The Iowa State team and their robot.
	The University of Rochester team and their robot.

Overview

Teams from the University of Rochester and Iowa State University are asked to design and build a robot that can (1) maneuver inside a holding pen and (2) catch and contain as many robotic rodents as possible. Rochester designs a robot with a pneumatic flap that sweeps rodents up into a dishwasher-tray storage-bin. Iowa State constructs a robot with a rodent-retrieving mechanism consisting of two spinning wheels to serve as mechanical rat-catchers. Iowa State's "Cy III" is a beautiful machine, but suffers a mechanical setback in the competition. Rochester's "Rat Snatcher" walks away with the win and advances to the next round of competition and one step closer to the Robot Rivalschampionship.

The Teams

University of Rochester

Tom Kollar, Senior, Computer Science
Geoff Dawson, Freshman, Computer Science
Eric Lunin, Senior, Environmental Engineering

Iowa State University

Ryan Richter, Senior, Manufacturing Engineering
John Hughes, Junior, Manufacturing Engineering
Axel Stromberg, Senior, Manufacturing Engineering

	The Iowa team's...um...design.
	Iowa's robot.
	Rochester at work constructing their robot.
	Iowa's ratcatching robot.
	Let the rodent-wrangling begin.

The Designs

Rochester designed a robot with two main drive wheels, two castors up front, and a pneumatic flap to sweep rodents up into the dishwasher tray storage bin.

Iowa State designed a robot with a rodent-retrieving mechanism consisting of two spinning wheels set slightly apart such that rodents are caught up in between them and propelled into the onboard holding bin.

The "Household Item" Component

The teams are given a household item from which they may source parts for the construction of their robots. The team that uses the most parts from the household item receives a pre-determined advantage in the final competition. The household item for this competition: A household dishwasher.

Construction

Host Chris Chianelli introduces The University of Rochester and Iowa State University to their challenge: to build a robot that can catch and contains as many robotic rodents as possible. As both teams begin to toss around a few interesting design ideas, Chris drops by to give them a sample of the robotic rodents that they'll have to capture in the competition. Meanwhile, robotics experts Brian and Buzz make sure the laboratory is stocked with all the parts the teams will need.

The teams finalize their designs at the design boards and begin construction. Buzz and Brian reveal the surprise household-item -- a dishwasher. Both of the teams dive in to disassemble it in search for useable parts.

Rochester organizes the electronics system around the dishwasher control panel and assemble the chassis, while Iowa State completely disassembles the dishwasher and works on the main frame and the positioning of their rodent-catching mechanism.

Mid-way through the construction, Chris Chianelli talks to Buzz and Brian about how their respective teams are faring so far. The major systems in the robots begin to take shape, and both teams test their creative limits in finding ways of incorporating parts from the dishwasher: dividers, sheet metal, guide wheels, plastic framing, etc.

Iowa State pushes the envelope on aesthetic engineering with a flaming clown motif, and Rochester tries their hand at spray painting as well. With both robots tested and working well, the teams make a few last-minute adjustments before the competition.

	The contest.
	The contest.

The Contest

Rochester wins the five-second head-start with a whopping thirty-five household items used in their robot. Iowa State's "Cy III" is a beautiful machine, but things get ugly when a guardrail bends over the mouth of the retrieval mechanism. In the meantime, Rochester's "Rat Snatcher" does some serious rodent wrangling and walks away with the win. Rochester University advances to the semi-final round of competition and even closer to the Robot Rivals Championship.

The Winners: University of Rochester

RESOURCES:

Build Your Own Robot!
Model: 1568811020
Author: Karl Lunt

Robots, Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build
Model: 0070328048
Author: John Iovine

Personal Robotics : Real Robots to Construct, Program, and Explore the World
Model: 156881089X
Author: Richard Raucci

Mobile Robots : Inspiration to Implementation
Model: 1568810970
Author: Joseph L. Jones, et al

Sensors for Mobile Robots : Theory and Application
Model: 1568810482
Author: H.R. Everett

Product Info and Special Thanks for Robot Rivals 200 series


Parallax, Inc.
Rocklin, CA
Product: The "Toddler" and "SumoBot" robotic kits (episode 201)
http://www.parallaxinc.com/

IFI Robotics
makers of the "Victor 883" speed-control system (episode 202; 206)
http://www.ifirobotics.com/

Lord Corporation
Product: Magnetorheological Fluid (episode 203)
http://www.mrfluid.com/

Friendly Robotics
Coppell, TX
Product: RoboMower (episode 204)
http://www.friendlyrobotics.com/

Evolution Robotics
Pasadena, CA
ER-1 Personal Robot System (episode 206)

LitterMaid
LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Litter Box (episode 207)
http://www.littermaid.com/