We are going to have several computers with connection cables &
adapters availible for contestants at RoboMaxx and I need to know what
programs I need to have on them for everyone. They will already have
Stamp 1 & Stamp 2 software, CH Basic with other MarkIII stuff,
Interactive C ver.3 & 4, Bascom, and PCBug 11 for the 68HC11.
I will also install as many pre-written programs as I can find for
each of the above, like MarkII sumo code, MarkIII HEX Files, etc.
If you know of any other programs that should be on these computers,
please let me know.
These computers range from 386's to lower grade pentiums. The
apropriate software will go on each, e.g. Stamp 1 software will be on
the 386 for slower speed connection problems, etc.
-Dan

Hi all,

A recent find...

Robot Hut Robot Museum
http://robothut.robotnut.com/index.html


Regards,


Cliff Thompson
Mediameister,
San Francisco
Robotics Society of America (RSA)
www.robots.org

Here is a contest that some of you may be interested in.  Nasa Tech Briefs
is a neat free ?magazine? that I receive from time to time that highlights
new and upcoming technologies.  It is pretty good reading though on a fairly
high level.

-Jack


>
>Dear NASA Tech Briefs Reader:
>
>You are invited to enter the first-ever Emhart Design Contest,
>featuring a top prize of $20,000 or a high-tech automobile. Every
>qualified entrant will earn a prize and be recognized in the pages of
>NASA Tech Briefs, co-sponsor of the contest with Emhart Teknologies - a
>Black & Decker Company.  Visit http://www.emhartcontest.com for
>complete details.
>
>To enter, submit an original design idea in one of these three
>categories:
>
>* Everyday Products - significant functional or ergonomic new products,
>or upgrades to existing products, that improve quality of life;
>
>* Safety - mechanical or electromechanical designs to improve personal
>safety during travel, work, recreation, or at home;
>
>* Transportation - mechanical or electromechanical designs that improve
>the functionality, performance, or cost basis of transportation
>products.
>
>The Grand Prize winner will receive a hybrid automobile or $20,000 in
>cash. One First Prize winner will get a Segway Transporter or a trip
>for four to Florida to tour NASA's Kennedy Space Center and attend a
>Space Shuttle launch.
>
>Dozens of other prizes will be awarded, and all qualified entrants will
>receive a POP(r) PowerLink 30 repair kit/hand rivet tool, valued at
>$50.
>
>So get those creative juices flowing - entries must be received by
>November 15, 2002. Visit http://www.emhartcontest.com for the rules and
>official entry form. No purchase required.
>
>Good luck!
>
>Cordially,
>
>
>Joe Pramberger
>Publisher, NASA Tech Briefs
>

_________________________________________________________________
Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
http://www.hotmail.com

This article from NYTimes.com
has been sent to you by clifftrobot@....



Build a Lego Playmate, Then Fill It With Fun

September 5, 2002
By IAN AUSTEN




Moving to broaden its appeal among its youngest fans, Lego
has introduced Spybotics, the second set of products that
marry its tiny building blocks with computers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/05/technology/circuits/05GEE1.html?ex=1032528996&\
ei=1&en=da1240e3044711b7



HOW TO ADVERTISE
---------------------------------
For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters
or other creative advertising opportunities with The
New York Times on the Web, please contact
onlinesales@... or visit our online media
kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo

For general information about NYTimes.com, write to
help@....

Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company

This TechTV story has been sent to you by clifftrobot@...

--------------------------------------------------
Message from sender:

--------------------------------------------------

Tomy Micropets
Mini monster robots may be too cute to resist, but don't expect them to do any
tricks.
http://www.techtv.com/freshgear/products/story/0,23008,3391944,00.html

By: Ray Weigel
Date: September 5, 2002


==================================================
TechTV.com
http://www.techtv.com

Hi all,

News item...


News Release - Mini-robot research
http://www.sandia.gov/media/NewsRel/NR2001/minirobot.htm



Regards,


Cliff Thompson
Mediameister,
San Francisco
Robotics Society of America (RSA)
www.robots.org

Anyone in the SFRSA group interested in being on the judging panel for
the Open Class competition at RoboMaxx?  There's a free T-Shirt
involved in the deal.
-Dan Gates

Roboteers,

  It's time to get your robots registered. Even if you're not sure
it'll be ready in time we still encourage you to get it registered,
it's easier for us to remove it from the list at the last minute than
to add it.
  Here are the advantages you have if you register online early:
  You won't have to wait in a long line at the event, and you will get
paired with another robot that is better matched to yours. Those who
wait till the event have a higher chance of getting paired up with a
robot like Goliath or Nemisis and being eliminated all too soon in the
game.

  If you have put off registration because of a lack of a good name for
your bot, here are a few idea's:
Crusher
Thumper
Push Over
Little Wedgie
Scamp
Keeper
Spade
AIyah! (Artificial Inteligent something something something) It's a
fighting word ;-)
Short Cirky
Skid Mark or Skid MarkIII
Sticky
Slick
IR Monster
IR Pushy
Lil' Grumpy
Under Score
Mighty Mite
Grader

Ok, that's enough. Now you have no excuse to get registered!
http://www.mini-sumo.com/register/
-Dan

I'm extremely interested in attending RoboMaxx next
month, but would like to go up to Oregon with
somebody... possibly split driving/fuel/accomodations.

Details:
I'm 26, Male, Engineer
October 12th and 13th.
www.mini-sumo.com

-James

=====
Smoothie_maker: (n) One who creates delicious home-made blended frozen-fruit
concoctions.

__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo!
http://sbc.yahoo.com

-----Original Message-----
From:  Darcy Hartz Schein [mailto:dschein@...]
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 1:00 PM
To: DAVID CALKINS
Subject: RE: Hey guys

David,
If you could help find mentors and/or tournament volunteers, that
would be great! The following link explains mentoring:
http://www.botball.org/sponsors/mentor.html
If you find anyone who is interested, just send their contact info my way!
Thanks,
Darcy

--
Darcy Hartz Schein
Vice President, Programs & Operations
www.botball.org

Register for Botball 2003 by Oct. 1 for our Early Registration Incentive
Register online at www.botball.org

Roboteers,

  America West Airlines has new service to Medford, OR. and they are
giving us special rates for our event.
http://www.mini-sumo.com/accommodate.html
This link will get you to the RoboMaxx Accommodations page.
  I checked their rates and it looks like $200 round trip from San
Fransisco if you get a reservation before monday the 30th. You may be
able to get a better deal than that on your own because of it being a
new service to Medford.  Heck, you could WIN more than enough to pay your
way at the Maxx, 1st place for Open Class is $500 cash, and 1st place
for Mini-Sumo is $300 cash.
Cheers,
-Dan

I have just been handed four orchestra seats that I must give away or give
back to the box office.

Show starts at 6:30 (yes, I know that this is last minute.)

It last 4 and half hours, but has two 25 minute intermissions.

First person to reply within 30 minutes gets them (yes, you can ask for just
two.)

http://sfopera.com/os_opera_operaintro.asp?operaseasonid=185
<http://sfopera.com/os_opera_operaintro.asp?operaseasonid=185>

Please only ask for them if you are seriously interested.

David and others,

A few weeks ago, I received an email notice that the Comedy Central TV
channel has not renewed their sponsorhip of Battlebots, and, therefore, the
season 6 competition originally scheduled for next month has been
indefinitely postponed.

Do you have any more info about this?

Are there any other local combative robot events?

Jon Spear


-----Original Message-----
From: DAVID CALKINS <dcalkins@...>

There will be a good event in LA in Feb - Steel Conflict - but nothing local
in SF.

I know BB is looking for a new TV producer, but I don't know how they're
fairing.

  -----Original Message-----
From:  Jon Spear [mailto:jdspear@...]
Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 10:45 AM
To: sfrsa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [rsa] Battlebots TV contract cancelled

David and others,

A few weeks ago, I received an email notice that the Comedy Central TV
channel has not renewed their sponsorhip of Battlebots, and, therefore, the
season 6 competition originally scheduled for next month has been
indefinitely postponed.

Do you have any more info about this?

Are there any other local combative robot events?

Jon Spear


-----Original Message-----
From: DAVID CALKINS <dcalkins@...>




Be sure to visit our web site at http://www.robots.org.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

We'll be meeting at the exploratorium at 7:30 to go over all the stuff for the
upcoming robot games.

-David Calkins, President
Robotics Society of America
http://www.robots.org

-----------------------------------------------
Silicon shall replace Carbon.
The revolution will be automated.

For anyone interested in Ant Weight Combat, We are hosting a
tournament at RoboMaxx in Southern Oregon. http://www.mini-sumo.com


--- In sfrsa@y..., Jon Spear <jdspear@a...> wrote:
> David and others,
>
> A few weeks ago, I received an email notice that the Comedy Central TV
> channel has not renewed their sponsorhip of Battlebots, and,
therefore, the
> season 6 competition originally scheduled for next month has been
> indefinitely postponed.
>
> Do you have any more info about this?
>
> Are there any other local combative robot events?
>
> Jon Spear
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DAVID CALKINS <dcalkins@s...>

Hello all,

I decided at the last minute to go to Robomaxx in Southern Oregon.

If you have a robot you want to send up and we can arrange a time to
hook-up, I will take it up and run it. I think they could use some
more entrants. Unfortunately, I have several limitations:

1. I will be leaving before the event is over on Sunday (mini-sumo
and others are done by Sat. however).

2. I am leaving for S.O. Thursday eve. so we only have a couple days
to hook up.

Send me an email if interested.

Stan

Coming to RoboMaxx?
  You know, we built it around your responses to the questionair I sent
out last year.
You asked for lots of robotic related vendors,  We have 14 vendors all
selling their product at the show!
You asked for great prizes, We have over $3000 in prizes
You asked for cash prizes, We have a $500 first place Open class, and
a $300 first place mini-sumo
You asked for a variety of competitions, We're doing Mini sumo
advanced & beginner, Maze Solving, Open Class, Lego, Micro sumo, and
Ant Weight combat.
You wanted event only specials, Our vendors are giving great event
discounts!
You wanted it documented well,  we've put everything on the website.
You wanted food nearby,  We are located near 5 Fast food places plus a
catering service at the event.
You want it to be longer, we're doing the first 2 day event.
You wanted famous robots, we have a full size R2D2, and 2 storm
troopers plus more.
You wanted cheap accommodations, we've arranged it.
Everything that you said would make you want to attend and much more,
all contests will be broadcast on two 9'x12' screens, every contestant
gets a ribbon, Trophies, Plaques, Medals, and Ribbons given along with
every prize winner, we raised over $10,000 for the show and have
planned the event for over a year,  If you save your $$$'s for a trip
to any event, RoboMaxx is the one you're gonna want to spend it on!!!
  If you're still not sure about coming, check out the website... I
think you'll change your mind!!!  http://www.mini-sumo.com

      RoboMaxx...  Robots to the Maxx!!

http://www.k2.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/fusion/VisualFeedbackGrasping/index-e.html

"A grasping system using high speed visual feedback has been developed.
This system consists of an active vision with the parallel processing
vision system called SPE-256, and a multi-fingered hand-arm system like
a human hand. This is controlled using a  multi-DSP Hierarchical
Parallel Processing System  and realtime parallel sensory feedback is
realized. As a result the hand has succeeded in grasping against a
target which moves randomly at high speed. Experimental results are
presented."

I'm driving up tonight, returning late Sunday, if anyone wants to ride up
with me.

  -----Original Message-----
From:  Dan Gates [mailto:topazx2@...]
Sent: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 9:31 PM
To: sfrsa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [rsa] RoboMaxx!!

Coming to RoboMaxx?
  You know, we built it around your responses to the questionair I sent
out last year.
You asked for lots of robotic related vendors,  We have 14 vendors all
selling their product at the show!
You asked for great prizes, We have over $3000 in prizes
You asked for cash prizes, We have a $500 first place Open class, and
a $300 first place mini-sumo
You asked for a variety of competitions, We're doing Mini sumo
advanced & beginner, Maze Solving, Open Class, Lego, Micro sumo, and
Ant Weight combat.
You wanted event only specials, Our vendors are giving great event
discounts!
You wanted it documented well,  we've put everything on the website.
You wanted food nearby,  We are located near 5 Fast food places plus a
catering service at the event.
You want it to be longer, we're doing the first 2 day event.
You wanted famous robots, we have a full size R2D2, and 2 storm
troopers plus more.
You wanted cheap accommodations, we've arranged it.
Everything that you said would make you want to attend and much more,
all contests will be broadcast on two 9'x12' screens, every contestant
gets a ribbon, Trophies, Plaques, Medals, and Ribbons given along with
every prize winner, we raised over $10,000 for the show and have
planned the event for over a year,  If you save your $$$'s for a trip
to any event, RoboMaxx is the one you're gonna want to spend it on!!!
  If you're still not sure about coming, check out the website... I
think you'll change your mind!!!  http://www.mini-sumo.com

      RoboMaxx...  Robots to the Maxx!!




Be sure to visit our web site at http://www.robots.org.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

For those not going to Oregon for RoboMaxx, there's a good art-robot show
opening this weekend in SF:


Qbox Presents:
The San Francisco International Mechanical, Kinetic & Electronic Arts
Festival

Featuring:

"Art That Moves"
October 9 - 30, Crucible Steel Gallery, 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco
Gallery Hours: 10am - 10pm everyday

Opening Reception: Friday, October 11th 6 pm - 10 pm
The cost is Free, donations graciously accepted

The San Francisco International Mechanical, Kinetic, and Electronic Arts
Festival is a new series of events throughout the Bay Area that brings
together exceptional and diverse organizations to support new developments
in the artistic uses of technology..  The Bay Area is an epicenter for
machine art and related activity, yet until now there has been no general
forum for machine and electronic artists to represent themselves and their
work.

"Art That Moves" will be the first show in the festival.  It will be a
month-long gallery exhibition that will host a brace of Bay Area artists
that have created machines and art pieces that swing, spin, grind, rotate,
talk, jitter, panhandle and otherwise interact with their audience and
environment.  Artists include Rania Ho, Jesse Jackson, Frank Garvey and
OmniCircus, Donna Keiko Ozawa, Shirley Shor, Jonathan Foote, Kal Spelletich
of the Seemen, Kimberlee Koym, Steve Lambert, Tom McCall, Alex Killough and
Will Eccleston.

QBOX supports the creation, presentation, discussion and preservation of
mechanical, kinetic and electronic art in the Bay Area. We provide emerging
and established artists with a much-needed local forum for their ideas and
their art. Our programs help subsidize the creation of local art by sharing
a substantial portion of our proceeds with the artists whose work we
present. We create an artistic environment that encourages cross-cultural,
cross-generational, collaborative interaction between art organizations,
artists and audience members alike. Qbox is a group of artists well
established in the mechanical, electronic, and performance community,
seeking to help that community grow and flourish.

For More Information About upcoming Qbox Events, please call 415.642.7273 or
email Info@... <mailto:Info@...> .

www.Qbox.org

Today's Meeting Postponed

Last-Minute Cancellation of Presentation and Conflict with RoboMax
Competition in Oregon.

See you Next Month!

http://www-cdr.stanford.edu/biomimetics/documents/sprawlita/

scroll down and look at the sprawlita movie
That robot is really FAST!!! :)
No sensors or anything!

----- Original Message -----

From: Dan Gates

To: sfrsa@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 6:43 PM

Subject: [rsa] Re: Other events was (Battlebots TV contract cancelled)

For anyone interested in Ant Weight Combat, We are hosting a
tournament at RoboMaxx in Southern Oregon. http://www.mini-sumo.com


--- In sfrsa@y..., Jon Spear <jdspear@a...> wrote:
> David and others,
>
> A few weeks ago, I received an email notice that the Comedy Central TV
> channel has not renewed their sponsorhip of Battlebots, and,
therefore, the
> season 6 competition originally scheduled for next month has been
> indefinitely postponed.
>
> Do you have any more info about this?
>
> Are there any other local combative robot events?
>
> Jon Spear
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DAVID CALKINS <dcalkins@s...>



Be sure to visit our web site at http://www.robots.org.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Hello

I'm busy with my first robot and I have some problems with the h-
bridge. For my robot I use 2 wheels with on each wheel a motor with
one swiffle wheel.  Now I want to let my robot ride straight ahead
of course.  Now I want to use for each motor a H-bridge but know I'm
not certain that my robot will drive straight ahead. So I want to
have a sort of feedback that corrects the actions of the motor but I
don't know how to do this.

Can someone help me?

-----Original Message-----
From:  Rick Abruzzo [mailto:rick@...]
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 12:49 PM
To: Recipient List Suppressed; @squid4.laughingsquid.net
Subject: awesome tech


http://www.k2.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/fusion/VisualFeedbackGrasping/index-e.html

Hello there,  RSA folks, this is Simone, I am responsible for the
exhibit David posted to the list last week. If you didn't make it to
the reception last friday, please come by Cell Space (2050
Bryant Street in San Francisco) sometime this month to see
what we have there, it's really quite cool.

This next bit is an appeal to everyone I can find to come and
exhibit at our next event, October 26th, and the event after that,
November 23rd (Nick Donaldson I've already put you down as a
participant, or else).

The shows are going to be really spectacular, and we really do
want a whole range of skills and ages.  Even if you can't
participate, come enjoy the show.

Enough babble,  here is the announcement:



The San Francisco International Mechanical, Kinetic & Electronic
Arts Festival needs YOUR Mechanical, Kinetic, and and
Electronic Art.

We are setting up a series of events to explore the artistic world
of things that squeak, crash, break intentionally, mystify with
engineering artistry, climb, walk, panhandle, build and destroy. 
We are seeking artists, roboticists, mechanical workers,
puppeteers, art car drivers, mechanical engineers with morbid
streaks, people who have done unspeakable things to remote
control vehicles, and anyone else who might fit in with our theme
to participate in our upcoming events.

We are in favor of very large pieces that can't get displayed
anywhere else, kinetic performance, mechanized thaumaturgy
and hobbyist works-in- progress. Autonomous or RC, pedal
powered or intricately clockworked, perhaps your piece consists
of little more than a few sprockets, a sledgehammer and some
rubber gloves; we would love to see it and perhaps include it in
these or other events.

The shows will run the gamut from well-known professional
mechanical arts groups such as the Seemen and the Heavy
Pedal Cyclecide Bike Rodeo to novices just starting out on their
first sumo robot.  We encourage people who have never
participated in this kind of event before to show off their skills
and meet with other artists and visionaries.

The next event is October 26th, 2002.  We are turning the
cavernous Cell Space into one giant gallery, featuring a
performance by the EroShambo Erotic Robot Cabaret and as
many large and small pieces of machine and electronic art as
we can fit.

The event after that will be November 23rd 2002, in the Cell
Space Open Air Annex (tm) -  this event will be an outdoor
conglomeration of music, machine performances and displays,
featuring the Bike Rodeo, The Seemen, Omnicircus, and a host
of other artists and presenters.

For more information, please contact Simone at
simone@..., or call 415 307 3482.

www.qbox.org

QBOX supports the creation, presentation, discussion and
preservation of mechanical, kinetic and electronic art in the Bay
Area. We provide emerging and established artists with a
much-needed local forum for their ideas and their art. Our
programs help subsidize the creation of local art by sharing a
substantial portion of our proceeds with the artists whose work
we  present. We create an artistic environment that encourages
cross-cultural, cross-generational, collaborative interaction
between art organizations, artists and audience members alike.

I'm not sure what you are building, but you should
match your motors for dual drive.  Either use one
motor for drive and one to steer, or use two motors on
individual wheels to drive and steer.  If using 2
motors for drive/steer, match them by mounting with a
gear on each & meshed together.  Run the motors.  If
they rip each other off your mounting, they're grossly
mismatched.  If it runs smoothly, your robot should go
straight.  If they are mismatched, try your other
motor.  Use the 2 motors that run the smoothest.
Happy building.
Karen

--- brechtdebrouwer2002
<brechtdebrouwer2002@...> wrote:
> Hello
>
> I'm busy with my first robot and I have some
> problems with the h-
> bridge. For my robot I use 2 wheels with on each
> wheel a motor with
> one swiffle wheel.  Now I want to let my robot ride
> straight ahead
> of course.  Now I want to use for each motor a
> H-bridge but know I'm
> not certain that my robot will drive straight ahead.
> So I want to
> have a sort of feedback that corrects the actions of
> the motor but I
> don't know how to do this.
>
> Can someone help me?
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More
http://faith.yahoo.com