Trossen Robotics Blog » Contests

Tutorial Contest Winners Announced!

Andrew — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:42:07 +0000

In March we announced that our contest would go in a different direction this time and with even bigger prizes:

This round is going to be a Tutorial Contest , and is quite a bit different from our previous contests. Think of it as an ‘Instructables meets How Stuff Works’ style contest: We want you to submit entries in the form of a detailed step by step ‘How-To’ or Informative Tutorials.

We had a good amount of solid entries in our first Tutorial Contest so picking our winners was a not an easy ordeal. Our entries covered many different topics, from electrical and soldering basics to more advanced robotics navigation tutorials. We highly suggest that you take a look at our Tutorials Section, there is a lot to be learned and if you have knowledge to share we highly encourage it.

Without further ado, here are our winners!

3rd Place goes to Jes1510!

Jes1510 submitted some ‘back to the basics’ tutorials which were well documented, easy to read through, and really helpful for the beginning robot hobbyist! He’ll be walking away with an Ollo Bug Kit!

Tutorials:

2nd Place goes to Pi Robot!

Pi Robot amazed us with two extremely detailed, professional tutorials that cover some very advanced robotics applications by breaking it down into more digestible bite sized pieces. Both are excellent pieces of literature, definitely worth a read through! Pi Robot will be walking away with a Bioloid Beginner Kit for his contributions!

Tutorials:

1st Place goes to lnxfergy!

lnxfergy was determined to win 1st prize! He submitted awesome tutorial after awesome tutorial covering some pretty major aspects of robotics. All of these tutorials are very helpful for beginners and even more advanced builders can take something from them. From practical navigation systems to controlling AX-12 servos, lnxfergy demonstrated an amazing grasp of current hobby robotics technology, and was kind enough to share that knowledge with us. For his massive effort, he will be awarded with a Bioloid Comprehensive Kit!

Tutorials:

So You Want To Build A Robot?
An Introduction to Interrupts
Choosing Sensors for Your Robot
Materials for your Robot
Introduction to Encoders
Power Supply Basics
XBEE Basics
AVR Basics
An Introduction to Mapping and Localization
Controlling AX-12 Servos
Following a Wall

We want to thank everyone involved with our first Tutorial Contest! Determining the winners was not easy, as there were many great tutorials to browse through. Again, we highly recommend you check out our Tutorials section, as there is a lot to be learned! Stay tuned for an announcement on our next round of contests!

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Want to win a Bioloid? Announcing the TRC Tutorial Contest!

Andrew — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:00:34 +0000

Time flies! It’s that time again to officially announce the next round of the Trossen Robotics Community (TRC) Contest. We had quite a bit of success with our previous Project Contests and a lot of very cool entries, however we are going to mix things up this time.

This round is going to be a Tutorial Contest , and is quite a bit different from our previous contests. Think of it as an ‘Instructables meets How Stuff Works’ style contest: We want you to submit entries in the form of a detailed step by step ‘How-To’ or Informative Tutorials.

We’re going to be asking a lot more of our participants this round, so we have raised the stakes and are giving away our biggest prizes yet! Without further ado here are the prizes being offered for this round!

1st place

Bioloid Comprehensive Kit:

1 Bioloid CM-5 mcu (Atmel ATMega128) controller
18 Dynamixel AX-12+ serially controlled servos
1 Dynamixel AX-S1 sensor module
1 Rechargeable NiMh battery pack (9.6V)
2 Programming Utilities (freeware)
1 Switch Mode Power Supply
Serial Cable (9pin D-type)
1 Bioloid Comprehensive Frame Set
Quick Start Manual
CD with Software

2nd place

Bioloid Beginner Kit:

1 Bioloid CM-5 mcu (Atmel ATMega128) controller
4 Dynamixel AX-12+ serially controlled servos
1 Dynamixel AX-S1 sensor module
1 Rechargeable NiMh battery pack (9.6V)
2 Programming Utilities (freeware)
1 Switch Mode Power Supply
Serial Cable (9pin D-type)
Bioloid Beginner Frame Set
Quick Start Manual
CD with Software

3rd place

Robotis Ollo Bug Kit:

New Beginner Robotics Kit from Robotis!
Reconfigurable, modular design
Tons of parts to build with!
Instructions to build 4 different robots included
Remote controlled
Highly descriptive well documented instructions

You’re probably asking: “Well what’s the catch?” We won’t lie, we’re going to make you work for it and put your knowledge to the test!

Here are some examples of what types of tutorials we’re looking for:

What is a gyroscope/accelerometer/analog or digital signal?
How do servos/DC Motors/Batteries work? (explain inner workings, control, show example code, etc)
Choosing the right (Microcontroller/DC Motor/Sensor) for the job.
How to setup an Arduino/Xbee Communication/Basic Stamp. (basic projects with example code, videos, etc)
How to control a robot wirelessly. (many different methods of going about this, pick one and elaborate!)
Theory of Inverse Kinematics, Dead Reckoning, Spacial Mapping, etc.

We’re looking for well written, detailed entries that a beginner could read through and learn from. The emphasis on this is creating valuable tutorials and FAQs that the community as a whole can benefit from. Diagrams, pictures, source code, practical applications, text references and examples are welcomed and strongly encouraged. Plagiarism will not be tolerated, please cite any reference materials used. We are not looking for build articles during this round.

Entries will also be judged in a different manner than before: Contestants are encouraged to post as many tutorials as they like; in fact, the more tutorials submitted, the more points they receive towards their final score. Now that said, quality is greatly valued over quantity. One detailed, well written tutorial will hold more weight than five mediocre ones, but if you post numerous well written tutorials you’re going to be in very good shape.

Previous project submissions were based out of our Project Showcase forum, but this time all submissions must be entered into the Tutorial section.

Please visit our Project Contest Page to learn more about the contest, how to enter and for the official rules and guidelines. Somebody is going to be a proud new owner of a Bioloid Comprehensive Kit, Bioloid Beginner Kit, or Ollo Bug Kit, will it be you?

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Lynxmotion Robot Project Contest!

Andrew — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:39:35 +0000

Our friends over at Lynxmotion are hosting their first ever Project Contest! Do you have an awesomely customized Johnny 5 kit you want to show off? How about a suped-up Phoenix? Head over to the Lynxmotion forums and submit a detailed write-up of your project, complete with pictures and videos for a chance to win some very generous gift cards. Here is the official posting:

We are happy to announce our first Robot Project Contest. People have been building awesome robots from our kits and parts for 15 years. We want to do a better job of recognizing and rewarding these efforts. The contest will have two categories.

The first category can be any project that is based on a Lynxmotion robot kit. This can be anything from a Robotic Arm or Rover to a Johnny 5 or 3DOF Hexapod. We’re looking for anything that has been added or modified to improve the aesthetics or the functionality of the robot. Your take on your favorite movie robot, or your version of a Mars Rover would be cool. Submitting a stock build is not likely to draw much attention.

The second category can be anything created with our Servo Erector Set series of brackets and components. For this category we are looking for something unique, interesting and different. It must use the SES components as the primary construction material.

The entries must be posted here in this section of the forum. Even if the robot has been posted in other sections of the website. The first post is the submission, so you should edit it to keep it up to date. The entry must have quality higher resolution images and clear video as a minimum. We will also require a full write up of the parts used, the problems solved, or the inspiration for the project, etc. We need details. At the time of this writing we do not have the ability to host the images or video. You will need to find a place to host them for now. You are encouraged to post what you have as soon as possible. You will have time to edit your post to fulfill the contest requirements as you require.

The contest time frame is three months, ending on May 31st. The awards are as follows:

Kit Robot Contest
1st Place = $350.00 gift certificate
2nd Place = $200.00 gift certificate
3rd Place = $100.00 gift certificate

SES Robot Contest
1st Place = $350.00 gift certificate
2nd Place = $200.00 gift certificate
3rd Place = $100.00 gift certificate

Our own custom Pico-ITX based Johnny 5 will be cheering from the sidelines! Go get em guys!

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Want a free* trip to Japan?

Andrew — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:49:17 +0000

Oh yes, there is always that pesky asterisk. However in this case, what the asterisk implies isn’t too bad.

David Calkins, Robogames founder and co-host of the Revision3 eShow: Systm, is offering a free* all expenses paid trip to Japan. What’s the catch? Well first of all, you have to have a 3kg Sumobot. David’s message below explains the whole deal:

So, The all-Japan 3kg sumo tournament is Dec 21st in Tokyo.

Fujisoft gave me 2 seats to go, all expenses, but Simone is pregnant and due about then, so I’m giving away the tix.

Want ‘em?

You gotta win ‘em.

MAIL me your 3kg sumo (not 500g), so it arrives by the morning of Dec 5th.
Include pre-paid return for the package. On Dec 6th, I’ll compete them all in a normal sumo bracket. Don’t have a 3kg sumo? You can build one in 3 weeks…

The top two robots each get one ticket to Japan. You will need a passport and time off work to go. This is going to be totally merit based. It’s not random.
Best two robots go.

Email me directly for more details: dcalkins@robotics-society.org

-David E. Calkins

SFSU Robotics Engineering and Robotics Outreach President, RoboGames / Robotics Society of America

How cool is that? Here’s some mini-sumo action!

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Announcement: Next Round of the TRC Project Contest

Alex — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:16:44 +0000

It’s that time again to officially announce the next round of the Trossen Robotics Community (TRC) Project Contest. With the success of last round, it was obvious many preferred the idea of offering Robots as prizes, so we’re doing it again:-)

The goal of the TRC Project Contest is to encourage technological creativity, innovation and ingenuity through these talented individual’s unique projects. We invite everyone to help spread the word about this contest announcement to help encourage others to show off their talent.

1st place

Pleo™ from UGOBE

Includes:

2 32-bit Microprocessors – central and image processing
4 8-bit Subprocessors – motor control
14 motors
Over 100 custom-designed gears
Camera-based vision system – light detection and navigation.
2 Microphones – binaural hearing
8 Skin sensors – head, chin, shoulders, back, legs
4 Foot switches – surface detection
14 Force-feedback sensors – one per joint
Orientation tilt sensor – body position
Infrared mouth sensor – object detection
SD card slot – Pleo add-ons

2nd place

WowWee RS-Media™

Features:

Chest Mounted LCD Screen

PC-Based Editing Suite

Head Mounted Camera

Sonic Sensors

40MB Memory w/ SD upgrade slot

3rd place

Wowwee Roboquad™

Modes:

IR Vision w/Scanning features
Head mounted LED’s
72 Preprogrammed Functions
Multiple Modes
Advanced Motion Control
Personality Settings
Light Sensor
Sound Sensor

Please visit our Project Contest Page for further information and instructions on how and where to submit your project. Somebody is going to be a proud new owner of a WowWee Roboquad, RS-Media, or… wait for it…. a PLEO from UGOBE. Will it be you?

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The Shelter for Homeless Robots

Andrew — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:39:49 +0000

We see a wide range of different projects showcased on our Community Forums, ranging from the simple and to the point (read: cheap) to the extravagant and over the top (read: how to anger your wife). One of our members, Darkback2, decided to simultaneously raise and lower the bar by creating the Junk Bot Challenge! Participants essentially try to build the best bot they can using any spare junk and salvage laying around the house and a $20 budget for additional parts.

Needless to say, this sparked some ‘interesting’ entries. The contest is being wrapped up and the entries are being voted upon, so make sure to drop by the Junk Bots Contest Thread and cast your vote. Here are the Junk Bots that were entered:

Junk Bot: Trash
Creator: Electricity

Plastic Forks. And Chopsticks. How awesome is that? This robot might go down in history as the most awesomely low-cost quadrapod ever made.

Junk Bot: Lisa
Creator: Darkback2

Is it a quadrapod or a tripod? We don’t know, we don’t care. It’s best not to ask too many questions when your robot has a gun.

Junk Bot: Putter Bot
Creator: Crabfu

Look out Tiger, this robot could probably beat you down at your own game. Or at least Mini-Golf. Bonus points for giving this robot a very cool personality.

Junk Bot: Beetlebot
Creator: metaform3d

It’s a bug, it’s a frog, it’s a robot made out of cardboard! This bot gives “Trash Bot” a run for it’s lack of money in the cheapest robot department, and is actually quite mobile.

Junk Bot: LIDAR Bot
Creator: Adrenalynn

Many of you may not know what LIDAR is. Regardless of what wikipedia says, I know the real answer. LIDAR is what happens when someone with a serial-overachievement complex enters in the Junk Bot competition. Not satisfied with simply building a cheap robot, Adrenalynn (aka Hermoine) built a LIDAR vision system (which usually run in the several thousand dollar range) out of spare junk and pocket change. Shes sick I tell you. Sick.

Well that about wraps up the Junk Bots 08 contest. Make sure to cast your votes, poll closes on September 8th!

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