SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-29T08:27:30-06:00SparkFun Electronicsproject240dotnet on AVC Recapproject240dotneturn:uuid:ed689aba-380d-913e-0a2a-3fde5845e2862011-04-30T00:10:25-06:00<p>I just posted a page describing my robot strategy this year - which proved to be remarkably unsuccessful.<br>
<a href="http://www.project240.net/auton/avc2011/sparkfun_avc_2011.html" rel="nofollow">Project 240 AVC Summary</a><br>
I've also started compiling a table of some of the features of the ground robot entries in section 5.<br>
<a href="http://www.project240.net/auton/avc2011/sparkfun_avc_2011.html#section5" rel="nofollow">Ground Robot Comparison</a><br>
Could I ask for some details from your robot so I can add to the page?<br>
Who are the other team contacts for SparkFun teams?</p>
Larius on AVC RecapLariusurn:uuid:e8fa4e1a-b526-e29c-acc1-99771f71b3d22011-04-29T08:00:08-06:00<p>There's nothing strange about gorillas! Wait, is it a female gorilla?</p>
John Price on AVC RecapJohn Priceurn:uuid:8983b232-b736-9ce4-c8a2-77718bb6f03a2011-04-29T06:15:03-06:00<p>Sneak out the night before and paint a UV line around the track?</p>
John Price on AVC RecapJohn Priceurn:uuid:beef1d54-e433-2887-45c6-c2ba1751b4392011-04-29T06:10:35-06:00<p>Hmmm, this IS Sparkfun, how about crowd control robots along the track (I am envisioning Spykee, on steroids, with a badge), THEY can announce the race, ask people to stay back. You can save your voice and make some fun toys to boot.</p>
Blacklab1 on AVC RecapBlacklab1urn:uuid:79b450bc-d09a-f31f-f182-80f53951adac2011-04-29T02:45:21-06:00<p>I think he needs to work on the weather proofing for his rig. It's one banana short of dry. You do have to love this weather: SNOW in April. Too bad the guy with the snow plow didn't show up. The only thing that could top the snow in sunny down town Boulder (OK. south east of down town), would have it blowing 120 MPH too. Then you could require the rigs to get their power from the wind.<br>
PS- We are sending you more snow from ‘warm’ Seattle.</p>
Vampist on AVC RecapVampisturn:uuid:bcd58d6a-8444-4a5d-67a2-ad31b62d8efe2011-04-29T01:35:31-06:00<p>Got to love how he mentions the females but totally missed the gorilla.</p>
elmer_fud on AVC Recapelmer_fudurn:uuid:52ff9876-2cc7-c74c-295a-4321489479f32011-04-28T22:03:17-06:00<p>I had fun this year and hope to be back next year with a robot that makes it around the building (third times the charm)</p>
ScottH on AVC RecapScottHurn:uuid:e1d06415-6e1f-137a-bde1-4d16dae763d92011-04-28T18:56:29-06:00<p>Here's some of the video I took at the event. Check the mass start!<br>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6-ng7DFRRA</p>
MuskratMicros on AVC RecapMuskratMicrosurn:uuid:dced5f5f-fadc-a918-939c-060b78a687782011-04-28T18:38:04-06:00<p>odd.. women at a robotics event raises more interest then the gorilla in the bleachers? Now that's saying something!</p>
sgrace on AVC Recapsgraceurn:uuid:ac4a4c79-38a2-5b3e-9130-23c82833b3dc2011-04-28T18:01:59-06:00<p>Just wanted to say, I was at AVC and it was fun! Except for the part where Plan B's plan attacked me twice!<br>
Skynet was after me...</p>
RobertC. on AVC RecapRobertC.urn:uuid:864633f9-e3c5-1072-3564-6abe2674c52f2011-04-28T17:18:25-06:00<p>We had crowd control, but people just got too excited and distracted. We will have better crowd control next year. My voice got hoarse by the end of the day and I couldn't yell at people anymore.</p>
Daniel.cltn on AVC RecapDaniel.cltnurn:uuid:796bb66b-96c2-8e9f-afbd-82402f38ae592011-04-28T17:16:40-06:00<p>I guess so. But couldn't the humans just be considered another obsatcle to avoid?</p>
TeslaFan on AVC RecapTeslaFanurn:uuid:d47c3de3-bbcb-651b-e19d-88950b22db0f2011-04-28T16:59:22-06:00<p>Yeah, there were way too many people on the course during the runs. One of the problems was it was difficult to know what was going on unless you were actually following the competition. The band just kept playing on during the runs.<br>
The band should stop and the PA system used to follow the run, complete with instructions to get off the course.</p>
MattQ on AVC RecapMattQurn:uuid:5c12a9e5-f2f4-d7f3-a83d-0c0cef147b512011-04-28T16:02:55-06:00<p>I know a lot of the racers have websites that give more details in to their design, any chance of getting a compiled list of websites? I would be interested in seeing how each racer attempted the same challenge differently.</p>
MattQ on AVC RecapMattQurn:uuid:a93cd7c3-67c9-dc9a-ae98-abfff2c990712011-04-28T16:01:41-06:00<p>The only problem with building some kind of wall would be that then robots might not end up in the lake -- the highlight of the race.</p>
jessejay on AVC Recapjessejayurn:uuid:1469749d-f007-7600-00cb-e5ae4714156b2011-04-28T15:48:32-06:00<p>Looking at the video, I feel the same way. There needs to be a clear divider between the audience and the competition. The only people allow on course during runs are the competitors and the judges. Everyone else should be kept far enough away to not interfere with runs, and also for their safety. The flying vehicles especially seem dangerous, I'm sure the AMA would cringe about planes flying above people, or flying into a crowd of people!</p>
Ted M on AVC RecapTed Murn:uuid:80be1821-317e-fb12-a69b-ff75abc4cb662011-04-28T15:20:38-06:00<p>Start early. Don't rely on GPS alone.</p>
RobertC. on AVC RecapRobertC.urn:uuid:13b15c01-960b-9440-33e0-19edfe98f4d32011-04-28T14:41:56-06:00<p>We have that, his name's Gregg.</p>
IllogicGate on AVC RecapIllogicGateurn:uuid:5720fecc-600b-dab1-1229-06983589ecd92011-04-28T13:59:21-06:00<p>Ooh! How about an autonomous bot that doesn't compete, just takes video?</p>
IllogicGate on AVC RecapIllogicGateurn:uuid:d644b7d1-11c4-1389-81f7-31d20dcf07d02011-04-28T13:57:30-06:00<p>Unfortunately.</p>
IllogicGate on AVC RecapIllogicGateurn:uuid:8c168461-4acd-0618-9d0e-92a477f4da862011-04-28T13:55:19-06:00<p>I think people should either stay off the track or run the 'bots one at a time, so that obstacle-avoidance sensors don't get all confused. AND SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T JUST WALK STUPIDLY IN FRONT OF THE CARS DURING RUNS SO THAT THE BOTS CRASH AND THEN THEY DON'T FEEL THE HIT AND JUST STAY LOST IN THEIR COFFEE!!!!</p>
sentryGun53 on AVC RecapsentryGun53urn:uuid:6a6ed5d0-fba0-1159-3ef1-975a52ec67372011-04-28T13:35:24-06:00<p>Congrats to everybody who competed!<br>
Any tips from the competitors and spectators, for those of us who will be doing the AVC for the first time next year? Thanks!</p>
dksmall on AVC Recapdksmallurn:uuid:e7ea297a-72b6-d5cb-94de-4e6f6d7227f22011-04-28T13:29:00-06:00<p>How about really good looking females wearing flip-flops while it's snowing. Is that strange enough for you? :-)</p>
SomeGuy123 on AVC RecapSomeGuy123urn:uuid:8c1fc315-8173-4787-fb5c-42162c7d05a92011-04-28T13:11:58-06:00<p>But a lot of them don't use their degrees. Many of those doctorate candidates become 'at home moms.'</p>
MattQ on AVC RecapMattQurn:uuid:a39fd040-9480-9b96-09f3-a500c24004fe2011-04-28T12:32:39-06:00<p>This is awesome and inspiring. I'm going to have to start putting stuff together and finding some east coast rallies to attend :)</p>
Ted M on AVC RecapTed Murn:uuid:52731bbb-2b12-9c3a-f978-76ea5b6f6d4b2011-04-28T12:27:27-06:00<p>"Hot nerd girls"<br>
And yet the best dressed award went to a guy in a monkey suit?!?</p>
Customer #25750 on AVC RecapCustomer #25750urn:uuid:7b9c2d3e-65a7-1760-a4cd-c6c72507e9de2011-04-28T12:15:56-06:00<p>Wait a minute.......<br>
Hot nerd girls????</p>
RobertC. on AVC RecapRobertC.urn:uuid:ea413ed8-5f41-ac5f-f6af-2c199d750cc52011-04-28T12:13:41-06:00<p>hehe, no kidding. and it worked at least half of the time too!</p>
uknative on AVC Recapuknativeurn:uuid:e07898fa-c97d-d8b6-1cb2-4b75c846bfe82011-04-28T12:10:10-06:00<p>Looks like a great time. Maybe next year I'll be able to attend.</p>
Emcee Grady on AVC RecapEmcee Gradyurn:uuid:db81ee86-c420-8f9b-5fbd-5c97d131069b2011-04-28T11:52:28-06:00<p>I'm working on gathering all the times right now. I'll post them up as soon as I get them in my paws.</p>
jleichty on AVC Recapjleichtyurn:uuid:81fb6fa1-6f17-35a0-5ef2-5f4732d87bd12011-04-28T11:41:42-06:00<p>I'd like to see the full results too!</p>
Larius on AVC RecapLariusurn:uuid:96190e56-5eb6-3b93-6358-51a05ffa68a22011-04-28T11:40:49-06:00<p>From Merriam-Webster Dictionary:<br>
"...<br>
a : not before known, heard, or seen : unfamiliar<br>
b : exciting wonder or awe : extraordinary<br>
..."<br>
These 2 definitions seem to fit well, at least in this community :)</p>
MattQ on AVC RecapMattQurn:uuid:d990ad7f-d664-e75f-7786-47a27fdef4842011-04-28T11:36:42-06:00<p>About 1 in 10 doctorate candidates in engineering are women, about 3 in 10 doctorate candidates in science are women, and these are just figures from 2003 (from livescience.com). Science: it's not a boys club anymore.</p>
CF on AVC RecapCFurn:uuid:edffed55-3a43-f806-a45c-758204d86b122011-04-28T11:21:42-06:00<p>Man, whatever you do, don't mess with that Robert guy!<br>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkfun/5655416986/in/photostream" rel="nofollow">www.flickr.com/</a></p>
Ted M on AVC RecapTed Murn:uuid:7cceb817-8545-113c-028a-523a5697340c2011-04-28T11:12:41-06:00<p>Yeah, best times would be really cool to see!</p>
Gravis on AVC RecapGravisurn:uuid:9f6e7487-50a8-3027-49fe-846d62fbfcd62011-04-28T11:03:24-06:00<p>what were the best times? more info about the contenders please! >_<</p>
eewestcoaster on AVC Recapeewestcoasterurn:uuid:9a9bfcd5-7767-37f0-7eb8-84b7329979552011-04-28T11:01:30-06:00<p>Fair enough - let's swap "strange" for "awesome and unexpected"</p>
RobertC. on AVC RecapRobertC.urn:uuid:609c924d-ea53-5398-3103-cf9400c936702011-04-28T10:58:12-06:00<p>I don't think we're selling AVC swag this year at all... We still have stock from last year.</p>
RobertC. on AVC RecapRobertC.urn:uuid:b0298045-0209-0afe-7151-8c1d1832cdc52011-04-28T10:57:31-06:00<p>There's nothing strange about females!</p>
Toni_K on AVC RecapToni_Kurn:uuid:a8dc5b8f-269e-f0d3-740e-fcae67db27c02011-04-28T10:48:06-06:00<p>Wow, our car really did go aim for ankles! Thanks for posting the links to the videos!</p>
eewestcoaster on AVC Recapeewestcoasterurn:uuid:19ec360c-9ed5-eee7-350c-dbcd3d0e7f902011-04-28T10:47:37-06:00<p>I did notice something strange in the first picture...<br>
Females. :)</p>
Ted M on AVC RecapTed Murn:uuid:fb3df632-6da4-8ca7-fbfb-0757205536a02011-04-28T10:41:18-06:00<p>So, how many ground / air vehicles actually showed up?<br>
Also, it would be really cool to see a list of all of the entries with pictures, if possible =)</p>
Emcee Grady on AVC RecapEmcee Gradyurn:uuid:7a9e0a44-0d0c-0eeb-c398-9e78cb37f9432011-04-28T10:36:39-06:00<p>I think his <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkfun/5655410890/in/photostream" rel="nofollow">costume</a> put him over the top for best dressed. Here is a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparkfun/5655410286/in/photostream" rel="nofollow">picture of his vehicle</a>.</p>
madkayaker on AVC Recapmadkayakerurn:uuid:cf1512d3-63c0-25d9-6314-ab3aac6c853c2011-04-28T10:23:45-06:00<p>Can we get a picture (if one is available) of Dr. Zeus' Magical Flaming Banana?</p>
No-one on AVC RecapNo-oneurn:uuid:51dc1f4f-242d-d7ee-e106-432e9ebffab92011-04-28T10:13:37-06:00<p>Where can we get an AVC t-shirt from and when are you going to start selling the AVC 2011 poster?</p>
HelicopterGuy on AVC RecapHelicopterGuyurn:uuid:5daa315b-4fbe-ba2f-2926-45c8d36133762011-04-28T10:13:05-06:00<p>Another great day at SFE! Thanks so much to everyone there. It was amazing to see how far the ground vehicles have come in just one year. Times were incredibly fast. Kudos to everyone that that put soldering tip to PCB, all the teams were great.</p>
project240dotnet on AVC Recapproject240dotneturn:uuid:bcd4f455-4a24-c10c-fe7e-f1d66f2ebbab2011-04-28T10:05:21-06:00<p>AVC 2011 was spectacular, thanks again to the staff and competitors for an outstanding event.<br>
I gave up trying to get my robot working so I can enjoy watching the third heat. Several of the ground robot teams were willing to let me mount (fleetingly) my GoPro on their cars. Here's a video that shows some of the onboard footage - most notably from inside the gaping jaws of AV Saurus Rex:<br>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHqUfRfsPJ0" rel="nofollow">Onboard Video - Ground Races</a><br>
I also drove around manually during the mass start with onboard video:<br>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxUS-EMvqrk" rel="nofollow">Onboard Video - Mass Start</a><br>
It is telling that many of the vehicles disappeared from frame quite quickly on the mass start. Next year I imagine it will no longer be possible to run behind and keep up with the fastest ground robots.</p>