It looks to me like the soccer and rescue+ events are cool.
My current robot is a tad too big and outdoorsy for those tasks, but
if there is some sort of concensus on an 'adult league' then I'd be
keen to build the next one (or pair) to spec.

I think I'll pop into the Australian open of RCJ in a couple of
weeks to check out the action and competition (if they let me in,
that is).

Cheers,
Marcin

--- In robot_sig@yahoogroups.com, "Gordon Wyeth" <wyeth@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Guys
>
> This SIG used to run regular competitions - other members may
recall also. If
> you're interested in a competition that would suit hobby
roboticists then
> RoboCup Junior is worth a look. Yes, I know it's meant for kids.
Nevertheless I
> would love to see how the adults stack up next to the kids. Maybe
we could
> organise a kids v. adults SuperBowl at next year's competition?
>
> For those who haven't heard about RoboCup Junior have a look at:
>
> http://www.robocupqld.net.au/
>
> Of the RoboCup Junior challenges I'd recommend Soccer or possibly
Premier
> Rescue. Note that while many schools use LEGO to do these
projects, you can use
> whatever you like. The best of the Soccer robots are all custom
built.
>
> UQ could probably help out the SIG with loans of balls / tables /
mats for the
> contest if you are interested in going down this path.
>
> Cheers
>
> Gordon Wyeth
> Director, Robotics Laboratory
> University of Queensland 4072 AUSTRALIA
> Phone: +61 7 3365 3770 Fax: +61 7 3365 4999
> wyeth@... http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~wyeth
>
>
> _____
>
> From: robot_sig@yahoogroups.com [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of
> Quinn
> Sent: Tuesday, 29 August 2006 12:46 PM
> To: robot_sig@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: {Disarmed} Re: {Definitely Spam?} {Disarmed}
[robot_sig] Quinn's
> Project
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yea I agree hold some competitions, get the ball rolling with some
activity.
>
>
>
> From: robot_sig@yahoogroups.com [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of
> Marcin
> Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:07 PM
> To: robot_sig@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: {Disarmed} Re: {Definitely Spam?} {Disarmed} [robot_sig]
Quinn's
> Project
>
>
>
> I fully agree with Linus' two main points: 1) start small, 2) have
a
> specific goal.
>
> Would there be any interest in competitions like what they do in
the
> States - at the high-end they have things like robo-magellan and
the
> trinity college fire-fighting content, then at the middle-ground
> things comps like mini-sumo.
>
> Organised comps give motivation, goals and foster both co-
operation
> and a healthy level of competition which I think hobby robotics
> needs. (This is the connection to the topic at hand)
>
> Just wanted to float it and see what folks thought.
>
> Cheers,
> Marcin
>
> --- In robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com, "Quinn"
> <quinn@> wrote:
> >
> > Ok maybe it's a bit to much to start with, but I am wanting to
do
> something,
> > I am sick of sitting around doing nothing.
> >
> >
> >
> > From: robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com
> [mailto:robot_sig@yahoogrou <mailto:robot_sig%40yahoogroups.com>
ps.com]
> On Behalf
> > Of Linus Dillon
> > Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 9:11 AM
> > To: Robot Sig
> > Subject: {Definitely Spam?} {Disarmed} [robot_sig] Quinn's
Project
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Quinn,
> >
> >
> >
> > Thought it best to start a new thread to discuss your idea.
> >
> >
> >
> > First up (and don't take this as criticism), be careful biting
off
> too much
> > initially. I know that's why I ended up dropping out from the
> group. You may
> > want to either aim for some smaller projects first, or ensure
that
> whatever
> > you build can be done in smaller stages which themselves are
> interesting.
> >
> >
> >
> > Having said that, I guess the first thing to work out about the
> larger
> > project is what you are aiming for. You say it will feature
either
> tracks or
> > wheels, however those two architectures are very different, so
you
> will have
> > to decide that before anything else. What do you want the robot
to
> DO? What
> > problem do you want it to solve? What challenge would you like
to
> explore
> > with it?
> >
> >
> >
> > You will then have to start thinking about what you will build
it
> from.
> > Modified existing toy? Pre-designed kit? Lego? Meccano?
Plastics?
> Metal
> > section? Wood? Ask yourself what skills do you already have with
> respect to
> > building stuff? How much can/will you spend? (note, that given
your
> > statement about it being 3 to 4 feet tall (AHH! metric please!
> errr... about
> > 1 metre tall) you will probably need to look at wood/metal
section
> for the
> > skeleton for something that size).
> >
> >
> >
> > Obviously tracks would be easier (there are some tracked-vehicle
> kits out
> > there so you can get the basic components easily enough and them
> adjust to
> > the form you actually want), however tracked vehicles chew up a
> fair bit of
> > power and don't turn all that neatly on carpets. Bipeds are now
> finally
> > starting to take off, and you can even buy a simple one for $100
> or so and
> > then hack that if you wish (RoboSapien and RoboSapien V2),
however
> if you
> > wish to build form the ground up there are also several servo-
> based kits
> > available now (although pricey), and building your own from
> scratch is no
> > longer impossible. However it will probably not be able to
lift/do
> too much
> > else, and your looking at a VERY long project if you starting
from
> the group
> > up.
> >
> >
> >
> > Have you considered the 'segway' style robots? I find these quite
> > interesting, and people have even built basic models from LEGO
> Mindstorms!
> > You could view them as featuring some of the same issues as
biped
> (dynamic
> > balance) with much simpler mechanics, lower power consumption,
and
> capable
> > of bearing larger weights. I haven't seen too much PRACTICAL use
> made of
> > them as yet however, but I know the guys who did the RoboSapiens
> are soon to
> > release a robot with arms that has this style of locomotion.
> >
> >
> >
> > You may be interested in this:
> http://www.msl. <http://www.msl.ri.cmu.edu/projects/ballbot/>
> ri.cmu.edu/projects/ballbot/ -
> > probably NOT what your after, but the idea of a robot balancing
on
> a ball is
> > interesting.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Linus
> >
>