The MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) organization runs an underwater robotics competition each year. Each team must submit a technical report detailing thir robot.

The reports from this year have just been posted online. Check them out at this link: Team Reports.

Note: There are two classes: Explorer (for advanced teams) and Ranger (for highschool teams). Check out this You-Tube video about the competition.

This is a great audio file about how Dean Kamen started FIRST, and where it is now.

He even talks about the "WWF for smart people" quote from the President at the 2008 Championship.

Click to listen

Here is a cool video of "Justin", a mobile "humanoid" type robot.

Watch Clip

The Justin robot is impressive for its ability to dynamically and delicately grab and manipulate objects, performing actions such as pouring a glass or twisting off a cap.

Justin is a collaboration between the University of Napoli and the German Space Agency, DLR under a European project called Physical Human-Robot Interaction: Dependability and Safety. The robot has been known to the public for many months now, but has recently jumped into the spotlight based on its exhibition at CeBIT

This recent radio address sent a shiver up my spine.

Radio Address

Here's an extract....

Whether it’s the science to slow global warming; the technology to protect our troops and confront bio-terror and weapons of mass destruction; the research to find life-saving cures; or the innovations to remake our industries and create twenty-first century jobs - today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation. It’s time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore Americas place as the world leader in science and technology.

Our FTC robot is starting to shape up. The puck pickup works pretty well, and now we're actually scoring in Auto Mode.

Here is a fun video below that shows the robot scoring in Autonomous.

Click for Video

I added some fun SuGO game videos to you-tube today.

Check out This Link

If anyone has some other game videos, send them to me and I'll post them as well.

Phil.

On Sat Nov 1st, I'll be presenting information about the new 2009 Control system hardware/software at the Baltimore Area Alliance workshop being held at the Community College of Baltimore County, ESSEX.

This is an alliance of FIRST Robotic Competition teams in the Baltimore area.

I'll be bringing our retrofitted 2007 robot with me, and showing off the new hardware and software.

We've just officially completed the required steps for the Beta Test program, but we'll continue to work with the system and develop training materials.

FTC team 2818 tried their hand at making a puck shooting mechanism this weekend. We wanted to be able to pick the puck up, and deposit into a bin that can be dumped into the scoring mechanism.

This video shows our second attempt.

You-Tube video

In 2009 FIRST is switching to a new control system for their top level Robotics Competition.

To maximize the success of the new hardware and software in 2009, FIRST offered teams the opportunity to help them put the new system through it's paces and identify any isses early, before the season begins.

Team 1629 applied to be included in the Beta-Test program, and cited our proven comittment to getting the most out of our robots when it came to innovative control (winning many control awards, and being included in both FIRST Robotics books)

The Deep Creek Explorer (DCX) is an Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).

I'm coordinating the project, and working with a bunch of kids to get share ideas, demonstrate the physics of underwater robots and train up some ROV pilots.

I've been working the remote control aspect of the DCX. Previous ROV's that the kids have made used dedicated wires to control each motor. One pair of wire for each motor, and then another wire for video starts to get messy.