November 13, 2003
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November 13, 2003 |
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Make that 10 different ways, in fact.
Approximately 50 students designed, constructed and programmed Lego-based robots to collect data and instructions, and then solve mathematics problems -- to the delight of their peers -- in the first Intergalactic Robotic Calculating Championships, a friendly competition that culminated a new 10-week introductory design course, taught by professors Bruce Ferguson and David Voltmer. During the competition, the robots entered three distinct areas on a 4 foot-by-8 foot playing field to read randomly-chosen input cards containing barcodes that translated to numbers and a mathematics operator that formed an equation. In Stage 1, the robot's sensors read a digit from 1-9. One of four mathematical operations (+, -, * or /) was recorded in the next stage. In Stage 3, another digit from 1-9 was added to complete the formula. Finally, the robot had to go to communicate the equation's answer to the contest judges. Three teams successfully solved the math equations 5 x 3, 7 x 4 and 3 - 5 within the four-minute time limit. Others need to go back to elementary school, reporting that 8 + 8 = 0 and 2 x 5 = .4. Another robot elected not to answer the equation 3 - 0. "We had some real math demons," cited Ferguson, the contest's master of ceremonies. The robots' performance did not impact a student's grade in the course. The contest was designed to provide the students with a simple means to follow design and problem solving principles in engineering, according to Voltmer, the contest's referee. Some of the robots followed the contest rules in painstaking fashion, making an intricate path around wooden barriers to enter each of the three areas to scan the input cards while gathering data for the equation. Others simply climbed over the 1-inch tall barriers to enter each input area. "There was some creative interpretation of the rules," Ferguson stated. "There were some valiant efforts by the teams to complete the task. Limited battery power and inconsistent mechanical movements doomed some of the efforts." The Pachyderm Team, one of the barrier jumpers, needed just 19 seconds to scan and solve the equation 3 - 5 = (-2). It was the only robot that had to solve a problem that had a negative answer. "We knew that the robot would come up with the correct answer, if it got in the proper position to read the input cards," stated Ryan Sullivan, a computer engineering major. "We went right for the barcode cards. We figured turning around the barriers would take too much time." Joining Sullivan on the project were Cesar Carbajal, Ryan Hart, Vernon McCarroll and Kyle Robinson. Another successful team that pushed the rules' limits was The Unique Mushrooms, whose robot rode atop the outer rail on the edge of the playing field and extended an arm out to scan each input card. Eventually, it answered the equation 7 x 4 = 28, despite rolling off the edge of the field. The robot was disqualified for leaving the playing area, a violation of the rules. The team did receive the Theatrical Award by students attending the contest. As the judges closely looked for the answer, Ferguson told the audience, "Well, it looks like Humpty Dumpty had a great fall!" Laughing along with their classmates were Unique Mushrooms team members Matthew Barnes, Odessa Goedert, Aalap Jha and Sara Page Podolsky. Slow and steady was the route to a successful conclusion for the robot designed by the Wiggity Wak Team. The robot navigated around each barrier and positioned itself meticulously over each input card to form the equation 5 x 3 = 15. The answer was even presented down to correct digit, displayed as 15.0 on the small computer display screen. "This was the first design that we came up with. It was good and we stuck with it," said Chris Biggers, a computer engineering major. Other team members were Jennifer Cain, Marlo Manaloto, Joseph Sudon and Eric Tollefson. The Lords of Valhalla team received the Designer's Choice Award for its unique robot that had two sets of wheels that allowed for movement in perpendicular directions. One set of wheels was used to travel in a north and south direction, while a second set of wheels was lowered for travel in an east and west direction. Other teams had such creative names as Bells & Whistles, Somewhat Damaged, Hulbert's Heroes (in honor of Rose-Hulman President Samuel Hulbert), Busy, Benders and No Ideas. Students could only use parts provided in one Lego Mindstorm kit and six batteries. No parts could be modified. Work on the robots could only be completed during class. The contest was so successful as an educational tool that it will be repeated during the winter quarter, Voltmer said. |
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