Subject:
|
Robotics contest program
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.robotics.handyboard
|
Date:
|
Sun, 1 Jun 1997 21:04:30 GMT
|
Original-From:
|
JMendel141@aol.&saynotospam&com
|
Viewed:
|
1764 times
|
| |
|
|
FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE FIRE FIGHTING HOME ROBOT CONTEST.
Since it's inception in 1992, the Fire Fighting Home Robot Contest has been a
huge success. Each year increasing numbers of people from throughout the
United States and Canada have come to Trinity College in Hartford,
Connecticut to participate. The goal of the contest has been to make a Robot
that can move through a model of a house, detect a fire and then extinguish
it in the shortest time. The real-life applications of this
yet-to-be-mastered technology will one day save lives and property.
At the most recent contest, held in April, 1997, sixty-two Robots were
registered by contestants who ranged from 5th graders in New Jersey, to
engineers in Ohio, to high school students in Canada and college professors
in Massachusetts. Robots were built by individuals, as well as by groups of
classmates, colleagues, and families members. Both hobbyists and professional
engineers were represented. In all, this contest comprised an enormous range
of skills, knowledge and experience. Thanks to business sponsors, total cash
prizes of $4,000 were presented to the winners along with books and
equipment.
NEXT, THE EXCITING NEWS.
As a learning experience, this contest has been invaluable. In addition to
the actual contest, lectures and demonstrations by professionals in the field
provided sought-after resource information. In 1997, lecturers included Dick
Gann from NIST, Anne Wright from Newton Labs, Fred Martin from MIT and Joe
Jones, co-author of "Mobile Robots." The Fire Fighting Home Robot Contest is
undeniably a first-rate way for Robotic skills and knowledge to be
disseminated and advanced.
NOW, THE BAD NEWS.
There is a glitch, however. The major limiting factor in expanding this
contest beyond the present scope is the cost of getting to it. Many would-be
participants are unable to attend because of the high transportation costs
involved in getting to the event. Even though over the years we have managed
to attract entrants from as far away as California, Washington State and
Florida, the majority of participants have come from within a day's drive of
Connecticut. The transportation costs involved are considerable even to
someone with a well-paying job. To students and those who are less well off,
they are prohibitive.
AND NOW, AN IDEA.
We know that this contest is of great benefit to the individual participants.
It is also an important component to the advancement of science and
technology (don't forget, Orville and Wilber Wright's first flying machine
was invented as the result of a contest). In looking toward the future of
this Robot contest, our plans are to develop it into one with a national and
international scope. In order to do this, we need to create satellite
contests that will enable participation by people from all areas of North
America.
THE SOLUTION: REGIONAL CONTESTS!
Beginning in 1998, our plan is to institute preliminary events around North
America that closely replicate the contest in Hartford. The winners of these
regional events will be invited to compete in the Grand Final Event in
Hartford each Spring. They will also be given a financial subsidy to help
with the transportation costs and make it easier for them to attend. This
would enable a greater number of people in total to enter and experience the
contest and would create a kind of Robotics Olympics.
HERE'S WHERE YOU COME IN.
In order to make this work regionally, we are seeking sponsoring
organizations (i.e., high schools, colleges, Robotics Clubs, Engineering
Societies, businesses, etc.) that will act as hosts in their locale. We will
provide these groups with information, operational support, PR assistance,
financial incentives for the regional contest winners to travel to Hartford
for the main event, and the prestige of being part of an international
program. The regional groups would, in turn, run their events by adhering to
the uniform rules which we have established.
Financing of the regional contests will need to come from the support of
private companies, educational organizations and professional groups, both
local and national. In order to fund regional contests, we are seeking
organizations that are able to secure involvement from sponsors and have the
wherewithal to manage an event of this scope. If you are part of a group that
may be interested in running a regional event with our help and assistance,
we want to hear from you. With your involvement, we can build a world-class
program--one that will benefit everyone as it advances the field of Robotics.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW?
Contact: Jake Mendelssohn at 190 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117
JMENDEL141@AOL.COM.
|
|
1 Message in This Thread:
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
