Society of Robots - Robot Forum

General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: Admin on August 31, 2007, 06:57:02 AM

Title: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on August 31, 2007, 06:57:02 AM
The original entries and contestant blurbs of their robot projects can be found here:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=1507.0

The final 4 contestants (those who posted a tutorial :P) are as shown:

Brandon121233
'Build a wall avoiding robot!' (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/45)
(http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/F2Y/B4PF/F36FEUNG/F2YB4PFF36FEUNG.MEDIUM.jpg)

GHF
'QuadriCopter - A flying robotics platform (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/46)'
(http://xs217.xs.to/xs217/07295/quadrotorweb.png)

S. Karim
'Engineering: The Automated Turret w/ LEGOs (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/47)'
(http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/8606/picture004fe0.jpg)

Ro-Bot-X
'VCR Robot' (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/29)
(http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/files/13/Dsc14.jpg)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on August 31, 2007, 07:05:46 AM
A few other notes . . .

The full contest rules can be found here:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/free_robot_contest.shtml

I will be camping all weekend and wont have time to start reading tutorials till mid next week. Contestants can still improve their tutorials, but I cant promise I will see your improvements after next week.

For those who didnt yet make a tutorial but still declared an entry, you still have time. I can add your tutorial in late, and people are still allowed to change their votes.

Ro-Bot-X, you didnt officially submit an entry, but I still felt your tutorial to fit in the rules so I submitted it for you ;D

Voting closes on Sept 20th, no exceptions.
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: ed1380 on August 31, 2007, 03:30:16 PM
pics for the flying robot don't work
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Brandon121233 on August 31, 2007, 04:20:20 PM
what are the rules about voting for your own entry?? Will we be disqualified for that
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Ro-Bot-X on August 31, 2007, 11:27:49 PM
Ro-Bot-X, you didnt officially submit an entry, but I still felt your tutorial to fit in the rules so I submitted it for you ;D
Thanks, I didn't had time to work on the robot I intended to submit, so this was a nice surprise.  ;D
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: ed1380 on September 02, 2007, 07:01:39 AM
is there supposed to be just one page teh flying robot, cause thats all I see.
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: S. Karim on September 02, 2007, 03:04:46 PM
oh man this went horribly, I didnt even get to post a video or finish the tutorial.

sooo busy, sorry to let this down :(
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on September 03, 2007, 07:18:41 PM
Quote
what are the rules about voting for your own entry?? Will we be disqualified for that
you can vote for yourself if you want :P

Ok so I just got back from my nice trip to the beach in NC like 10 minutes ago . . . Probably wont look over the tutorials for the next few days so you guys got tons of time to fix em up nicer.
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: TrickyNekro on September 04, 2007, 03:37:40 AM
I guess then I can still enter... if not... pitty... ok I was late...
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on September 05, 2007, 09:20:36 AM
I just noticed a late entry by TrickyNekro . . . so Ill add him to the vote. Note that everyone is allowed to change their two votes until the end of this month.

TrickyNekro
'How to turn a bulldozer into a tank-like robot (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/49)'
(http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/files/21/153709.jpg)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: paulstreats on September 12, 2007, 06:21:40 PM
are we voting on the tutorials alone? or also the end product?
I really want to vote, but i'd like to know if there is more to the quadricopter tutorial or an end video first, as this project could sway my balance. All i can see at the moment is how to assemble a motor which i presume instruction come with the kit anyway.. Id like to see the quadricopter up and running.
Also the automated turrent looks like it could be fun if it has auto aim and fire capabilities.

Im not complaining because i didnt enter (ill try to in the next competition) but its a shame to have got so far through your projects and not published all of the info.

Ive still got to vote but i think ill wait till the very last day in case there is any more to be added :)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Ro-Bot-X on September 13, 2007, 01:32:36 AM
I was thinking the same thing here. Right now, the best written tutorial is "Build a wall avoiding robot". And it's a realy nice robot too. But if all tutorials would been complete, I would have a hard time trying to decide which is better. :P
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on September 13, 2007, 06:35:18 AM
Yes right now the best tutorial is the wallbot imho. Some tutorials aren't fully completed though, so this makes voting much easier. :(
Next time I'm hoping to enter my robot in the competition :)

When will the next contest take place?
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on September 13, 2007, 08:05:12 AM
I set it up so you are allowed to change your vote. You can vote now, and if someone suddenly amazes you, you can still change the vote :P

I kept the vote secret for now so that doesnt influence the vote . . .

Quote
When will the next contest take place?
Ive had a good enough response that I will probably do it biannually. You can start your robot/tutorial at any time, and just enter it when I announce the next competition. Starting early will give you the advantage ;D

And dont be afraid to advertise for me! The more entrants we get, the more prizes/money I will give out. ::)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on September 13, 2007, 09:41:24 AM
hmm twice a year sounds good, although I personally would like it every four months, I can live with it ;) :)
And I was already advertising! ;D
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: h3ro on September 13, 2007, 10:12:47 AM
Admin, have you tried to contact firms such as sparkfun, digi-key or maybe a producer to try to get them to sponsor you with some prices for the challenge? I think this is the biggest and fastest growing robotics community online, so they should have some interest?

Not only do you write a lot of tutorials and spend lot of time helping people on the forum, your also willing to use your own money to encourage people to build robots. Very very kind of you!
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on September 13, 2007, 10:36:28 AM
Quote
Admin, have you tried to contact firms such as sparkfun, digi-key or maybe a producer to try to get them to sponsor you with some prices for the challenge?
I can definitely find corporate sponsors, I just need more contestants first to make it worth their time . . . probably 15 or more? SoR is barely more than 2 years old though, so lots of room for growth I think.

If I get a corporate sponsor, they will probably donate products, and I might promise them that winners of the products will post their projects using those products . . . think you winners can handle it?  ;)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on September 13, 2007, 05:19:33 PM
I agree,
I've been actively searching the web for anything robot related for a while now, and SoR is not only the best forum I found, it's also the best site for robot hobbyists...
Congrats on your work Admin, keep it up :)
That's exactly why I'm active here and not somewhere else.

 
Quote
I can definitely find corporate sponsors, I just need more contestants first to make it worth their time . . . probably 15 or more? SoR is barely more than 2 years old though, so lots of room for growth I think.
I'm going to try to enter my robot tutorial in the next competition.

Quote
If I get a corporate sponsor, they will probably donate products, and I might promise them that winners of the products will post their projects using those products . . . think you winners can handle it?
I must be honest here, I'd much rather get a cash prize (that I can obviously spend on anything I want) than a product (you have never chosen to use) and an obligation to make a robot with it and then write a tutorial around it...
Sorry to break it to you, but I think it's better to be honest  :)

Maybe a coupon would be better? Don't get me wrong though, a prize is still a prize  :D But it would be a shame if you happen to get a product you don't even want.  :-\
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: ed1380 on September 14, 2007, 08:05:41 PM
worst case senario sell the uneeded part
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on September 14, 2007, 08:29:41 PM
Quote
an obligation to make a robot with it and then write a tutorial around it...
Rebelgium you make a good point about the tutorial part . . . dumb idea on my part :P

As for the robot parts, I can promise you Ill choose only good stuff. Like motor drivers or sensors or something I know you would want. Maybe gift certificates to a robot parts company . . . Ill look in to it more . . . the truth is, companies are much more likely to give away parts than money . . .
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on September 15, 2007, 06:39:13 AM
Quote
Maybe gift certificates to a robot parts company . . . Ill look in to it more . . . the truth is, companies are much more likely to give away parts than money . . .

That's true, because the products they give away only cost the production costs for them. eg. giving away a 100$ sensor, only costs them 20$ to make it...
So they're much more likely to give a 100$ sensor than 100$ cash.

And gift certificates sound great :)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Ro-Bot-X on September 15, 2007, 10:45:20 AM
These will work for sure!
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php?cPath=32 (http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/categories.php?cPath=32)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on September 15, 2007, 12:45:12 PM
good call Ro-Bot-X.

but i tried emailing sparkfun before with ideas and they just ignored me :-[

ill try again for the next contest.
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: TrickyNekro on September 16, 2007, 09:39:38 AM
My robot is finished!!!
The How to construct part of the tutorial is ready!!!
The programming is left!!!
I'll post videos - codes explanations as soon as I have some free time!!!
I'm studying for school (final grade) far too many hours and I had a terrible lack of equipment so far (for example instead of a CNC mill I was using a wall impact drill!!!)
Sorry again for the delay!!!

Here a video with "responsive IR object avoidance" and some photos of how I shot the film and the robot finished:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rtgRziJnHA
(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9219/085349mp1.jpg)
(http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2664/085410ug5.jpg)
(http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/1338/182026kp2.jpg)
(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/8014/182153to8.jpg)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on September 16, 2007, 11:44:45 AM
Nice Trickynekro :)
Just in time to,
you have a better chance at winning now.
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on September 19, 2007, 07:46:48 AM
whooo tomorrow is the big day everyone! ;D

vote now if you haven't already ;)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: TrickyNekro on September 21, 2007, 05:04:42 AM
So... Is the contest over???
Feel kinda anxious but I know I didn't go well...
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: h3ro on September 21, 2007, 05:53:07 AM
Voting is closing today at 20:00AM or something.

What is the status for the quadriCopter? Would love to see some more pictures and stuff of it. :)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: h3ro on September 26, 2007, 03:35:29 PM
Is it over or what is happening?
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on September 27, 2007, 12:30:47 PM
On the page about the contest you can see that the contest has been extended to the 30st of september. The voting will close then. :)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on September 28, 2007, 07:42:23 AM
I have already made my decision, but here are some suggestions Ive compiled that you can do in 20 minutes to fix up what you have:

Dont put !!! and the end of every sentence. Usually a period will be fine :P

If you have code posted, instead put your code in a zip file and upload/link to it. Pseudocode is ok.

If your tutorial is really long, consider dividing it into multiple pages - for example, introduction page, construction on another page, then results on the third. Its entirely up to you, pages just help the reader prepare for the next big step. Dont forget to cross link them.

If possible, include text descriptions next to the pics. For example, if you have a pic with standoffs, just say something like 'screwing in standoffs into drilled holes' or something like that. I like to intermix my pics with the text.

Dont forget to grammar/spell check. I like to copy/paste my stuff into word to do it for me ;D

And just a reminder, the goal of your tutorial is not really to show off your creation, but instead to teach others how to build it.

In other news, I am declaring this contest a success. So I am officially announcing that the next contest will be sometime early next year, and with a much bigger $ reward. Most of the rules will stay the same, the only big change will be in the voting structure. So feel free to start now on your robot!
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: creedcradle on September 28, 2007, 06:51:04 PM
I want to take a chance on the next robot contest here in SoR,

I just hope i can make a nice BEAM robot entry next year...

im not hoping to win but difinitely i will join the contest..

Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on October 01, 2007, 07:43:50 PM
Results are out!

1st - Brandon121233 - Build a wall avoiding robot!  (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/45)
2nd - Ro-Bot-X - VCR Robot  (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/29)
Hon. Mention - TrickyNekro - How to turn a bulldozer into a tank-like robot (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/49)

Just a few comments . . . Ive noticed external sites have already linked to each of your tutorials, meaning each of you have produced very useful tutorials!

TrickyNekro, you made an amazing comeback with your robot and so I grant you an honorable mention. Its a new rule I made up last minute :P

As for 1st and 2nd place, just tell me where/who to mail your US $100 check to ;D

Im thinking about the next contest having a due date around late February, so you get the xmas holidays to make your robot. The prize money will be higher, but Ill probably change the voting structure. It depends a lot on the number of contestants, too. More people, more prizes.

Just IM me if you want a web account so you can get started with your robot entry ;D
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Rebelgium on October 03, 2007, 08:08:29 AM
congratulations!

I hope to beready with my robot and tutorial by february, let's hope i can find enough time between school work... :-\ :)
Title: Re: VOTE! $200 Robot Contest!
Post by: Admin on October 07, 2007, 09:49:00 AM
I have managed to get a 3rd place prize from a new sponsor!

The prize is a DVD (in NTSC format) called Stolen Life (http://www.zipworld.com.au/~raz/nima/SL_Tumb/sl_ss.html).

(http://www.machinima.com/machinima_videos/hosted/Nanoflix/96_Stolen_Life/Stills_SL/Poster_Stolen_Life.jpg)

"Hot on the heels of Killer Robot comes ?Stolen Life?; the latest 3D animated feature from Nanoflix. Stolen Life is true Future Noir. Now available on DVD, this dark and moody Sci-fi detective mystery stars Claudia Black and Chris Jones. Sci-fi fans know Claudia from Farscape and Stargate SG-1. Video game fans know Chris Jones from the legendary and groundbreaking Tex Murphy series of interactive adventures."

The trailer:

[youtube=425,350]wU5DXScNJHo[/youtube]

TrickyNekro, I hope you have a DVD player!