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From: ldnishik@wheel.ucdavis.edu (Lisa Nishikawa)
Subject: Re: Robot Wars Info
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Date: Sat, 27 Aug 1994 01:14:49 GMT
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Christian Jacobsen (jacobsen@george.arc.nasa.gov) wrote:

: I did not wind up going to the competition (familial priorities), but I
: really wanted to.  I would be curious if someone (like you, Lisa) would
: post a long description of what the competition was like, what the arena
: was like, what types of robots were there, etc.

I think my take on the competition is similar to others I have read. An A 
for concept and a C for execution. And too pricy at $30, but there wer 
probably 600 people. I am confident however, that the competition next 
year will be fierce. The crowd was anxious for destruction, and a couple 
of the MANO a MANO events were very lively - sparks, smoke, ferocious 
noise, etc. I think everyone, including me, was hoping for high powered 
gas machines with chainsaws and the like. I'm sure there will be some 
next time.

The arena appeared to be about 40 x 60 feet. It was surrounded by a low 
wall, with bleachers on three sides. The fourth side was for the judges 
platform, an operators area, and an entry area for comptetitors. A large 
set of video monitors was set up under the judges stand, and during 
competition showed close up images of the battles taken by a little 
camera-bot cruising around on the floor. On each long wall was a linear 
actuator driven square net about 3x3 that moved up and down trying to 
snag inattentive machines. On the same wall were 3 or 4 long flexible 
slats about 4" high that were driven back and forth, again trying to snag 
machines and block them in corners. A bowling ball on a chain swung back 
and forth through the middle - in big, nasty arcs for the biggest 
machines, and less for the little guys. The short walls had start lines only.

There were not as many competitors as I expected. In the small class I 
believe there were 4: Zomo-a quick 4WD RC car with a stainless steel 
salad bowl and funnel on top (it looked liked a very fast breast cruising 
around the floor, no offensive devices), Julie-bot, a 3 wheel machine 
with a sheet metal exterior, a blond head, and a spike in back (very 
sturdy), the Pain Mower (Omega ex machina), from a high school club, low, 
round, and flexible, with a low speed propeller on top that just exceeded 
the body diameter (2'). It whacked the hell out of Zomo's salad bowl. 
The last was Andy-bot, a powered Big Wheel trike with a cute little 
guy that pedaled like hell. No weapons except cans on a roll of string, 
which did entangle a number of competitors in the melee event.  
Clever concept anyway.

Will post some more info later!

*******************************************
Lisa Nishikawa (ldnishik@wheel.ucdavis.edu)
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