Robot, in collaboration with www.robots-dreams.com, run by founding blogger Lem Fugitt, is pleased to announce a robot contest that is easy to participate in, anywhere on the planet.
PRIZES
We are offering free 1-year subscriptions or subscription extensions to the fastest timed entries in four contest categories. Moreover, student winners will get a free Solidworks Student Edition (a limited-term-use license), generously offered by contest contributing-sponsor Solidworks, www.solidworks.com.
The top winner in the wheeled/tracked autonomous category, for the opening round, will receive a Surveyor RVS1 tracked robot generously provided by contributing-sponsor Trossen Robotics, www.trossenrobotics.com.
The top winner in the walking autonomous category, in our opening round, will receive a PC Oscilloscope generously provided by contest contributing-sponsor Bitscope, www.bitscope.com.
Race Description:
The BotTrot 4Bottle Race is open to (1) walking and (2) wheeled/tracked robot platforms. There are autonomous and remote controlled classes for both walking and wheeled/tracked categories (remote controlled includes tethered, autonomous means fully independent action by the robot after walking or rolling begins).
Visit www.botmag.com/forum (our online community) to ask questions and get answers on this contest.
The Race
The race requires four 1-liter water bottles, a measuring tape that is at least two meters long, a piece of tape to mark the start/finish line and a video camera. Entrants must put "Robot" legibly on the water bottles, whether drawn on paper taped to the bottles, affixed as decals, or painted. The bottles are to remain empty.
The water bottles mark the corners of a 2-meter square. All runs are against the clock, captured on video, and are to be submitted to editors@botmag.com. The robot is to travel in a figure-8 pattern as shown on the illustration and in the video clip. If the robot tips any of the bottles over, the run is disqualified.
Anyone can enter the contest with any robot., including MINDSTORMS, Robosapiens, Sumo designs, Vex design system robots, scratch-built or any toy or hobby robot purchased as a ready-to-run. RC cars, buggies and trucks are eligible in the remote control class. Robots with the fastest demonstrated run times will be awarded first place titles. Winners will be posted at www.botmag.com and featured in Robot magazine.
How to Enter
Entrants need only supply a video, preferably in WMV format, that shows the time of the robot's run and a short description of the robot's design and control systems, as well as one or two high res digital still images that can be published in Robot.
We will announce winners in the Winter 2007 issue of Robot and online, and in our Forum section dedicated to the 4Bottle race. This announcement relates only to the first round of this contest; if we get active participation (and we hope we do!), we will continue the contest and announce winners in future issues.
Entrants should email their video, high res digital image and text files to editors@botmag.com. Clips of winners will be posted at www.botmag.com.
Robot, in collaboration with