the 4th $200 Robot Contest now open!

[Admin]

I am now declaring the 4th contest:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/free_robot_contest.shtml

The rules are the same.

The dates are chosen based on winter vacation - you have the holidays to finish! If you have already written a robot tutorial and didn't win in a previous contest, you can re-enter it in if you want (but it must be improved).

To make this easier for me, can everyone that is participating make a single post here declaring their entry? (do not email me!)

Include two things:
1) Short paragraph that describes what your robot will do when its finished.
2) Picture(s) that represent your robot as a whole (yes, a CAD image is also ok).

IF YOU ARE NOT ENTERING THE CONTEST, DO NOT POST HERE
IF YOU ARE NOT ENTERING THE CONTEST, DO NOT POST HERE
IF YOU ARE NOT ENTERING THE CONTEST, DO NOT POST HERE

ASK ALL QUESTIONS IN ANOTHER POST, PLEASE!
ASK ALL QUESTIONS IN ANOTHER POST, PLEASE!
ASK ALL QUESTIONS IN ANOTHER POST, PLEASE!

Make it good: this is also a sort of 'pre-advertising' to win you more votes later.

As soon as you do this, I will set up a web account for you (if you do not yet already have one).

[TrickyNekro]

I've waited for this... Time to get my fame back a little!!!
Yup I'm HELL in!!!

Enjoy people!!! More material coming!!!
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/302


Thanks Admin!!!

[jamort]

I'm in... Lets build.....
I'm going to give it my best shot

[airman00]

I'm entering my line following robot using vision

[Roberto]

Im back.. And may accually finish..

[AdvsNoob]

ENTERING S.Y.T.H!

JUST FINISHING ORDERING PARTS!!!!!!!

Good luck guys!

[VOne]

I am in!  I need to win an Axon to build an intelligent recharge station for my Personality Rover, VOne.

Thanks.

[Unit042]

Hi all, I've got some robots, but have written no tutorials about them (chronic lack of neccessary economic incentives). It'll take time to get something ready for any of my robots (which you guys will love, as they are creative and simple).

Which leads me to a problem: is this an annual thing? How do I get more forewarning? Is it alright if the tutorial is entirely Youtube videos (one, two, three part vids {youtube time limit per video} allowed and count as one robot entry?)
When's the next competition, (as It's probably too late for me in this one)?

Is this not the place to ask?

[SciZ31]

Hey, I'm new and everything.
I'm going to enter an r/c airplane of some sort.
If everything fails, i'm just going to make a line following robot.
In 5th grade I wanted to start getting into robotics, but there were too many exams and everything, but I'm not steppin' down.
Bring it on!

[Bangarang]

I'm new here, but count me in.
(I even made a graphic for my submission)

My entry will be a basic 3 motor hexapod using a standard alternating tripod gate.

While it can be said there isn't much revolutionary about that design, I will attempt 4 main objectives with my entry:
1. cost under $60 for complete construction
2. be aesthetically pleasing for the "wow" factor (have you seen how ugly some of those three motor hexapods out there seem to be?)
3. environment sensing ability in order to navigate (object detection, turn left, turn right, reverse) like other 3 motor hexapods on the market costing hundreds of dollars
4. design and manufacture a pcb for the circuit no more than 3"X4" with motor drivers included.


I could use someone wishing me luck about now…

EDIT : 2/19/09
Link to page is here:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/292

-- Ordered parts from Futurlec.com  20 days ago and they STILL have not come in.  It doesn't look like I'll be finished before the voting is over. 

[Canabots]

Hi all!

I'll be entering my miniature RC Surveillance Robot.

What makes this robot special is the fact that it uses the RC receiver/transmitter of a $10 car (ZipZaps or MicrozGT). It uses Solarbotics Gearmotors, and an inexpensive wireless RC camera.


I plan for this robot to do:
1. Manual RC Control
2. Computer Control
3. ***Possibly*** some Simple Teleoperation

Link to my tutorial:
www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/284
Videos can be found here: http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/307

Please vote for me!


EDIT: My Tutorial is infact complete (teleoperation is in developement and experimentation and will DEFINITELY be added when completed ). All that is required is the addition of pics and vids
- (FEB 19) FINALLY!!! I just got the most important part in the mail (wireless camera). Now I can tie up all loose ends of this tutorial. 
ps: Vote for me!
-(FEB 23) All Pictures have been added. The same goes for most of the videos! All that is left is the one final video that demonstrates all the functionality of the robot (almost complete)!
-FEB 23: Created Videos page (with shake test)

[Admin]

Only 10 more days till voting ends. Vote for the most useful tutorial now!

Everyone gets two votes. And no cheating, I monitor logs.

Only three tutorials ended up being complete as of today, so read through and watch the videos. You might learn something!

http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/284
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/292
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/302


edit: new information added, and I removed any entrants that hadn't written any tutorial at all

[Admin]

Apologies for my silence on the winner. Normally the public chooses first place, then I choose second. But considering there is a tie, I in effect get to choose both . . .

So instead, since first and second get the same prize anyway, I'll just call it a tie. Canabots' tutorial was the easiest to understand, while TrickyNekros tutorial was the most technical. Both of you send me an email with an mailing address, and whether you want $100 in cash or an Axon.

Bangarangs tutorial gets honorable mention. Sorry, no prize!

All of you will get gold robots next to your name in the next day or two.

Amazing, everyone who competed, and finished their tutorial, won. Keep that in mind everyone for the next competition