In this class the students used LEGO Mindstorm kits to build and program robots. The idea was to learn how to design artifacts, a skill that's rarely covered in first-year classes. This is one of the First Year Seminars offered by the university.
The final contest was played on a mock soccer field with two goals. The idea was to get the maximum number of ping-pong balls (painted black and distributed randomly) into a goal in three minutes. The umpire could declare a robot stalled, at which time the student could take a 30-second penalty and reset the robot. All robots had to start on the opposite side of the field. There were two trials, and the score was the highest of the two.
Support: Thanks to the Department of Computer Science and to the Office of Distinguished Scholarships and Intellectual life for the support that made this class possible.
The University Gazette wrote a very nice article about the contest.
The first place winner was Ball Grabber. Yin and Tristan are holding the robot and one of the trophies. The strategy was to build a machine with long arms, which would push the balls. When near the goal, the arms close and (hopefully) push the balls into the goal.
Carlos and Gabe with the second-place winner, another robot with long arms. Clearly that was the winning strategy.
Junji and Jason holding their third place winner.
Josey and Ebony with Midnight Wonder. It was the "smartest" of the robots, with a sensor to detect a ping-pong ball. When Midnight Wonder found a ball, the jaws would close and hold it in place.
Louis with his robot, Scorpion, which would flail around to try to sling balls into the goal.
Terry with Stupid Machine 2.
Ralph with Ralph.
Diana, with Zack standing just behind her.
Close-up of one of the Mindstorm robots.
Last modified Saturday, February 23, 2002 11:02 AM by lastra@cs.unc.edu