sumobot mat

madroboter9000

how do i make my own sumobot arena?


most simplest....most cheapest way?

give step by step direction thx

Franklin

If you want the rules they are online several places (just Google) If you want to know how I'd use a black vinyl or rubber piece from the flooring store and paint for the marks.

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- Stephen

Chris Savage

This thread is being moved from the BASIC Stamp Forum to the Robotics Forum.

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

Jonathan

HI,

I've never been able to find the "official" vinyl that one is supposed to use. Apparently, not many people in the US have an official ring. What I use is a plywood ring. I used epoxy paint on my second, as the regular paint was getting chipped on the first.

Jonathan



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www.madlabs.info - Home of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Robot

Jonathan

Also Mad, if you got your 'bot working, it would be nice if you posted in the thread that you started. Folks like to know, and it is considered polite.

Jonathan

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www.madlabs.info - Home of the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Robot

Larry

Jonathan said...
HI,

I've never been able to find the "official" vinyl that one is supposed to use. Apparently, not many people in the US have an official ring. What I use is a plywood ring. I used epoxy paint on my second, as the regular paint was getting chipped on the first.

Jonathan

In about 2000, I built 10 rings for the Portland Area Robotics Society. At the time, the vinyl in question was not available in Portland, where I live, so I substituted Wilsonart flat black plastic laminate (909, I think) and it has proven to be very durable. I think all of those rings are still in good enough shape to use, and showing little wear, despite hundred of contests. a couple will be needing touchup on the white lines one of these years.

The surface is very similar in performance to the vinyl in question, that is, the same robots win here as win on the "Official" surface the Seattle club uses. The robots are light enough that surface "give" doesn't really come into play.The The vinyl was originally specified in Japan, where it is common, but I don't think they use it anymore, as the surface wasn't durable enough for use by robots with magnetic or vacuum hold down devices.

Some folks use 30" black Melamine rounds that were sometimes available at Home Depot or Lowes. The surface is marginally slicker, but doesn't seem give any advantage to one robot or another when compared to ones above or to painted rings. All you'll need to do is paint the while line on the board. Just make sure you let the paint cure a week or more before you try to use it, and maybe scuff up the melamine with steel wool where you prime and paint. Paint doesn't stick to melamine very well.

There's also a tutorial on building a ring at www.robotroom.com. You'll save some work if you just buy the MDF 30" round.

Use whatever ring you can put together. The proof is in the robot, not the ring.


As to rules, you can find some in several places. www.robothon.org and www.pdxbot.org are two places to start. You'll find both sets of rules are nearly identical. While you are there, check out the galleries for ideas on your next robot.

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Whit

Thanks Larry for the great response and interesting links.

I don't know how good this is, but I found it listed on David Cook's Robot Room site - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/007222617X/m-20

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Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Post Edited (Whit) : 7/3/2007 9:02:39 PM GMT