OMSI Robot Competition
 

Online Resources

Great websites on the topic of mini-sumo robots.

Resources From NASA

http://robotics.nasa.gov/index.html

Featured Resources

Portland Area Robotics Society (PARTS)
http://www.portlandrobotics.org/
Marvin Green, the founder of PARTS, is kindly helping OMSI with our competition. He designed the sample robot, and the PARTS website is a great place to get into robotics. Meetings are on the first Saturday of each month and are open to everyone.

Sine Robotics
http://www.sinerobotics.com/
Run by Bill Harrison, a strong proponent of sumo robots and a resident of the Pacific Northwest! His Marvin Slyder base is featured on our sample robot, and Bill is helping OMSI with our competition.

Medonis Engineering
http://www.medonis.com/
Mark Medonis is here almost every Saturday during the run of the exhibit with his world famous robot, Maxwell!

Other Sumo Sites and Examples of Other Sumo Robots

FSI-All Japan Robot-Sumo Tournament
http://www.fsi.co.jp/sumo-e/index.html
These people are serious about their sumos.

10th All Japan Robot - Sumo Tournament
http://www.huis.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/~nomura/R/rb98m8.html
A few Quicktime movies showing exactly what sumo competitions are all about. Sometimes a bunch of pictures can explain something a lot better than words.

And in This Corner...(Of the Ring?)
http://www.robots.org/sumo_bots.htm
San Francisco Robotics Society of America has a website showing off the entries for the Sumo contest at the Exploratorium in Spring 1999.

K'NEXBOT (K'NEX Robot Sumo)
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encoder/jul99/K'nexbot_P1.htm
Steven D. Kaehler, a member of the Seattle Robotics Society, shows off his sumo robot made from K'NEX parts.

Dave's Sumo Robot project page
http://www.ece.concordia.ca/~dave/project/project.html
Design, construction, and implementation of an autonomous SUMO robot.

Robot Sumo Wrestling - North Yorkshire Style
http://www.cercot.demon.co.uk/SUMO/HOMEPG.HTM
They have a cool site including tips on how to build regular sumo robots (as opposed to mini ones).

Robots in Education

The Parallax Stamps in Class Program
http://www.stampsinclass.com/
"The Stamps in Class program is created and operated by Parallax, Inc., the manufacturer of the BASIC Stamp. The Stamps in Class web site is a collection of curriculum, hardware, and educational ideas about using the BASIC Stamp to teach electronics, microcontroller interfacing, robotics, physics, and interactive art."

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST)
http://www.usfirst.org/
A non-profit organization whose mission is to generate an interest in science and engineering among today's youth. They feature annual robot competitions, so if you want to compete even more, check them out.

Clubs and Organizations

Seattle Robotics Society
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/
They feature competitions open to the public, so any enthusiast can compete without having to be a high school student!

Nashua Robot Builders
http://www.tiac.com/users/bigqueue/others/robot/homepage.htm
They have a cool section called Standard Platform which is a good introduction to the basics of robotics.

SMIDSY - The IXION motorcycle mailing list Robot Wars entry
http://www.smidsy.net/
A little off topic, since Smidsy was an entry in the Robot Wars, not robot sumo, but this site has great documentation of building a robot including the design process and the actual fabrication.

RobotWars, Robot Wars and Dangerous Machines
http://www.dangerousmachines.com/
If you want to get a little more competitive and violent and sensational with your robot projects then check this site out (but never forget the education).

Vendors

Parallax, Inc.
http://www.parallaxinc.com/
The makers of the BASIC Stamp featured on the sample robot. Strong supporters of robots in education. If you have a question about robots in general and the Stamp in particular then check this site out.

Robot Books.com
http://www.robotbooks.com/
"Our job is to sort through the many robotics books available today, and select, review, recommend, and sell, just those few that we feel are the very best. In addition to books, you will also find a selection of robot toys, movies, educational toys, magazines, and robot kits, that you can't find anywhere else on the web."

Lynxmotion
http://www.lynxmotion.com/
"We have made a serious commitment to provide the best robot kits." Check out their Micromouse examples of sumo robots.

OWI
http://www.owirobot.com/
"A Whole New World In Science Kits." OWI donated prizes for the competition!

Electronic Goldmine
http://www.goldmine-elec.com/
Tons of electronic components and generously donated to OMSI for the competition.

Digi-Key
http://www.digikey.com/
Need a part? They have everything needed to put components together.

Acroname
http://www.acroname.com/
Acroname carries the Sharp GP2D15 IR sensor featured on OMSI's sample sumo robot.

Tower Hobbies
http://www.towerhobbies.com/
Many roboticists get equipment from hobby suppliers. Servos used in RC planes, for example can be used to drive robot wheels. Tower Hobbies has great prices for Futaba s3003 servos featured on OMSI's sample sumo robot.

LEGO Mindstorms
http://www.legomindstorms.com/
"The LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System is the most advanced set in the LEGO Company's line of technology-based products. The Robotics Invention System enables kids ages 12 and up to design and program real robots that move, act, and think on their own."

eBLOK
http://www.eblok.com/
Manufacturer of electronic building blocks which are compatible with LEGO Mindstorms kits.

Other

The Robot Menu
http://www.robotics.com/robomenu/
A listing of a bunch of different robot projects. Look at all the different kinds of robots there are!

Portland General Electric's Electron Run
http://www.pge-edsvcs.com/ElectronRun/newpage1.htm
PGE holds electric vehicle races which involve high school and middle/junior high school students. Another great way to learn engineering and design.