24 Robotics Competitions part8 SAE Walking Machine Decathalon
Description
This article is from the Robotics FAQ, by Kevin Dowling nivek@cs.cmu.edu with numerous contributions by others.
24 Robotics Competitions part8 SAE Walking Machine Decathalon
The Ninth Annual SAE National Robotic Walking Machine Decathlon
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado April 6-9, 1995
Registration deadline is December 31, 1994.
Colorado State University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
National Walking Machine Decathlon
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
tel: 303.491.6559
fax: 303.491.1055
net: [49]
walk@LANCE.ColoState.Edu
[50]http://www.lance.colostate.edu/~chriso/walking.html
or[51]ftp://bill.lance.colostate.edu:/pub/
If you do not have access to the WWW and you would like a text copy of
the brochure, send email and I'll mail you a copy. Chris Olson
[52]chriso@lance.colostate.edu
Registration deadline: December 31, 1994
Decathalon: The decathlon is a national competition sponsored by SAE to involve
undergraduate engineers in the creative design of machines that walk.
The competition includes preparation and presentation of a paper,
judging of over-all design merits, and the ten walking events. Judges
are representatives >from the robotics industry. Social events, a
keynote speaker, and tours are also provided. A detailed rules and
registration packet is available.
Team Spirit: This competition emphasizes collaboration of engineering
disciplines in a teamwork environment. It encourages students to be
organized, to cooperate, and to share knowledge from their respective
fields, resulting in an experience that closely models the real-world
workplace.
What is a walking machine? A walking machine is a mobile machine
propelled by articulated mechanisms, or "legs." Each leg must have
one or more joints or hinges by which it moves relative to all other
legs or the frame, supporting the machine discontinuously. A leg may
pivot, slip, or slide on the supporting surface during walking motion,
but it cannot roll. Wheeled or tracked vehicles are excluded.
Walking machines have potential applications in space exploration,
undersea missions, mining, radioactive and other dangerous
environments, the military, and mobility for the handicapped.
Judging and Awards Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams
based on total points accumulated. All teams will receive recognition
awards.
History: The National Robotic Walking Machine Decathlon was initiated
in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Colorado State University
in 1986. The idea was to create a student design competition at the
cutting edge of technology with an emphasis on design. In eight years
it has gone from a competition in which none of the four machines
present were able to complete the first event, to one where there are
some very capable machines completing all ten events, and in which
there is close competition. The events themselves continue to evolve
to reflect relevant applications of robotics technology. The events
traditionally have included such tasks as stair climbing, maneuvering
through obstacles, and autonomous sensor guidance.
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