RoboSumo challenge 2010
18th May 2010
A "bout" in the competition, each robot is programmed to seek out their opponent and attempts to push them off the table.
The 2010 RoboSumo challenge, sponsored by Farnell, culminated in a dramatic final tournament last week in Room 007 in DIT Kevin Street. This demanding competition requires students in the School of Electrical Engineering Systems to design, build and program a small robot that is completely autonomous. Working in teams of three, the students build the robots using the type of electrical and electronic components that they are likely to use in industry after they graduate.
Teams of students are required to complete their robots within a tight budget, so recycled materials and parts are often used to supplement those which are purchased. Once built and programmed, the finished robots compete against each other in a dramatic three-hour sumo tournament, in which each robot tries to hunt down its opponent and drive it out of a circular arena. The students are also required to maintain an online design wiki and make presentations relating to the challenge. In addition to 1st and 2nd prize in the overall competition, four prizes were also awarded for the design quality of the robots which, according to head of Department Michael Farrell, were exceptionally strong this year. Prize money was funded by Farnell.
Anthony Kelly and Carlos from sponsors Farnell, present the cheque to Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Michael Farrell.
First prize went to ‘Team PSP’ – Patrick Fay, Peter Kellett and Stephen Kennedy – while ‘Sumo Miriam’ won second prize for James Salisbury, Keith McFadden and Conor Gath.
DT009 students Patrick Fay, Peter Kellett and Stephen Kennedy of Team "PSP" are presented with first prize by Head of Department Michael Farrell.
DT021 students James Salisbury, Keith McFadden and Conor Gath of team "Sumo Miriam" are presented with second prize.
Aidan Higgins, Niall Mulvehill, Mark Bagnall (DT009) of team "McLovin", receive their design prize
Members of team "Byrne Corey Elliott" (DT021) are presented with a design prize by Michael Farrell
DT009 students Daniel Fitzpatrick, David Murphy & Anthony MDonnell of "No Pushover" get their design prize.
John MKenna, Keith Connaughton, Brian Grennan (DT009) receive their desgin prize
The competition is a product of the Engineering Practice and Design PBL module which forms part of the DT021 and DT009 academic programmes in electrical engineering. The module is designed to allow students to combine their knowledge of instrumentation, programming, microprocessors, mechanics to produce an interesting and complex piece of engineering hardware.
The module and competition is now entering its fifth year. It is very popular with students (and staff!) and is being considered for possible inclusion in other academic programmes at DIT. For more details on the competition see http://eleceng.dit.ie/robosumo . The School of Electrical Engineering Systems would like to acknowledge the generous support of Farnell, distributor of electronic, electrical, industrial and maintenance, repair & operations (MRO) products http://ie.farnell.com).
Over the 12 weeks of the Engineering Design and Practice module, students design, build and program autonomous "sumo" robots.
Samples of robot design
