Sumo Introduction Fall 2011

theCOMPETITION

Crash course in robotics for the inexperienced/curious.

theTOOLS• We’ve designed a custom PCB specifically

for the competition. You solder it together.• We give you sheet metal. You design and

build a chassis.• We give you a firmware API. You design

and implement a software strategy.

designHINTS

• Most effective designs usually incorporate some sort wedge

• Simple designs are more effective• Keep in mind how the chassis is going to

be manufactured to ensure ease of construction

minisumoBOARD

• Robots are controlled by a microcontroller• MiniSumo robots use Atmel ATMega168

16 KB Program ROM1 KB RAM

16 MHz Clock Speed

• Teams will develop software that runs on the microcontroller

developmentTOOLS

• C programming language

• Arduino IDE

• Serial Port

arduinoIDE

Write code

Compile

Upload

Debug

serialPORT

Remember these?

Very common in theembedded world

You will use it for• Uploading software to the board• Debugging

exampleSOFTWARE

Example software is available on the Robotics Team website.

• Fully functional• Interfaces with motors and sensors• Basic control logic• Excellent base for custom code

learnMORE

Arduino Software http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

Getting Started http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage

Foundations http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Foundations

sumoRULES

The following slides outline the rules of the competition.• There are many rules

– Most are based off ridiculous suggestions from the past

• The rules are available on our website

sumoRULES

• 12 cm x 12 cm is base limit• Robot must weigh less than 500 g• Chassis can be built without the sheet

metal provided if desired but may not be kit built

• Robot may not fly• The robot must have a name

sumoRULES• Must be completely untethered and

autonomous• Must be battery powered• No compressed gas or other dangerous

material may be used in competition• No active jamming devices may be used• Magnets may not be used

sumoRULES• Before moving, robot must delay 5

seconds after switch is thrown• No parts may be jettisoned from robot,

including smaller robots• Minor loss of parts during competition is

acceptable, subject to judge’s discretion

sumoRULES• Pushing is the only acceptable form of

offense.– No spinning, sprung or other forms of

weaponry are permitted.• The robot must not employ any sort of

device or material intended to hold the robot down.– Rubber tires are acceptable, super glued tires

are not.

arenaRULES• Arena is a non-reflective black surface

surrounded by a white painted ring– 770mm internal diameter

• Sample rings will be made available for public testing during the days approaching the competition.

matchRULES• Robots will begin the match

– side by side,– facing in opposite directions,– no more than 200 mm away from the edge of

the ring, – With the center of the ring between them.

matchRULES• On the judges’ signal, each team will press

a start button on their robot.• The robot must delay for at least five

seconds before beginning movement.

matchRULES• The match will last for three minutes or

until the first robot has exited the ring, whichever occurs first.

• A robot that has exited the ring loses the match

• “Exiting the ring” means having the entirety of the robot cross the white painted line

matchRULES

• If a robot is disabled and hasn’t moved for 15 seconds, it is disqualified.

• Rules for ties will be finalized and announced when the competition format is set

judgingRULES

• Judges will be determined prior to the event of competition

• Robots will be judged on design, creativity, appearance, as well as performance

• The robot that wins the tournament does not necessarily win the competition

• Tournament format will be announced approaching the day of the event

judgingRULES

• The overall winner will receive a cash prize in the range of $300-500.

• Smaller prizes may be awarded to 2nd and 3rd place teams subject to availability

thisWEEK

• Electronics tutorial starts Wednesday at 6:30pm in E5-2004.– All teams must attend– Kits will be distributed

thisWEEK

At ~7:30pm, TWO members from each team will go with us to the Church Lab in E3X to the first soldering tutorial/session.• Lab room cannot fit any more people• Team members are welcome to rotate roles for

future sessions– We will gladly teach concepts to team members

during any lab session– You will not lose out by not attending the first session

questions?

• This presentation is posted on our website• You should check our website often

http://robotics.uwaterloo.ca/