Wow, 51 robots have already preregistered for the Robothon on May 4th.

To see a list of the preregistered robots visit:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/robothon/registered.html

This year is going to be bigger than ever.

If you have not done so, please pre-register your robots so we can allocate the
correct amount of time for each of the events.  If you think you might have a
robot ready for the event, please register it now!
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/robothon/register.html

We still have display tables available for your robotic creations, but they are
going fast.  They are available on a first come first serve basis.  The tables
are 4 feet wide and 30 inches deep.  Let me know if you need 1/2, full, or more
space.

Remember any robot that shows up, will be eligible for the really cool Judges
Awards.

Pete Miles
Seattle Robotics Society
Events Coordinator
events@...

I think you mean April 20th, right?

Dave Hylands

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pete Miles [mailto:petem@...]
> Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 5:44 PM
> To: Seattlerobotics@yahoogroups.com; sumorobot@yahoogroups.com;
> parts@yahoogroups.com; vancouverrobotics@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [VRC] Northwest Robot Sumo Tournament
>
>
> Reminder,
>
> The 10th annual Nortwest Robot Sumo Tournament is right
> around the corner on
> April 10th, at Edmonds Community College Seaview Gymnasium
> 20000 68th Ave. W,
> Lynnwood, WA  98036 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm.  For more info and
> driving direction
> visit http://www.sinerobotics.com/sumo/
>
> The Northwest Robot Sumo Tournament is hosted by Bill
> Harrison from Sine
> Robotics.  Bill is the founding father of the Mini Sumo, and
> the number one
> promoter of Robot Sumo in the U.S.  Robot Sumo would not be
> where it is today
> without him.
>
> Bring your robots and compete on the only official Japanese
> class sumo Dohyo in
> the U.S.
>
> At the NWRST, you will see both autonomous and remote control
> 3 kg, sumo, 1 kg
> sumo, 500 gram sumo, and you will be introduced to the micro
> and nana sumo
> classes.
>
> It will be a lot of fun.
>
> Pete Miles
> petem@...

Reminder,

The 10th annual Nortwest Robot Sumo Tournament is right around the corner on
April 10th, at Edmonds Community College Seaview Gymnasium 20000 68th Ave. W,
Lynnwood, WA  98036 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm.  For more info and driving direction
visit http://www.sinerobotics.com/sumo/

The Northwest Robot Sumo Tournament is hosted by Bill Harrison from Sine
Robotics.  Bill is the founding father of the Mini Sumo, and the number one
promoter of Robot Sumo in the U.S.  Robot Sumo would not be where it is today
without him.

Bring your robots and compete on the only official Japanese class sumo Dohyo in
the U.S.

At the NWRST, you will see both autonomous and remote control 3 kg, sumo, 1 kg
sumo, 500 gram sumo, and you will be introduced to the micro and nana sumo
classes.

It will be a lot of fun.

Pete Miles
petem@...

My Min-Sumo kit should be arriving this week, and I expect to have it with
me for Sunday's meeting.

http://www.junun.org/MarkIII/Store.jsp

Dave Hylands

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Timothy F. Rohaly [mailto:rohaly@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2002 3:36 PM
> To: MiniSumoMarkIII@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: MiniSumoMarkIII@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [MiniSumoMarkIII] Availability?
>
>
> At 08:04 PM 4/8/02 +0000, starlsys wrote:
> >The store site indicates that the MarkIII kit is in backorder status.
> >Is this due to some of the parts not coming in ( as read several
> >mesages up ), or have all the first run of kits been spoken (paid)
> >for, and you are awaiting a second batch order?
>
> I'm all out of the first batch (!) but just this afternoon I
> received most of the parts for the second, larger batch.
> I anticipate shipping kits from the second batch within
> the week.
>
> If you have a kit on order, the last of the backorders will
> be shipping tomorrow.
>
> If you *haven't* placed an order yet, I urge you to do so soon,
> since the second batch will probably go as fast as the first.
> At this time, I don't know whether there will be a third batch -
> it depends on the demand.  It's only 5 weeks until PDXBot,
> and after the competition we will stop selling the kits at our
> cost and raise the price to fund continued production.
>
> Tim.

The Seattle Robotics Society Robothon is only 4 weeks away, May 3rd and
4th.

We have a great list of raffle prizes this year, check them out at:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/robothon/raffle.html

For those of you that will be attending the Robothon again this year, PLEASE
REGISTER your robots if you plan to compete in any of the events.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/robothon/register.html

So far 23 robots have been preregistered.  Remember we have the best
trophies for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers for each event in the
world.  Right now there are only 3 robots registerd for 3 kg sumo and the
floor exersize (the open category)  Virtually any robot is eligible for the
floor exersize.

For those of you in the Portland area, the Robothon is a great place to get
some real sumo experience prior to the PDXBOT.02

Lets get those robots entered into the Robothon.  You will have a great
time, and you can enjoy great food in the Seattle Center.

For those of you who do not know what the Robothon is, please visit our
website at:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/robothon/index.html

Again, the Robothon is free to anyone that wants to show up.  It will be a
packed day full of activities.  This year we have a big list of really cool
raffle prizes.  Check out the Robothon web page for a list of the raffle
prizes.

The robot registration process for the Robothon is now open.
We need a head count on the number of robots entered into each event so we
allocate the right amount of time for each of the events.

If you are currently building a robot and you are not sure if the robot will
be ready in time, please register is anyway.  We would rather too many
robots that are registered than actually show up.  But if more robots show
up on the day of the event than are registered, then we will have a problem,
might have to say no to entering.

Remember to register your robots.  The earlier the better.

We will update the registered robot almost once a day.  If you do not see
your robot on the list after a week, send me a note letting me know.

Also, if you get an error message during the registration process, let me
know about it.  We already had one person that could not register because of
some email problem.  If you run into this problem, plese send me an email
and a list of your robots like you see in the registration page.

Only 4 weeks until the Robothon.

Pete Miles
Seattle Robotics Society
Events Coordinator
events@...

A big part of the Robothon is for people to bring their robotic creations to
show off.  You don't have to enter in any of the events.

We provide tables and chairs for you to display your creations.

We only have a limited number of tables, so please send me an email to
reserve your table.  There is no cost to displaying your robot.

A standard display table is 30 inches wide and 4 feet long.  You can reserve
1/2 or a full table .  If you need more than 4 feet to display your
creations, let me know what you want to do and I will see how we can
accomodate you.

This is a first come first serve basis, so reserve your table today.

As an incentive to bringing your robots to the Robothon, we have a set of
Special Judge's Awards.

I am not going to tell you what they all are, but three of them include
"Most Innovative", "Most Unusual", and "Most Usefull".  There are several
other ones that will be fun to award.

You must have your robot at the Robothon at 10 am.  Judging will occur from
10 am to 12 pm, and the Judges Awards will be awarded at Noon.  You can then
display the award on you robot for the rest of the day to show off your
accomplishment.  This should be a lot of fun.

Again please reserve your table today.

You can either send me an email or do this via the Robothon Registration
webpage, just put down in the comments section that you want to reserve a
table for you.

Pete Miles
Seattle Robotics Society
Events Coordinator
events@...

Latest update to the Line Following Contest Rules. Now includes all the
modifications as proposed by recent emails (including a fix for my
copy/paste error!)

For reference, some other similar contests:

- Chicago Area Robotics Group's recent contest
   http://www.chibots.org/linefollowing2002.html

- Portland Area Robotics Society upcoming contest
   http://www.portlandrobotics.org/PDXBOT/rules/lfrules.html

- Western Canadian Robot Games Line Follower contest
   http://www.robotgames.com/Event_Rules/2002_line_follower.htm

- Seattle Robotics Society Robothon Line Maze contest
   http://www.seattlerobotics.org/robothon/maze.html


----------------------------------
Robot Line Following Contest Rules
For the June 2002 Event
----------------------------------

Important: All rules and event details are subject to change. Best effort
will be made to provide notice, but no guarantees.

* Robot Specifications *

Robots must be autonomous. Data links to off-board computers allowed, but no
teleoperation. In other words, no human-operated remote controls.

The maximum robot width is 8.5".
The maximum robot length is 11".

The robot must start the race in this orientation. So, one cannot angle the
robot one way for qualification measuring and then rotate the robot to a
different orientation for starting the race.

There are no constraints on robot height.

There are no constraints on robot weight.

* Track Specifications *

The track surface is assembled from 12 inch (305 mm) squares of 1/4 in (6
mm) hardboard. Each square may be plus or minus 1/8 inch (3 mm) in size.

The track surface may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8 inch (3 mm).

The track surface is painted flat white.

The course line is 3/4 inch (19 mm) wide, plus or minus 1/8 inch (3 mm).

The course line is painted flat black.

The course line may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8 inch (3mm).

The course line may be curved, with a centerline radius of 6 inches (152
mm).

The robot must deal with the lighting conditions as they appear. That is,
room lighting and window drapes will be set as desired by the judges and
won't be modified for individual contestants. Also, flash  photography and
IR focusing cameras will be allowed, unless the judges deem such activities
as interfering with the ability to hold the event in general.

* Race Operations *

Each robot gets one or more opportunities to "test drive" on the track for
testing and calibration.

Test opportunities are first-come, first-served.

One robot races on the track at a time.

Multiple restarts will be allowed, at the discretion of the judges.

* Race Scoring *

The robot must complete three laps of the track for a run to qualify. The
total time for all three laps will be recorded for each run.

The robot can begin the race while moving. Its not required to start from a
stopped position.

The robot with the fastest time to complete all three laps will be the
winner.

A machine that has no part of its structure over the course line, or is
clearly not steering in response to the course line, is no longer tracking
the course line. The wandering robot must be restored to the line, or it
will be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.

The penalty for restoring a wandering robot is 5 seconds for each time the
robot is touched. This time penalty will be added to the total time.

A robot which cannot track the course line will be disqualified, at the sole
discretion of the judges.

* More Information *

Please direct questions and comments regarding this contest to the mailing
list, to the attention of Bob Cook or Dave Hylands.

I noticed that the proposed rules suggest a maximum height of 8 inches, and
also indicates:

	 "There are no constraints on robot height"

Obviously one of these statements is incorrect.

Dave Hylands

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Cook [mailto:bob@...]
> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 8:06 PM
> To: vancouverrobotics@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [VRC] Proposed Line Following Contest Rules
>
>
> Hi, as mentioned at the last meeting Dave Hylands & I are
> interested in
> getting a line following contest going. Below is a proposed
> set of rules,
> based almost entirely on the Chicago Area Robotics Group's
> recent contest
> [1] and the upcoming Portland Area Robotics Society contest [2].
>
> [1] http://www.chibots.org/linefollowing2002.html
> [2] http://www.portlandrobotics.org/PDXBOT/rules/lfrules.html
>
>
> Robot Line Following Contest Rules
> ----------------------------------
>
> Important: All rules and event details are subject to change.
> Best effort
> will be made to provide notice, but no guarantees.
>
> * Robot Specifications *
>
> Robots must be autonomous. Data links to off-board computers
> allowed, but no
> teleoperation. In other words, no human-operated remote controls.
>
> The maximum robot width is 6".
> The maximum robot length is 6".
> The maximum robot height is 8".
>
> The robot must start the race in this orientation. So, one
> cannot angle the
> robot one way for qualification measuring and then rotate the
> robot to a
> different orientation for starting the race.
>
> There are no constraints on robot height.
>
> There are no constraints on robot weight.
>
> * Track Specifications *
>
> The track surface is 12.00 inches (305 mm) wide, ± 1/8 in (3 mm).
>
> The track surface is painted flat white.
>
> The track surface is assembled from 12-inch (305 mm) squares
> of 1/4 in (6
> mm) hardboard.
>
> The track surface may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8
> inch (3mm).
>
> The course line is 0-3/4 inch (19 mm) wide, ± 1/8 inch (3 mm).
>
> The course line is painted flat black.
>
> The course line may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8
> inch (3mm).
>
> The course line may be curved, with a centerline radius of 6
> inches (152
> mm).
>
> The robot must deal with the lighting conditions as they
> appear. That is,
> room lighting and window drapes will be set as desired by the
> judges and
> won't be modified for individual contestants. Also, flash
> photography and IR
> focusing cameras will be allowed, unless the judges deem such
> activities as
> interfering with the ability to hold the event in general.
>
> * Race Operations *
>
> Each robot gets one or more opportunities to "test drive" on
> the track for
> testing and calibration.
>
> Test opportunities are first-come, first-served.
>
> One robot races on the track at a time.
>
> Multiple restarts will be allowed, at the discretion of the judges.
>
> * Race Scoring *
>
> The robot must complete three laps of the track for a run to
> qualify. The
> total time for all three laps will be recorded for each run.
>
> The robot can begin the race while moving. Its not required
> to start from a
> stopped position.
>
> The robot with the fastest time to complete all three laps will be the
> winner.
>
> A machine that has no part of its structure over the course
> line, or is
> clearly not steering in response to the course line, is no
> longer tracking
> the course line. The wandering robot must be restored to the
> line, or it
> will be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.
>
> The penalty for restoring a wandering robot is 5 seconds for
> each time the
> robot is touched. This time penalty will be added to the total time.
>
> A robot which cannot track the course line will be
> disqualified, at the sole
> discretion of the judges.
>
> * More Information *
>
> Please direct questions and comments regarding this contest
> to the mailing
> list, to the attention of Bob Cook or Dave Hylands.
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ---------------------~-->
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> CLICK HERE to search
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> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -------~->
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> vancouverrobotics-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

>Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 15:22:38 -0800
>From: Bill Harrison <bill@...>
>User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:0.9.4)
>Gecko/20011128 Netscape6/6.2.1
>X-Accept-Language: en-us
>To: pauln@...
>Subject: SF & LA IRST 03/20/02 & 03/23/02
>X-Loop-Detect: 1
>
>Hi All,
>
>         Well the two 2002 International Robot Sumo Tournaments (note that
the
>term "International" only means outside of Japan, these are ranked as
>regional contests.  So you might think of the contest as  "the San
>Francisco regional contest of the FSIABC International contests") in San
>Francisco on Wednesday March 20th and Los Angeles on Saturday March 23rd
>have come and gone.  I went down to participate in both.
>
>         The Japanese sent a few less robots this year, perhaps six came(I
> didn't
>actually count them).  The USA only had three (two of them were mine).
>The big surprise was the Singapore sent a few robots (both autonomous
>and remote control)!
>         Even with these few robots, there was still excitement for the
> audience
>that must have been in the hundreds (not counting all those watching a
>verity of media).
>         The Japanese Robots dominated at both events, taking all $8,000
> of cash
>prizes.  They deserve it with their absolutely amazing robots. They
>were, after all, the top winners of about 4,000 entrants in the All
>Japan Robot Sumo Tournament and it's regional contests last year.
>         After the official contest, many of the contestants continued to
have
>"for fun" matches.  This gave the USA robots a chance to see how they
>stacked up with the Singapore robots (about even), as well as the
>Japanese robots to do some more showing off (which we all enjoyed very
>much).
>
>         Here are some comments I have on the events.
>         The ring this year was made of steel, and many of the robots were
> using
>magnets to assist in holding the robots down tighter on the ring's
>surface.  Some robots used vacuum (but with much higher force, due to
>the stronger ring's surface), some used magnets, some used both, and
>some none at all.  The Beast was there, with vacuum.  My R/C BAM was
>there with vacuum, but unfortunately I burned up the driver board and
>had to remove the suction cup (yep, I'm the famous person that burns
>things up :-)  ).  So BAM had to go without it's vacuum assist.  Broken
>Rib has been rigged up with magnets, but had to remove them as the mass
>was too high (next year there will be a lot of new holes in the robot's
>body ;-)  ).
>         The Japanese robots were yet again unbelievably incredible.  The
> shear
>speed and strength is down right scary.
>         The remote control robots drew the largest crowds, as the action
> was so
>fast you had to see it to believe it.  The Operators coordination and
>reflexes were tuned to a fine edge.  It's obvious that the fine design
>of the robot is only a smaller part of winning, the amazing ability of
>the operator was most of the robot's superiority.  I don't think I can
>even react fast enough for the blinding speed of these bots, I'll leave
>this to the younger generation (besides I like  the autonomous bots
>better anyway ;-)  )
>         However, after  noting the amazing remote control robots, the
> Autonomous
>robots were beating them in the "for fun" matches.  So even though the
>autonomous robots didn't seem to be darting around as much, they were
>every bit as quick.  They just didn't waste their motions.
>         Most of the robots were of the box with a scoop style.  One robot
of
>notable exception was a "mound" with scoop all around style.  It was
>slow and couldn't turn.  It just went back and forth, but was so strong
>all the robots either lost of couldn't budge it (it used magnets).  Only
>one robot beat it, and guess what: the one that could beat it was the
>number one winner at the All Japan Robot Sumo Tournament (it figures).
>
>         We did some demonstrations of the Mini Robot Sumo bots at both
>tournaments.  We let audience members try their hand at the wire remote
>control Minis, which they loved.
>         San Francisco went on after the Robot Sumo events and did several
> other
>robotics events, all the way into 9:00 PM!  So it was a long day there.
>
>         I had some long talks with the promoters and organizers about
> Robot Sumo
>Tournaments in the US (and all places outside Japan).  The Japanese
>officials are trying to find ways of making Robot Sumo more popular in
>the USA (and other places).  A couple of us (including myself) are to
>write up recommendations and observations and submit this to the
>Japanese Officials.  We have to do this in the next couple of months, in
>order for them to be considered for the next year's activities.  I am
>inviting any of you out there to submit your ideas and suggestions to
>me.  I will try to include them in my report (depending a little on the
>type of responses I get).
>         My main goal is not only to promote Robot Sumo in the USA and
> Canada (and
>other places), but to use a standard framework so that all contest have
>some kind of common ground.  Standardized rules is one of the things I'm
>pushing.  The idea is to encourage competitors to go to different
>contests.  This will be more and more important as time goes and Robot
>Sumo becomes more popular. Part of my efforts is to tie our contests
>with FSIABC and their All Japan Robot Sumo Tournament.  This is why I'm
>going to submit my report to the officials, to support this effort.
>
>         I wasn't able to complete my competitive robots in time.  The
Beast
>looked unimproved.  There were no other robots from the USA.  I guess
>this means that the original effort to get more USA robots is still the
>task for us.
>         However, I feel that there are more USA robots, and I feel that
USA
>robots are getting much better.  So the USA showing at the IRST isn't a
>good reflection on our progress.  I feel that one day we will suddenly
>have many robots in the spotlight.  They won't really be sudden, but
>just seem so.  There are a lot of us out here are already working on it.
>         One of the things I'd like to include in my report to the Japanese
>Officials isn't just the robots that competed in the IRST, but also all
>robots.  I want a list of Robot Sumo machines that have competed in any
>contest, have been built even if not competed, are being built, started
>Robot Sumo projects, and even those interested in one day building them.
>   I'd like to know if some would be interested if there were kits or
>workshops to join.  We need a sort of census report to evaluate the size
>of Robot Sumo outside of Japan.  I think this might show our interest
>far better than the few that showed up in SF and LA.
>
>         By the way, now is the time to get started building that Robot
> Sumo for
>next Spring, it can really take that long (with a day here and an
>evening there).
>
>         It was a huge honor to be rubbing elbows with the worlds top
> Robot Sumo
>competitors and some of the officials of the All Japan Robot Sumo
>Tournament.  Even though I lost, it was worth being a part of the show
>(next year, watch out ;-)  ).
>
>                 Bill Harrison
>                 Head Northwest Robot Sumo
>                 http://www.sinerobotics.com/sumo (sorry not updated)
>
>

Since Paul didn't send it to the VRC list...

>Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2002 12:38:48 -0800
>From: "Pete Miles" <petem@...>
>To: pauln@...
>Subject: Robothon Registration
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2919.6700
>
>Paul,
>
>Can you forward this message to the rest of the members of the Vancouver
>Robotics club.  It is my understanding that there are a lot of robot sumo
>builders in your club.  They are all welcome to come to the Robothon and
>compete in any of the events.  We are in the registration phase of the
event
>so we need a good head count of the total number of potential competitors.
>We would like to get people that are thinking about competing and are not
>sure if they can make it or complete the robot to register.  How we
allocate
>the times for the events is dependant on how many robots are preregistered.
>Also tell everyone that the Robothon web page has been updated, to include
>event times and the raffle ticket prizes.
>
>Thanks
>Pete
>
>The robot registration process for the Robothon is now open.
>
>Please register your robots for the Robothon.  Registration is Free.
>
>http://www.seattlerobotics.org/robothon/register.html
>
>We need a head count on the number of robots entered into each event so we
>can plan the amount of time required to conduct each event.
>
>If you are currently building a robot and you are not sure if the robot
will
>be ready in time, please register is anyway.  We would rather too many
>robots that are registered than actually show up.  But if more robots show
>up on the day of the event than are registered, then we will have a
problem.
>
>Remember to register your robots.  The earlier the better.
>
>We will update the registered robot list at least once a week.  If you do
>not see your robot on the list after a week, send me a note letting me
know.
>
>Also, if you an an error message during the registration process, let me
>know about it.  We already had one person that could not register because
of
>some email problem.  If you run into this problem, plese send me an email
>and a list of your robots like you see in the registration page.
>
>Only 6 weeks untill the Robothon.
>
>Pete Miles
>Seattle Robotics Society
>Events Coordinator
>events@...

The B.I.O. Bug creator is at work again!!!

http://www.smalltimes.com/print_doc.cfm?doc_id=3284

            Guy

--
"Embedded and Open Source Solutions"
Guy Lancaster Computer Consultants
mailto:guy@...
http://guylancaster.com
phone: 604.264.8627

By Mark Frauenfelder
Small Times Correspondent

March 18, 2002 – Mark Tilden is obsessed with robots. He’s got several at home that he designed to clean his floors and wash his windows.

Last year, the 41-year-old robotics physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory created a line of colorful plastic robots for Hasbro, called B.I.O. Bugs. The toys were a big hit during the 2001 holiday season.

While all of his robots exude the whimsical energy of a really nifty toy, Tilden’s consulting gig with Hasbro is just a sideline to the advanced robotics work he does at

Mark Tilden's "nano-legos" assemble themselves into loops with their common sensors pointing toward a gradient below the surface. It's an idea for marking the position of land mines with self-mobile, randomly distributed, inexpensive targets, according to Tilden.

He’s used MEMS components in many of his projects for these institutions. Now, he hopes the MEMs industry will make it possible from him to start using them in toys, too.

'NANO-LEGO'

Tilden’s latest research project for DARPA, while quite serious, sounds like it’s as much fun as a B.I.O. Bug. Known officially as “cohesive elemental arrays” (CEAs), Tilden informally calls the project “nano-lego.”

The idea behind nano-lego is to make things that self-assemble into regular patterns. Using plastic components and conventional printed circuit board manufacturing technology, Tilden has built a number of simple devices that spontaneously change their shape.

“You put these things on a table in front of a nice bright light source like the sun,” he says, “and all of a sudden they pull themselves together into a tent or a variety of interesting little structures.”

So what does this have to do with nanotechnology? Plenty, says Tilden. “Because we can do this at the macro-scale, it becomes extremely possible to do this for micro as well.” After conquering the desktop, Tilden wants to scale nano-lego down.

“The whole idea is to go from the macro, down to the milli, down to the micro, where there’s a market. I’m hoping people will take some of the toys made available to them and take it down to the atomic scale.”

GETTING MEMS INTO TOYS

Tilden hopes nano-lego will open the field of MEMS and nanotech research to scientists who don’t have the kind of funding it takes to develop MEMS systems today. The cost of tools necessary to work with modern MEMS equipment is prohibitive for most companies and institutions.

“I don’t know anybody who is a MEMS hobbyist,” he complains. “You’d have to be a Rockefeller to even consider the concept.”

If the MEMS industry is going to make any progress at all, Tilden says, two things need to happen: It’s got to become an accessible engineering discipline and there needs to be a mass market demand for the technology.

As it turns out, the toy industry might be the best place for MEMS to break out in a big way. And if the toy manufacturers start using MEMS technology in their products, it would be very good news for the MEMS industry. When a company like Hasbro or Mattel decides to make a toy, they’ll build a minimum of a half-million units. An order for five million units isn’t unusual.

But before the toy industry can begin to entertain the idea of using MEMS technology, several things have to happen. First, the cost has to go way down. The electronics currently being used in robotic toys has been around since the Carter administration. The most common microprocessor costs about 25 cents and chugs along at 2 MHz.

“The toy industry can’t afford to take the risk of using MEMs tech at its current price, says Tilden. “If you use a sensor that costs more than the entire electrical contents of a toy, that toy better be amazing. It better be a life-size Claudia Schiffer doll.”

Toy designer Gary Leynes, who created the fabulously successful line of Tekno robots for Manley Toy Quest, agrees. He says his company must always ask whether “the consumer is going to appreciate the toy in consideration for what they are going to pay for it” before they incorporate a new component. He adds that toy makers aren’t afraid of MEMS just because they’re new. “If we can get the chips at a good price there’s no reason why we wouldn’t put them in a toy.”

The current high cost of MEMS components is a problem for toy makers, says Marlene Bourne, a senior analyst who covers the MEMS industry for In-Stat/MDR. “The toy industry demands extremely low pricing.” But because the industry is a “very attractive” market for MEMS, she says MEMS makers are working hard to meet toy makers’ needs.

MEMS manufacturers also need to be able to deliver very large quantities very fast. In the toy world, products go from an idea in an inventor’s head to a box under the Christmas tree in just 18 months. Conventional chipmakers for toys are more than capable of meeting the demand, says Tilden. “I can call them up right now and say ‘Here’s a program. I need five million processors inside 60 days.’ They’ll get it to me in 30 days.” That’s the level of service the toy industry will expect from the MEMS industry.

Bourne says the MEMS industry will be able to achieve this kind of turnaround by standardizing components, so that a specific type of MEMS sensor will be available from a variety of sources. “If you had an off-the-shelf solution where a toy company could call and say, ‘I need a million of these, can you Fed Ex them to me?’ you’ve got it done.”

New MEMS fabrication methods could help speed up delivery times. “The toy industry moves quickly, and there’s a big time-to-market issue,” says Chris Bang, director of applications for MemGen, a MEMS fabrication startup in Burbank, Calif. MemGen has developed a micromanufacturing process called EFAB that replaces the time-consuming photolithography process with an electrochemical printing process that builds MEMS devices directly from CAD files.

Finally, the MEMS industry needs to be able to make sensors that can do really neat things, like understand spoken commands or gestures. Leynes says he would love to get his hands on inexpensive pattern recognition chips that would enable toy robots to read simple words written by kids. Or, “if they could recognize a child’s drawing of a cat or a dog,” he says, “that would be a great feature to put in a toy.”

The MEMS makers have their work cut out for them, but if they can meet these challenges, toy makers will reward them richly. “The toy industry is hungry for this sort of stuff,” says Tilden. “They are absolutely dying. They are the sort of things that could change the nature and face of toys in a big way.”

Related News
Robot dogs and Legos that think are on the market, but at a price
Smart toys will break the cost barrier in 2-5 years, analysts say
Marlene Bourne: Who's driving the consumer market? Your kids

Reprints of this article are available here.

on 3/24/02 11:42 PM, Dave Hylands at dhylands@... wrote:

> > within the 6" x 6" form factor I put into the rules below.
> > Anyone else having the same problem?
>
> Since we're starting off, I'd propose using a bigger size to start with. I
> like the Chibots size rules since it allows the lynxmotion chassis to be
> used, along with many others.

Yeah that makes sense, I'll just up the numbers to the same as Chibots and
we'll go from there in the future.

> If the line-following is popular, then we could add a division based on
> size.

Another thing we'll need is some sort of timing mechanism; anyone seen the
one the Chibots used? Looks cool, and seems to be an accurate way to time
everything. Unfortunately I don't have the electronics knowledge to
replicate it. Anyone want to volunteer?

Bob Cook

> I started building a chassis for my new line-following robot
> this weekend and I found it annoyingly difficult to fit
> within the 6" x 6" form factor I put into the rules below.
> Anyone else having the same problem?

Since we're starting off, I'd propose using a bigger size to start with. I
like the Chibots size rules since it allows the lynxmotion chassis to be
used, along with many others.

If the line-following is popular, then we could add a division based on
size.

Dave Hylands

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Cook [mailto:bob@...]
> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 4:08 PM
> To: vancouverrobotics@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [VRC] Proposed Line Following Contest Rules
>
>
> Hi,
>
>
> The ChiBots contest limited robot size to 8.5" x 11", and the
> PARTS content
> was 6" x 6". I'd like to propose increasing the size to
> something larger,
> something more like 8" x 8". Any objections? Suggestions for
> a better size?
> I really don't want to limit anybody's ability to make a
> robot because the
> size is too small, yet I think we have to have some sort of limit.
>
> I've inserted my suggestion into the rules below, but if anyone has a
> problem with this, please don't be shy, speak up!
>
> Thanks,
> Bob Cook

Fixed.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Cook [mailto:bob@...]
> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 8:42 PM
> To: Vancouver Robotics
> Subject: [VRC] VRC website link to PARTS is out of date
>
>
> The VRC website link to the Portland Area Robotics Society needs to be
> updated. The correct link is:
>
>     http://www.portlandrobotics.org
>
> Bob.

The VRC website link to the Portland Area Robotics Society needs to be
updated. The correct link is:

     http://www.portlandrobotics.org

Bob.

Hi,

I started building a chassis for my new line-following robot this weekend
and I found it annoyingly difficult to fit within the 6" x 6" form factor I
put into the rules below. Anyone else having the same problem?

The ChiBots contest limited robot size to 8.5" x 11", and the PARTS content
was 6" x 6". I'd like to propose increasing the size to something larger,
something more like 8" x 8". Any objections? Suggestions for a better size?
I really don't want to limit anybody's ability to make a robot because the
size is too small, yet I think we have to have some sort of limit.

I've inserted my suggestion into the rules below, but if anyone has a
problem with this, please don't be shy, speak up!

Thanks,
Bob Cook


Robot Line Following Contest Rules [updated 24 March 2002 ]
-----------------------------------------------------------

Important: All rules and event details are subject to change. Best effort
will be made to provide notice, but no guarantees.

* Robot Specifications *

Robots must be autonomous. Data links to off-board computers allowed, but no
teleoperation. In other words, no human-operated remote controls.

The maximum robot width is 8".
The maximum robot length is 8".

There are no constraints on robot height.

The robot must start the race in this orientation. So, one cannot angle the
robot one way for qualification measuring and then rotate the robot to a
different orientation for starting the race.

There are no constraints on robot weight.

* Track Specifications *

The track surface is 12.00 inches (305 mm) wide, ± 1/8 in (3 mm).

The track surface is painted flat white.

The track surface is assembled from 12-inch (305 mm) squares of 1/4 in (6
mm) hardboard.

The track surface may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8 inch (3mm).

The course line is 0-3/4 inch (19 mm) wide, ± 1/8 inch (3 mm).

The course line is painted flat black.

The course line may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8 inch (3mm).

The course line may be curved, with a centerline radius of 6 inches (152
mm).

The robot must deal with the lighting conditions as they appear. That is,
room lighting and window drapes will be set as desired by the judges and
won't be modified for individual contestants. Also, flash photography and IR
focusing cameras will be allowed, unless the judges deem such activities as
interfering with the ability to hold the event in general.

* Race Operations *

Each robot gets one or more opportunities to "test drive" on the track for
testing and calibration.

Test opportunities are first-come, first-served.

One robot races on the track at a time.

Multiple restarts will be allowed, at the discretion of the judges.

* Race Scoring *

The robot must complete three laps of the track for a run to qualify. The
total time for all three laps will be recorded for each run.

The robot can begin the race while moving. Its not required to start from a
stopped position.

The robot with the fastest time to complete all three laps will be the
winner.

A machine that has no part of its structure over the course line, or is
clearly not steering in response to the course line, is no longer tracking
the course line. The wandering robot must be restored to the line, or it
will be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.

The penalty for restoring a wandering robot is 5 seconds for each time the
robot is touched. This time penalty will be added to the total time.

A robot which cannot track the course line will be disqualified, at the sole
discretion of the judges.

* More Information *

Please direct questions and comments regarding this contest to the mailing
list, to the attention of Bob Cook or Dave Hylands.

Hi,

Bob Cook & I went to the Seattle Robotics Society meeting last weekend. We
brought back some pictures, which you can find at:

http://members.shaw.ca/vrc/Seattle-FireFighting-2002-03-16/index.html
(should be fast link)

http://VancouverRoboticsClub.org/Seattle-FireFighting-2002-03-16/index.html
(slower link)

If you have troubles with the Movie Links, try clicking on the image again.
There seems to be a problem with the shaw server sometimes.

--
Dave Hylands           Direct: (604) 233-8596
Senior Staff Engineer     Tel: (604) 233-8500
Broadcom Canada Ltd.      Fax: (604) 233-8501

There is a story in English here that explains a lot more about the robot.

     http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,48225,00.html

Bob Cook

on 3/19/02 7:31 AM, Dave Hylands at dhylands@... wrote:

     Very cool movie clip.

     You may need to copy and paste the link if it gets split across multiple
     lines.

     http://www.sony.co.jp/SonyInfo/News/Press/200203/02-0319/02_0319mv2.html


     Dave Hylands

Very cool movie clip.

You may need to copy and paste the link if it gets split across multiple
lines.

http://www.sony.co.jp/SonyInfo/News/Press/200203/02-0319/02_0319mv2.html


Dave Hylands

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dairyo Gokan [mailto:nand@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2002 1:25 AM
> To: Seattle Robotics Society(SRS)'s ML
> Subject: [SeattleRobotics] [NEWS] Please make me introduce new robot.
>
>
> Hi, robot freaks,
>
> SONY announced new small human-like robot for entertainment in 3/19.
>
> 38 joints in the body can be controlled on real time with analyzing
> the information detected by the internal sensors.
>
> And even if in the irregular ground (concavo-convex surface within
> 10mm), or a slope (upto about 10 degrees), possible to walk with
> its 2 feet.
>
> In the head, 2 CCD cameras are mounted to detect distance for object
> and 7 mcro phones to detect direction of the sound source.
>
> Size : 580mm(22.8in)[H] x 260mm(10.2in)[W] x 190mm(7.5in)[D]
> Weight : about 6.5kg(14LB)
>
> If interested, try to click following URL. Some part are in Japanese,
> but streaming movie is available.(for Motion Viewer and RealPlayer)
>
> http://www.sony.co.jp/SonyInfo/News/Press/200203/02-0319/02_03
19mv2.html

Dairyo Gokan

Visit the SRS Website at http://www.seattlerobotics.org

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
SeattleRobotics-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com


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

Hi, as mentioned at the last meeting Dave Hylands & I are interested in
getting a line following contest going. Below is a proposed set of rules,
based almost entirely on the Chicago Area Robotics Group's recent contest
[1] and the upcoming Portland Area Robotics Society contest [2].

[1] http://www.chibots.org/linefollowing2002.html
[2] http://www.portlandrobotics.org/PDXBOT/rules/lfrules.html


Robot Line Following Contest Rules
----------------------------------

Important: All rules and event details are subject to change. Best effort
will be made to provide notice, but no guarantees.

* Robot Specifications *

Robots must be autonomous. Data links to off-board computers allowed, but no
teleoperation. In other words, no human-operated remote controls.

The maximum robot width is 6".
The maximum robot length is 6".
The maximum robot height is 8".

The robot must start the race in this orientation. So, one cannot angle the
robot one way for qualification measuring and then rotate the robot to a
different orientation for starting the race.

There are no constraints on robot height.

There are no constraints on robot weight.

* Track Specifications *

The track surface is 12.00 inches (305 mm) wide, ± 1/8 in (3 mm).

The track surface is painted flat white.

The track surface is assembled from 12-inch (305 mm) squares of 1/4 in (6
mm) hardboard.

The track surface may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8 inch (3mm).

The course line is 0-3/4 inch (19 mm) wide, ± 1/8 inch (3 mm).

The course line is painted flat black.

The course line may have discontinuities, not to exceed 1/8 inch (3mm).

The course line may be curved, with a centerline radius of 6 inches (152
mm).

The robot must deal with the lighting conditions as they appear. That is,
room lighting and window drapes will be set as desired by the judges and
won't be modified for individual contestants. Also, flash photography and IR
focusing cameras will be allowed, unless the judges deem such activities as
interfering with the ability to hold the event in general.

* Race Operations *

Each robot gets one or more opportunities to "test drive" on the track for
testing and calibration.

Test opportunities are first-come, first-served.

One robot races on the track at a time.

Multiple restarts will be allowed, at the discretion of the judges.

* Race Scoring *

The robot must complete three laps of the track for a run to qualify. The
total time for all three laps will be recorded for each run.

The robot can begin the race while moving. Its not required to start from a
stopped position.

The robot with the fastest time to complete all three laps will be the
winner.

A machine that has no part of its structure over the course line, or is
clearly not steering in response to the course line, is no longer tracking
the course line. The wandering robot must be restored to the line, or it
will be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.

The penalty for restoring a wandering robot is 5 seconds for each time the
robot is touched. This time penalty will be added to the total time.

A robot which cannot track the course line will be disqualified, at the sole
discretion of the judges.

* More Information *

Please direct questions and comments regarding this contest to the mailing
list, to the attention of Bob Cook or Dave Hylands.

It seems to be connected to vancouverrobotics.com (It has links to there,
and there is somebody selling kits).

Dave Hylands

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Guy Lancaster [mailto:lancasterg@...]
> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2002 2:45 PM
> To: Vancouver Robotics Club
> Cc: Paul Nagelkerke
> Subject: [VRC] Another old website at Vancouverrobotics.org
>
>
>   I went to check our web site and found
> http://vancouverrobotics.org/ .  Check the contacts and
> Paul's there.  Seems that it was last updated in '99.
> Anyone know any more?
>
>           Guy

I went to check our web site and found
http://vancouverrobotics.org/ .  Check the contacts and
Paul's there.  Seems that it was last updated in '99.
Anyone know any more?

           Guy

--
"Embedded and Open Source Solutions"
Guy Lancaster Computer Consultants
mailto:guy@...
http://guylancaster.com
phone: 604.264.8627

> The robotics company in town that I mentioned at the
> last meeting has a web site at
> http://www.vancouverrobotics.com/ .

Last night I successfully registered the name VancouverRoboticsClub.org

It will take 2-3 days for the domain registration to propogate throught the
whois database, and then I'll be able to update the DNS to point to my Web
server.

I have the web site currently setup at http://members.shaw.ca/vrc and
http://www.davehylands.com/VRC Within about a week, you'll be able to get to
it through http://vancouverroboticsclub.org/ (which will be the same place
as the davehylands.com one).

There is also now an email address: vrc@... which will be forwarded to
me.

Dave Hylands

Hi all,

I'm planning on going to the Seattle Robotics Club meeting Saturday Jan 19,
2002. They're planning on having a Sumo practice session, and since I've
never seen (let alone participated in) a Sumo match, I decided to go and try
out my Lego Bot.

The meeting starts at 10:00 am, so I'm planning on leaving around 7:00 am.
If anybody else is interested in coming down with me, please let me know. I
can comfortably take 3 people (well if someone sits behind me they might not
be so comfortable).

Maps to the location can be found at:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/meetings.html
and the mention of Sumo practice can be found at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SeattleRobotics/message/9958

--
Dave Hylands           Direct: (604) 233-8596
Senior Staff Engineer     Tel: (604) 233-8500
Broadcom Canada Ltd.      Fax: (604) 233-8501

Well , there goes the name of our club. Any new suggestions for a name?
Saludos...Orlando

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Guy Lancaster [SMTP:lancasterg@...]
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2002 3:34 PM
> To: Vancouver Robotics Club
> Cc: Paul Nagelkerke
> Subject: [vancouverrobotics] Robotics company in town
>
> The robotics company in town that I mentioned at the
> last meeting has a web site at
> http://www.vancouverrobotics.com/ .
>
>              Guy
>
> --
> "Embedded and Open Source Solutions"
> Guy Lancaster Computer Consultants
> mailto:guy@...
> http://guylancaster.com
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> vancouverrobotics-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

The robotics company in town that I mentioned at the
last meeting has a web site at
http://www.vancouverrobotics.com/ .

              Guy

--
"Embedded and Open Source Solutions"
Guy Lancaster Computer Consultants
mailto:guy@...
http://guylancaster.com

I was interested in finding out if anybody knows the format of the 'Robots R
Us' event which is happening at Science World on Dec 8/9?

I've created a few Lego Sumo Bots that I'd like to try out against somebody
else's Bots. I have five different designs for the Mini-Sumo (500g) category
and one for the Sumo (1kg) category.

 
I'd be happy to help, if required.

 
Oh yeah, I'm interested in joining the Vancouver Robotics Club.

  See you there.

            Guy

--
Subject:
         Science World Show Details
   Date:
         Wed, 05 Dec 2001 21:02:28 -0800
   From:
         Paul Nagelkerke <pauln@...>

Hello everyone!

Some last details about our club display this weekend
(coming up in two days!).

We will have two tables on the second floor, same place as last year, near
the laser theatre.
Our show time is 11-3 each day, I will be showing up at 10 am to get set up.

We park in the extra lot to the south of Science World, near the Indy track
south bleachers.
Parking passes will be at the information counter at the front door.

There is a White Spot restaurant in Science World, but you can not take
food onto the display floors.
Bring a water bottle for your throat, and your toothbrush for clean, minty
fresh breath!

Dress is casual, but be neat.  Clean T-shirts are OK, but remember the
times: no sensitive/offensive captions or logos.
(ie. musical bands: 'Iron Maiden', 'Biohazard', 'Anthrax', 'Brittany Spears')

I will see if I can make up some name tags.

I will be bringing:

1) Mini-Sumo Ring,
2) Lego Robots: Mindstorms, R2D2 Droid set, Darkside (AT-AT)
3) Computer: Windows '98, monitor, cables and Ir tower, and Mindstorms 1.5
4) Photovore: arena, one Solar Fly, lamp, spare bulb, power cables.
5) Robo Cat, and the usual clanging cacophany of clattering cogs (and a
skinned Furby).
6) Lots of club handouts, keychains, catalogs.

We have access to a lighted locking display case, so bring a small display
robot if you can,
I'm bringing some small wind up walking robots, plus a few old Tomy robots.

See our promotion at:

http://www.scienceworld.bc.ca/newstuff/proto/info/calendar/

Who's signed up at the moment?

Dave Hylands
Darrell and Glenda Hyatt
Scott Martin and Jason Murray
Guy Lancaster
Kirk Richardson
Arthur Hazeldon
(and your's truly)

See you on Saturday (and/or Sunday)!

Paul.

(P.S. I was kidding about Brittany Spears!)
 
 

Hi,

I was interested in finding out if anybody knows the format of the 'Robots R
Us' event which is happening at Science World on Dec 8/9?

I heard that the Vancouver Robotics club will be having a table there. What
types of demonstrations will be there?

I've created a few Lego Sumo Bots that I'd like to try out against somebody
else's Bots. I have five different designs for the Mini-Sumo (500g) category
and one for the Sumo (1kg) category.

I'd be happy to help, if required.

Oh yeah, I'm interested in joining the Vancouver Robotics Club.

--
Dave Hylands           Direct: (604) 233-8596
Senior Staff Engineer     Tel: (604) 233-8500
Broadcom Canada Ltd.      Fax: (604) 233-8501

Does anyone know any more details on this???

            Guy
--
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20011129S0034

A Lego Mindstorms waste collector robot has been flown
up to the International Space Station to help tidy up.

Named Jitter, it is the winner of the Lego Mindstorms
Ultimate Builders Competition that required entrants to
design a robot to be used in space and function in zero
gravity.

Jitter recognises litter with the help of a light
sensor which it uses like a sonar system.

Hi all,

   I asked Dave Lewis, the program head for the Robotics and Automation program
at
BCIT, about using a room there for our meetings.  Here's his response:

Dave Lewis wrote:

> I've asked the Associate Dean in Mechanical Technologies about the
> possibility of using a room here at BCIT. Apparently rooms are not
> normally open for outside organizations without some form of
> consideration ($$$ or a donation of some sort). I could probably
> convince someone to allow the Robotics club access for a special event
> of some sort but not on a regular basis.
> Sorry.
>

   So it sounds like we may be able to rent space but they won't sponsor us
except
possibly for special events.

   I have to keep in mind that BCIT is interested in serious industrial robotics
and
they don't show much interest in hobbyest stuff.

   So any other ideas on where we could meet starting in January?  For those of
you who
may not have heard, Cal's Computer Warehouse has changed their layout and no
longer
has a good space that they can offer us for meetings.

   If we can't find free space, we may have to charge a membership fee to cover
space
rental costs so let's hear your suggestions...

            Guy

--
"Embedded and Open Source Solutions"
Guy Lancaster Computer Consultants
mailto:guy@...
http://guylancaster.com
phone: 604.264.8627