                                                       

1. Review of previous meetings minutes... old biz?

2. New promotional material out now... postcards and biz cards. ( WCRS Member cards coming soon )

   • How best to distribute these?

3. Committee needed to design sumo-bots for PR events.

4. Result of BATTLEBOT vote... What next?

5. Current state of associate membership.

6. Discussion of Full Membership structure.

7. Ideas for upcoming meetings...

   • CPLD Programming ( Advanced )

   • Digital logic control workshop ( beginner-intermediate )

   • Range finding devices ( Intermediate )

   • Controlling motors workshop ( Beginner )

   • Working in plastic ( Intermediate ) 

   • Basic machining ( Intermediate )

   • A Gameboy-based controller (Advanced)

   • Programming in BASIC on the Parallax basic stamp (Beginner)

   • Building a simple autonomous sumo ( beginner )

   • Don Posts robots

   • Brad Baillods work

   • Tour of the GIZMO SHOP

   • Tour of ______________

   • Any more???

8. Evening activities

   • Jim McGinn dazzles us with his volunteered activities.

9. New business?

10. Set next meeting date.  Weds December 12, 2001?  (Annual General Meeting.)