BrickWorld Chicago: 2012

[inxt-generation]

Sorry, I think I typed up a reply, and it seems like it got lost.

Displaying competition robots is very tough. Even at a place like this, you tend to spend more time talking about the playfield and rules, than the cool parts of the robot & robot design.

My approach, build stuff that displays well.

I'll warn you right now, 75% of the people that pass by, won't really think much about your stuff (actually, about robots, not just your robots). However, there will be a handful of us who will appreciate them.

Remember that, and don't be offended by the people who simply don't understand what it is.

See you in <checks the web site> 23 days!
Steve

Thanks, Steve What do you think about running videos of my larger creations? I've had success at past events with Chibots showing a video loop of My FlexPicker and last years sumo. Also, now I could include the "Bucket 'o' Bricks" sorter, which got featured on the RobotC.net Blog!

Technically, 22 days, 15 hours, and 16 minutes!

[hassenplug]

Yes, the video would be good.

I'm not counting the hours, like you, because I still have stuff to build, and that's simply a deadline...

Steve

[inxt-generation]

Yes, the video would be good.

I'm not counting the hours, like you, because I still have stuff to build, and that's simply a deadline...

Steve

Okay, thanks for the input.

Neither am I. I just counted them for that one thing. Kinda like a virtual face-slap to get me moving. I've still got like 5 robots to make..... Uggh. Where has the time gone?

[hassenplug]

Things to do before Brickworld:
1) Build 1 or 2 LEGO Derby cars
2) Rebuild a Boat for the boat race
3) Build a "Satellite Repair" robot
4) Replace the batteries on my Sumo robot
5) Get parts ready for the BOTS challenge
6) Make sure Super Robo Rally is ready to run.

less than 23 days left.

Steve

[inxt-generation]

MY things to do:
1) Build my Pin-Axle derby car
2) Finish programming RCX Sumo
3) Finish building NXT Sumo
4) Finish building Mechanical Sumo
5) Finish building Mechanical Satellite repair 'bot
6) Make GBC modules
7) Make something for Future City
8) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[inxt-generation]

BRICKWORLD STATUS UPDATE:

I've finished constructing my NXT sumo, and programming my RCX one. I've got some ideas for the satellite repair bot, and for GBC. Also, MindSensors is sending me a couple of their new GlideWheels to test out! For free! I'll certainly be bringing them. Also, I should have a prototype of the All-in-one pneumatic system I mentioned a while back(note: back in that thread when I said that I had "ordered" the parts, I meant that I was going to order them. They arrived at my dad's office today[cheaper to ship there], but he forgot to bring them home with him ). So, that's about a third of the things I need to get done. Yay.

[inxt-generation]

BRICKWORLD STATUS UPDATE AGAIN:

Working on GBC.
Working on all-in-one pneumatic prototype.
Finally got a real sumo table, so now I can program my NXT sumo.
Working on mechanical sumo.
Working on pipe-climber.

Hope I make it....

Oh, also I have a new computer! An HP Pavilion g6-1d46dx. It has quad-core AMD A6 processor with embedded HD graphics, 6G of RAM (well, now. It came with 4G) , integrated BlueTooth, HDMI output, VGA output, 500G hard drive, and a subwoofer (I think). This is a MAJOR improvement over my previous computer. It was a decade-old WinXP dinosaur. Only 1G of RAM, 100G hard drive, one of the earliest Pentium processors, and it was S.L.O.W. It would've been pretty much unusable if not for the graphics card. Pretty much the best it could handle. Now, I can have multiple monitors! And that's cool. Also, I've been able to try Win-8 now that I have a big enough hard drive. Yay for me!

[hassenplug]

Things to do before Brickworld:
1) Build 1 or 2 LEGO Derby cars
2) Rebuild a Boat for the boat race
3) Build a "Satellite Repair" robot
4) Replace the batteries on my Sumo robot
5) Get parts ready for the BOTS challenge
6) Make sure Super Robo Rally is ready to run.

What have *I* done to get ready?
1) no
2) no
3) built version 2 last night.
4) no
5) no
6) batteries are charged

It doesn't seem like I'm ready. We leave tomorrow morning.

Steve

[inxt-generation]

MY things to do:
1) Build my Pin-Axle derby car
2) Finish programming RCX Sumo
3) Finish building NXT Sumo
4) Finish building Mechanical Sumo
5) Finish building Mechanical Satellite repair 'bot
6) Make GBC modules
7) Make something for Future City
8) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Almost.
2. Yes.
3. Yes. Almost finished programming.
4. No. Canceled.
5. No. I'll probably be finishing it at BrickWorld.
6. Yes-ish. I need balls to test, so it'll have to be at BrickWorld.
7. No.

I've got a Arduino prototype for my all-in-one pneumatic thing, so far minimal functionality. Yep, todays gonna be a midnighter for sure.

[hassenplug]

Brickworld has come and gone all too fast. inxt-generation sent me some video clips from the robot rescue, which I assembled and put on You Tube:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBiO5g-BwOM
It was another fun event.

Steve