Surprising Micromouse Robot Using a Video Camera instead of Normal Sensors (Video)
We weren't able to capture a lot of video showing the surprisingly well designed micromouse robot that uses a video camera instead of the more normal LED/sensor pairs. So, we decided to split the footage and insert a description of the design and how it works.
Notice how the robot doesn't need to go down a lot of blind alleys. It just glances down them quickly determining whether or not they are worth exploring.
Micromouse Builders Share Observations On The 2010 Japan Competition (Video)
After the 31st All Japan Micromouse Robot Competition wrapped up on Sunday night a group of us headed over to a local restaurant to relax and debrief. David Otten, Harjit Singh, and Peter Harrison share their observations and opinions on what took place during the event:
Faces are all around us…
Why do we find robot faces to be particularly scary or frightening when there are faces all around us?
Drain cover in a park near the Robots Dreams HQ:
Autumn leaf in the same park:
NAO Humanoid Robot Developer Program by Invitation Only
Aldebaran Robotics, world famous for the NAO humanoid robot, has opened their NAO Developer Program and is looking for the worlds best developers to become insiders in this exciting new robotics community. Participation is by 'invitation only' via developer members that include the top online robot blogs and forums selected by the Aldebaran management.
Robots Dreams has three NAO Developer Program Invitations to hand out (see below). This is a rare opportunity, not to be taken lightly. Please make sure that you are familiar with the program requirements, commitments, and opportunities before contacting us for one of the invitations.
According to the official NAO Developer Program posting, Aldebaran is looking for participants that fit the following profile:
- Participate in a privileged international community of pioneer developers!
- Each candidate must pass a programming test to ensure the highest level of skills.
- Only 200 of the best developers from around the world will be selected to participate.
- The “Happy Few” Developer Program members:
have excellent programming skills
are motivated by creativity
are visionary
are entrepreneurs
enjoy challenges - The NAO Developer Program relies on a collaborative effort:
- Together with Aldebaran Robotics you will develop your NAO’s personality and behaviors.
- Exchange developments with the community!
- Share developments that are integrated into NAO through behavior channels by theme (examples include entertainment, gaming, humor,…you can even create your own channels by personality style).
- Sell your behavior applications to Aldebaran Robotics clients using the online NaoStore!
What will you receive and what are the benefits?
- Access to the latest developments and innovations in humanoid robotics technology as it is advanced by the community. Access to the code, SDK, dedicated website, and prototypes from Aldebaran Robotics.
- A NAO robot. Keep in mind that NAO isn't available to the general public, but that is a stated goal of the company, so this is a chance to be a part of that exciting initiative.
- The complete suite of software specifically designed for NAO development including NaoQi, Choregraphe, SDK, high level modules and low level access to NAO's sensors and actuators, Telepathe (collects data from NAO's sensors), and NAOsim (3D simulator).
- Access to the NAO Developer Program website supporting the international community of 200 top developers that qualify for the program including code versioning tools, wiki, bug tracker, collaborative workspace, data repository, and more.
- Privileged access to important Aldebaran Robotics source code.
- Early access to the NAOstore to share and sell applications to other developers and customers.
As we mentioned above, this is a fantastic opportunity, and involves a serious commitment. In order to participate you need to get an invitation from a developer member, like Robots Dreams, pass pre-screening by Aldebaran Robotics, and there is a program fee of 3600 Euros entry fee that includes the robot and all the other material and support defined by the program.
If you're up to the challege, and want to be a part of this exciting select community, contact us at Robots Dreams NAO Developer Program Invitation.
Kato Wins the 31st Micromouse Robot Expert Class! (Video)
The pressure was incredibly intense yesterday for the Expert Class finals at the 31st All Japan Micromouse Robot Competition. The event, held once a year, is the longest continuously running micromouse competition in the world and draws top robot builders, and attention, from around the globe. In recent years the strongest competitors have flown in from Singapore and have managed to capture the top positions in this premier event. Characteristically, the “home team” crowd here has been very polite, respectful, and honored the overseas robot designers with accolades and admiration. But, at the same time, it has been easy to see that they have been anxious to recapture the top prize for Japan.
Last year they came within a hairs-breath of making that dream a reality. Kato-san, a young Japanese micromouse builder who also excels at designing top level line followers and half-size micromouse robots, almost managed to win the championship, but failed due to what turned out to be a fairly minor programming problem. Over the past 12 months Kato fine tuned and perfected his approach, and performed extremely well in the regional competitions leading up to yesterday's final. Micromouse fans, us included, have been closely following his progress. We don't know for sure whether or not the Japanese place any side-bets on robot competitions, but if they do, this particular event would have been the one to draw all the action.
Needless to say, all eyes were on Kato yesterday afternoon, and he certainly didn't disappoint the crowds.
The initial maze mapping run was absolutely perfect. His mouse does the mapping at a speed faster than many robots are able to achieve during their final speed runs. The only heart stopping moment was when Kato's robot paused for a bit towards the end of mapping run to digest all the data it had accumulated and calculate the optimum path. Even Kato was a bit concerned that something might have gone awry, as you can see in the video.
His first speed run of 4.942 seconds was strong, and would have captured the title in previous years. Heading back into the maze for the second speed run he set the bar even higher achieving 4.693 seconds. His final two attempts turned out to be a little too aggressive and resulted in high speed crashes, but in the end no other competitor could touch him.
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