Sumobots

#What is a sumo bot? Fully autonomous robot designed to push another sumo bot out of a circular ring while also keeping itself inside the ring. The ring is usually a white ring around the outside edge of a flat black circle “arena”. The bot should have detectors underneath to “see” this outside white ring and react accordingly. It might even have other sensors to find the other robot to push them out.

The idea and rules can be found here: Sumobot and repeated below:

Robot-sumo is a competition where two opposing autonomous robots try to push each other out of a ring, like sumo-wrestlers. There are many engineering challenges in designing these robots, like avoiding the edge of the ring, detecting opponents, and using mechanical mechanisms to gain an advantage over the oppenent. Sumo robots are generally inexpensive and easy to get started with, so even if you’ve never built a robot before, you can learn the necessary skills to put one together rather quickly.

#The Rules ##Matches - Each match consists of two competing autonomous robots, each belonging to a team of one or more members. - The number and pairing of matches will be determined based on the total number of teams. - A match will consist of up to three rounds, not counting restarts. - The first robot to win two rounds will win the match. - Before the start of each match each contestant will bow towards each as a gesture of good will. - At the end of each match, contestants will remove their robots and bow towards each other again.

##The Ring - The Sumo Ring will be a 77cm diameter, 2.5cm thick wooden circular disc, painted dull black. - There is a 2.5cm thick white ring painted around the edge of the ring. - Two brown parallel starting lines will each be painted 5cm from the center of the ring. - There will be an area outside of the ring (known as the “Outside Area”) that is at least 50cm wide that will be clear of objects, people, and anything else other than a non-white floor. - Team members must remain outside of this area while a match is taking place.

##Robots ###Size and Weight

A robot may be no larger than 10cm wide and 10cm deep, but may be any height.
A 10x10cm square tube will be used to measure the size of competing robots.
A robot may weigh no more than 500 grams, including all attachments and parts.

###Components

No remote-control mechanisms may be use to provide input or data to the robot during the match; it must be completely autonomous.
A button, remote-control, IR beam, etc. may be used to start the robot at the beginning of a match, or to disable the robot after the match has finished.
Robots may not separate into multiple pieces after the start of a match.
Robots may not use IR LEDs for the purpose of jamming another robot’s IR sensors.
Robots may not use parts that might damage the ring or other robots.
A judge may ask that a sharp ramp or scoop be covered with electrical tape to prevent damage.
A robot may not use fire, liquid, powder, air, or object that is thrown at the opponent’s robot.
Robots may not use sticky wheels, vacuums, or any other method to increase downward force on the ring.
Robots may not leave any paint, powder, or residue on the ring.

##Rounds ###Starting

Both contestants prepare for the start of the round by placing their fingers on the team’s robot’s start button and waiting for the referee’s signal.
If there is a problem before the referee gives the signal, the contestant may alert the referee and make adjustments as necessary.
When the referee gives the signal, both contestants will press the start button and leave the ring and the “Outside Area” withing 5 seconds.
The robots may not move within those 5 seconds, but may blink lights, beep, sing, or perform any other non-movement actions to indicate the robot is preparing to start the round.
After the 5 seconds, the robot may start moving and the round has begun.

###Ending

The round will end whenever one of the following conditions are met:
Any part of one of the robots has touched the area outside of the ring (“Outside Area”). The first robot to touch the outside will lose the round.
Any part of one of the robots has touched the side of the ring.
One of the contestants calls for the round to be stopped for any reason. The contestant that calls for a stop will lose that round.
A robot that has not moved in the last 30 seconds. The non-moving robot will be declared the loser of the round.
The judge calls the restart of the round for one of the following reasons:
Three minutes have elapsed after the start of the round.
No evident progress has been made after an amount of time.
The robots fail to touch each other after an amount of time.
The robots become attached or stuck to each other for an amount of time.
If the judge does not believe that a restarted round will end in either robot losing, the judge may declare a winner based on the robots’ technical merits and the contestants’ sportsmanlike behavior.
If any parts totaling more than 5 grams falls off a robot during a match, that robot will be declared the loser of the round.
After the end of each round, contestants will retrieve their robots and immediately prepare for the next round.

#Members involved The following members are interested in building a sumo bot to enter into competitions locally and regionally.

Josh Pritt aka RAMGarden: Can help with all aspects including body, motors, controllers, sensors, and embedded programming.
Your name here!