From: zeclipse@eng.umd.edu (Narin Saphasindhu)
Subject: Re: As seen in Sci Am and EE Times, The Robot Olympic Games:
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 19:47:09 GMT
Organization: College of Engineering, UMCP
Distribution: dc
Keywords: build something.

In article <BtvC48.Lxr@math.uwaterloo.ca> mwtilden@math.uwaterloo.ca (Mark W. Tilden) writes:
>
>
>An update on:
>
>   The Second BEAM Robot Olympics and Micromouse Competition:
>
>                      Ontario Science Centre,
>                     Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
>                        Apr 22 - 25, 1993
>
>
>                          Sponsored by:
>  IEEE Canada, VSPANS Robotics, and the University of Waterloo.
>
>
>The  BEAM Robot Olympics is not so much a series of technological
>competitions  as  a chance for robot enthusiasts to present their
>designs   to   each other, the press, and the public.  It is also
>an open forum for anyone who wants to get started in the field to
>compete  and  compare.  Any and every robot will be considered so
>long as it does not come exclusively from a kit or store.  Robots
>of  similar  ability  will be pitted against each other in simple
>competitions,  but generally robots will be judged on sophistica-
>tion  of behavior, novelty of design, efficiency of power source,
>and quality of hardware innovation.
>
>Basically, if you built it, we'd like to see it.
>
>The  BEAM  Olympics main events are (but not limited to) the fol-
>lowing:
>
>
>      SOLAROLLER: A self-starting robot dragster race.
>      PHOTOVORE:  Robots face a closed "world" and each other.
>      HIGH JUMP:Robot creature leaps, lands on feet.
>      ROPE CLIMBING: First up, first down, self-starting.
>      LEGGED RACE: Walking creatures run for the money.
>      INNOVATION MACHINES: Electronic chopsticks, for example.
>      ROBOART/MODIFICATION: Mechanical/electronic aesthetics that move.
>      ROBOT SUMO: Push/Bash an opponent out of a ring.
>      LIMBO RACE: How low can you build?
>      NANOMOUSE: A smaller and simpler form of the...
>      MICROMOUSE: Where metal mice race for aluminum cheese.
>      AEROBOT: 3D robot flying challenges.
>
>
>The  Robot  Olympics  thus  features  eleven  formal competitions
>which   range in difficulty from simple to complex.  To this end,
>there is  a guide available  which  contains  competition  rules,
>"get-started" instructions, discussion into the  new  science  of
>Artificial  Life  (Alife), and full  information  for anybody who
>might want to run their own BEAM Robotic Games.
>
>Fresh  copies  of the Guide are available now at a cost of $10.00
>Cdn,  $15  American  [US funds], and $20 international [US funds]
>for   cost   of  copying  and  postage.   Please  make cheques or
>money-orders   payable   to  BEAM Robotics Inc.   Competitors are
>asked  to  register   and   fill out a "behavior sheet" for their
>robot(s)  and more  competitions will be run based on the variety
>of  robots who do  show  up.   Those in a class by themselves are
>still  eligible  for   major   awards,   and  everybody  will  be
>included in the subsequent BEAM Olympic portfolio, documentaries,
>and videos.
>
>All venues are open to the interested, young or old, so grab your
>soldering  iron, raid the junk pile, and we'll see you there.
>
>For  more  information  on the BEAM Robot Olympics, other robotic
>competitions, and weird robotics in general, contact:
>
>
>               BEAM Robot Olympics
>               c/o: Mark W. Tilden
>               MFCF, University of Waterloo
>               Ontario, Canada
>               N2L-3G1
>               (519)885-1211 x2454
>
>               E-mail: mwtilden@watmath.uwaterloo.ca
>
>
>The  rest  of  this  article  concentrates  on general competitor
>guidelines  and  the entrance form.  If you want to be put on the
>real-mail  list, please complete and send in the entrance form by
>real-mail.  If  possible,  include  a picture of your competitor.
>Updates and  further  details  will be  posted  to this and other
>relevant newsgroups as they become available.
>
>        -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>
>Rules and General Guidelines:
>
>These  are  the  rules  and  guidelines for the Second BEAM Robot
>Olympic  Games.  Although the spirit of these Olympics stress few
>formal  restrictions,  these are some guidelines which every com-
>petitor should follow.  If a design does not fit these parameters
>or  may  but you're not sure, please contact the organizers for a
>ruling.   Consideration  will be given to very innovative or ima-
>ginative  designs.   The  BEAM  Olympics  is meant as an informal
>meeting  of  mind and robo-critter with the public and the media.
>It is hoped that everyone will abide by this spirit.
>
>All those wishing to compete should fill out and send in a regis-
>tration  form  for all robotic competitor(s) before Monday, April
>5,  1993  to  be  included  in the show dossier.  Entries will be
>allowed after that, but they will not make that years dossier.  A
>copy  of  the  registration  form is included at the back of this
>post.   All  who register  will be put on a mailing list and kept
>informed of upcoming events.
>
>
>GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ROBOTIC COMPETITORS:
>
>-  All  robotic devices must be either entirely custom built or a
>heavily  modified toy.  No commercial, store bought or kit robots
>will  be allowed without heavy physical modification (modified or
>improved  software  is  not  sufficient  modification).   "Heavy"
>defined   as   permanent  structural/electronic  additions  which
>extend, replace or enhance a functional aspect of the device (ie:
>replace  batteries with solar engine, add functional arms, inter-
>face  a unique touch/vision system, etc.).  Any devices made from
>commercial  construction kits (ie: Lego, Mecanno, etc.) must also
>feature  obviously  non-commercial,  custom  elements to indicate
>sufficient intent of innovation.
>
>-  All robotic entries should be self-contained or have an option
>where  they  can  execute  behavior  without  human intervention.
>Tele-operated mechanisms are allowable only if it is obvious they
>have  been  designed  around some BEAM competition guidelines, or
>are  for some autonomous task-oriented purpose (ie: tele-operated
>moon rover with retrieval claw).  Commercial radio controlled kit
>models  will  not  be  allowed  unless they have undergone severe
>technical modifications.  Devices which do not feature some auto-
>nomous ability are allowed, but will loose critical style points.
>
>-  Any robotic entry may be disqualified if too large (ie: bigger
>than  a  standard upright refrigerator). The sole reason for this
>is  that  display  space,  access  doors,  and power are limited.
>Exceptions  may be granted for exceptional, self-powered entries.
>Please contact the organizers for a ruling.
>
>-  Any  robotic  competitor  which is obviously of mass-produced,
>commercial  manufacture  and/or  performs an obviously commercial
>task  shall  be disqualified as a competitor.  We don't want this
>to  be  a blatant advertising opportunity for major corporations,
>that's  what  trade shows are for.  Corporate research and design
>prototypes  are  the  exception  but  they must be represented by
>their  designer at the competition, not by the corporation.  How-
>ever,  robotics  companies are allowed to hand out cards, flyers,
>posters, and device specifications.
>
>-  If  a robotic entry must use wall current, it can use only one
>plug  at a nominal amperage (120 VAC, 3 Amps maximum drain).  Any
>robot  which  uses  a  combustion process will be discouraged for
>safety  reasons,  and  will not be allowed to run inside the com-
>petition auditorium.
>
>-  For  the  most  part, no "violent" robotic competitors will be
>allowed;  that is, no competitor may have a functionally destruc-
>tive  capacity  (ie:  drills,  cutters,  soldering  iron,  flame-
>thrower,   chainsaw,   etc.)   although  decorative  or whimsical
>elements   along this line are allowed (ie: waterpistols).  Like-
>wise,  any   robotic  competitor which may damage the competition
>courses,  other robot competitors, organizers or audience will be
>disqualified.    Robotic   competitors  may  interfere  with each
>other  during the  course  of simultaneous runs (where rules per-
>mit)  so  long  as  they  do  not  violate  the "no damage" rule.
>Anybody  who  justly  feels  his/her  device  could be damaged by
>another  entrant  will not suffer  penalties  for  not  competing
>in that trail.  Likewise, entrants  who accept that their designs
>could  suffer  major  damage  will   also   be   respected   (ie:
>No-holds-barred Robosumo).  BEAM Robotics   and  affiliates  take
>no   responsibility   for   damage  incurred   by or afflicted on
>robotic  devices,  persons,  or  reputations during the course of
>competition.
>
>-  No robotic competitors can employ biological components (rats,
>chickens,  lemon/potato batteries, jello, etc.) except by special
>permission  from  the  organizers.  Even then, no devices will be
>allowed which harm biologics in any way.
>
>-  Multitalented robotic competitors are encouraged, however such
>capabilities  must  be declared ahead of time on the registration
>form as part of the robot's behavior description.
>
>-  Partially  finished  robotic  competitors  are  allowed  (even
>encouraged) to compete so long as there is some function they can
>exhibit to show what they may eventually be capable of.
>
>Again,  if  you  are  in  doubt as to the validity of your entry,
>please  contact  the  organizers  directly  at  the University of
>Waterloo.   Exceptions  will be made for particularly imaginative
>entries.
>
>Is all.
>
>
>-- 
>Mark Tilden: _-_-_-__--__--_      /(glitch!)  M.F.C.F Hardware Design Lab.
>-_-___       |              \  /\/            U of Waterloo. Ont. Can, N2L-3G1
>     |__-_-_-|               \/               (519)885-1211 ext. 2454 
>"MY OPINIONS, YOU HEAR!? MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! MINE! AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"


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