UK MICROMOUSE 2010

[slurp]

Birmingham City University have announced that they are pleased to host
UK Micromouse 2010 - their 7th consecutive year.

UK MICROMOUSE 2010
Saturday June 26th
Millennium Point
Birmingham B4 7XG.

http://www.tic.ac.uk/micromouse/

[slurp]

This event is just over 3 months away, who's planning to go?

It would be great to see a good turn out of those UK Minisumo we've seen over the years!

regards,
Colin

[PeterW]

I shall be there as usual.

[slurp]

Peter,

I'll have to bring a small trophy... so you can take it and the offical title of UK MiniSumo champion, unless you're actually beater for a change!

I was thinking about an email prod for those builders we know around the country, it would be nice to see a good turn out.

regards,
Colin

[slurp]

Just had a responce to a post on the Robot Builder Forum from wft62/mike23 to say he's booked his train ticked and intends to bring two minisumo.

Best regards,
Colin

[slurp]

Just picking up from robotwars101 that Sam Rampling (thebeardedone) should be able to make it too....

This could be a good turn out of minisumo

[PeterW]

Just about a month to go I had better get the trio out , dusted off and check they still work.

[slurp]

Just about a month to go I had better get the trio out , dusted off and check they still work.

Yup, one month to go and I'm feeling like I've loads to do... not really tho'

Got to run another wire across the bottom of AFMs PCB to fix a Power Problem and tweak the software for more reliable tracking of opponents. Also need to check Tamiya over, make sure the breadboard circuit is still in place.

The must not forget item is drill a hole in AFMs ballast.... a couple of extra wire have pushed it into over weight!!

I'm looking forward to the event.

Best regards,
colin

[slurp]

Less than a month to go....

Tony is reminding us of the welcome on the Micromouse Forum.

Best regards,
Colin

[Rich]

I will be there God willing

Need to design my sensor PCB and do some frantic programming for it!

[slurp]

frantic programming

I think that's my position to.... I should have kept the same processor on both minisumo - it would have been half the effort!

Still there's a whole week to go!

best regards,
colin

[Rich]

Only just got the hardware platform (sort of) finished. Not having any tools in my flat means my edge sensors are dubiously held on with double sided foam tape, and the main PCB is precariously held on with Velcro.

Touch wood most things are working so far (motor drive & PWM, RS232 RF link from sumo to PC, edge sensors and the accelerometer). Still got to write the low level code for the opponent sensors (assuming the electronics are fine!). Once this is done (hopefully early this evening) I can start bashing out an algorithm to make the thing behave moderately smart.

I will bring it along, hopefully I can enter – very doubtful how well it is going to do at the moment but it is a work in progress

[slurp]

It's a mad rush to the line!

Don't worry, it'll still be worth giving it a whirl even if it's not running 100% to spec. At the very least you'll give the hardware a shake down, may get some "real" sensor testing and you'll be in a better place to tweak towards the next event.

Besides you may be surprised about how poorly my sensors are running and get a boost by trashing me!

best regards,
Colin

[Rich]

I doubt this will thrash anyone in its current state

Only just got the sensors (sort of) running, and one is not very responsive at all. Also one wheel is a bit wonky (RW2i) so traction is not great when one of the wheels lifts off the surface (4wd). May have to buy some more wheels to hopefully get some that are true ish! The rubber moulding for the tire does not help either there is a good mm or two between everyone.

Its been a fun build though , sensor problem was my amplifier stage saturating the ADC inputs. Making the opamp a follower soon solved that problem. Still need to add some ballast and program a beahavior code later - all good fun. May still be programming on the morning if "tinker time" (like Scrapheap haha) is allowed.

[PeterW]

I have just noticed that teams from Woodlands Ring School and St. Josephs Institution from Singapore are entred.
Last time they came I think it was 2008 they had 5 or 6 minisumo's with them and they were no push over if you will excuse the pun.