Well we didn't win but we finished second which was a satisfactory result...
We were really happy because of the color recognition task we managed to finish and it was working really good (actually we were the only group that made this task so we are proud with ourselves). There even was one guy that interviewed us about the way we did it...
Ok let's go task by task:
1. From the two tries we got totally 0 points because of nervous shaking hand while starting the robot...
2. The second task was a success - 4 out of 4 from both tries... It was really precise done (thumbs up for Baiba and Zdenek).
3. This task was also an easy one but it was sometimes risky that while pushing the box your robot might change direction and things can go wrong.. Well that is what happened but anyway we got 3 out of 4 points.
4. The task that made us really proud. The first try was great and we got 5 points but at the second there was a small problem and one ball was seen as a different color and we got only 3 points...
5. Well this task was a simple one but here the human factor was really important and again the shaking hands did their job but we weren't left with 0 point we got 3 :)
All in all we had 18 points enough for 2nd place...
It was a great experience and we really had great time these 5 days and we hipe that we will have even more the next couple of days around Denmark...
Friday, August 15, 2008
Day Nr. 5 - Competition day!!!
Well the moment we were all been waiting for is here...
In a minute the official competition will begin..
Professor Nils is drawing the lines on the blackboard 4 each team...
Our hearts are bumping faster and faster... Who will be the winner???
We will know in an hour or two..
We are just happy that we made the 4th assignment work and out dear Dingo is placing the balls on the exact sides and it is really precise. And I can't believe that I was sceptic about this matter.. I even tried to convince the professor that the readings from the sensor are not very reliable.. I have to apologise 4 the mess I made :)
Well we will write something as soon as we have any information..
Stay tuned...
In a minute the official competition will begin..
Professor Nils is drawing the lines on the blackboard 4 each team...
Our hearts are bumping faster and faster... Who will be the winner???
We will know in an hour or two..
We are just happy that we made the 4th assignment work and out dear Dingo is placing the balls on the exact sides and it is really precise. And I can't believe that I was sceptic about this matter.. I even tried to convince the professor that the readings from the sensor are not very reliable.. I have to apologise 4 the mess I made :)
Well we will write something as soon as we have any information..
Stay tuned...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Day nr.3 - Hard work
Hello, Zdravo, Sveiki, Privet, Ahoj!!!
We are improving many many new skills here... International cooperation, new languages and team work :))).
Today we were motivated by a very nice lecture about competitions and our winning spirit started to show its real face more and more... We couldn't wait when we get to the lab and throw ourselves on programming Dingo.
The movie we saw was from a guy, Sebastian Thrun, who won the DARPA challenge and wrote a nice book about robotics which serves as an example 4 the new generation of robotics lovers. We got really carried away from his winning attitude and eternal trust in his team that was working on the autonomous vehicle.
After we saw all the possible uses of robots we all started thinking about what kind of a robot we would like to have. So here it goes:
-Ilina would like robots that will help in children developments capable of singing, dancing, speaking and helping kids learn the language at really early ages. Robots will be nice toys and if we use them smart they can do miracles. Actually those kind of robots are already available and you can see them on http://www.wowee.com/.
-Anton doesn't like house work so he would like one robot that would be able to find his dirty clothes and put them in the washing machine instead of him. Well sorry Anton but this kind of robot is still not available but when it comes out we will inform you...
-Zdenek is a true Czech (and we all know that they are beer lovers :D) he would like to have a robot that would take care of his beer - keep it cold always. Well Zdenek maybe U can inform all the beer lovers to start a revolution and fight 4 your rights...
- Baiba didn't have any special wishes...just one... little, tiny one: the world to look like the Jetsons in the future... well let's hope that our great-great....grand children will live to see that :)
You never know what the future will bring.. Maybe our current assignments will be celebrated in the future like a robot revolution and we will be really widely known... Keep reading our everyday news and see what happens...
In the meantime we will have fun with our lovely orgaNICErs that really work hard to provide us with everything we need..
We are improving many many new skills here... International cooperation, new languages and team work :))).
Today we were motivated by a very nice lecture about competitions and our winning spirit started to show its real face more and more... We couldn't wait when we get to the lab and throw ourselves on programming Dingo.
The movie we saw was from a guy, Sebastian Thrun, who won the DARPA challenge and wrote a nice book about robotics which serves as an example 4 the new generation of robotics lovers. We got really carried away from his winning attitude and eternal trust in his team that was working on the autonomous vehicle.
After we saw all the possible uses of robots we all started thinking about what kind of a robot we would like to have. So here it goes:
-Ilina would like robots that will help in children developments capable of singing, dancing, speaking and helping kids learn the language at really early ages. Robots will be nice toys and if we use them smart they can do miracles. Actually those kind of robots are already available and you can see them on http://www.wowee.com/.
-Anton doesn't like house work so he would like one robot that would be able to find his dirty clothes and put them in the washing machine instead of him. Well sorry Anton but this kind of robot is still not available but when it comes out we will inform you...
-Zdenek is a true Czech (and we all know that they are beer lovers :D) he would like to have a robot that would take care of his beer - keep it cold always. Well Zdenek maybe U can inform all the beer lovers to start a revolution and fight 4 your rights...
- Baiba didn't have any special wishes...just one... little, tiny one: the world to look like the Jetsons in the future... well let's hope that our great-great....grand children will live to see that :)
You never know what the future will bring.. Maybe our current assignments will be celebrated in the future like a robot revolution and we will be really widely known... Keep reading our everyday news and see what happens...
In the meantime we will have fun with our lovely orgaNICErs that really work hard to provide us with everything we need..
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Day nr.2 - Improvment
Hello again!
Day nr. 2 started with lesson made by the professor Nils Andersen. The main key of it was the sensors, which is one of the most important parts of every robot to make him to do the thing you need. We were introduced with some good examples from robots, who can do more than just go straight, and that gave us a new power to improve our Dingo and his works in this world.
At the beginning of practical part in lab we were asked to make two tasks to get the main goals - the distance of one rotation and how exact is the ultrasound sensor. We done it quite well :D(thank to our main advisor Joan and, of course, the professor).
But why are we doing all this?
1) To enjoy,
2) to get new knowledge,
3) to win a competition, with will be held in Friday.
All 6 teams and their friends - robots will show their strenghts in 5 tasks. The robots will have to push the box, open the garage, find out the distance, and other quite difficult things. With the knowledge we already have they do not seems so hard, but, of course, it will take some time and mistakes, to make them perfect, especially if we admit, that the unslept nights will do some corrections. But we will do our BEST, because now it is not only about us, it is about our friend Dingo, who will do all the tasks. So everybody who reads this blog, keep your fingers crossed for our Dingo.
Team nr. 2
Day nr. 2 started with lesson made by the professor Nils Andersen. The main key of it was the sensors, which is one of the most important parts of every robot to make him to do the thing you need. We were introduced with some good examples from robots, who can do more than just go straight, and that gave us a new power to improve our Dingo and his works in this world.
At the beginning of practical part in lab we were asked to make two tasks to get the main goals - the distance of one rotation and how exact is the ultrasound sensor. We done it quite well :D(thank to our main advisor Joan and, of course, the professor).But why are we doing all this?
1) To enjoy,
2) to get new knowledge,
3) to win a competition, with will be held in Friday.
All 6 teams and their friends - robots will show their strenghts in 5 tasks. The robots will have to push the box, open the garage, find out the distance, and other quite difficult things. With the knowledge we already have they do not seems so hard, but, of course, it will take some time and mistakes, to make them perfect, especially if we admit, that the unslept nights will do some corrections. But we will do our BEST, because now it is not only about us, it is about our friend Dingo, who will do all the tasks. So everybody who reads this blog, keep your fingers crossed for our Dingo.
Team nr. 2
Monday, August 11, 2008
Day nr.1 - Getting started
Hello!
We are the team nr. 2. In our team there are 4 participants - Baiba (Riga, Latvia), Ilina (Skopje, Macedonia), Zdenek (Brno, Czech Republic) and Anton (Ekaterinsburg, Russia). Perfect balance between men's logic and women imagination.
We are the team nr. 2. In our team there are 4 participants - Baiba (Riga, Latvia), Ilina (Skopje, Macedonia), Zdenek (Brno, Czech Republic) and Anton (Ekaterinsburg, Russia). Perfect balance between men's logic and women imagination.
At the very beginning there were lesson about introduction in this beautiful world of robotics. As nobody from us studies in this field, it was quit useful before the practical trainings, because our only experience before was Lego cars in childhood and movies of Scientific fantasy. But anyway we are really exited about the possibility to do something new. Lesson was only the basic knowledge so now we will try to make something on our own.
The first task is almost done. While guys where making the first part, girls already made the other 5 . I have to admit that is quite hard, because you have to put all your concentration. All the parts look similar. Every cm is very important (like in life), and changes the thing how it works (yeah). At the moment we think that we made it more or less right, but I think that you can be 100% sure only if it will fulfill the main task in the end. Now it is time for programming, and it will be the girls stuff.
Now we have a new friend, his or her name is Dingo (we do not want to be the sexists). It is not perfect, he goes a bit not straight, and his arms sometimes do not catch the things, but anyway it is our first robot, so we love it ;)
With love,
Baiba, Ilina, Zdenek and Anton
Team nr. 2
Now we have a new friend, his or her name is Dingo (we do not want to be the sexists). It is not perfect, he goes a bit not straight, and his arms sometimes do not catch the things, but anyway it is our first robot, so we love it ;)
With love,
Baiba, Ilina, Zdenek and Anton
Team nr. 2
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