Robot-sumo
Encyclopedia
Robot-sumo, or pepe-sumo, is a sport
in which two robot
s attempt to push each other out of a circle (in a similar fashion to the sport of sumo
). The robots used in this competition are called sumobots.
The engineering
challenges are for the robot to find its opponent (usually accomplished with infrared
or ultra-sonic sensor
s) and to push it out of the flat arena
. A robot should also avoid leaving the arena, usually by means of a sensor that detects the edge.
The most common "weapon" used in a sumobot competition is an angled blade at the front of the robot, usually tilted at about a 45-degree angle towards the back of the robot. This blade has an adjustable height for different tactics.
Robot-sumo is divided into classes, fought on progressively smaller arenas:
Classes are further divided into remote-controlled and autonomous robots.
Sumo robots are built from scratch, from kits or from Lego
components, particularly the Lego Mindstorms
sets.
Some sumo bots are built with only wood and motors for more of a challenge. The usual size for the wood is 12" by 12".
It makes it hard to construct a really large robot with this piece of wood.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
in which two robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s attempt to push each other out of a circle (in a similar fashion to the sport of sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
). The robots used in this competition are called sumobots.
The engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
challenges are for the robot to find its opponent (usually accomplished with infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
or ultra-sonic sensor
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
s) and to push it out of the flat arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
. A robot should also avoid leaving the arena, usually by means of a sensor that detects the edge.
The most common "weapon" used in a sumobot competition is an angled blade at the front of the robot, usually tilted at about a 45-degree angle towards the back of the robot. This blade has an adjustable height for different tactics.
Robot-sumo is divided into classes, fought on progressively smaller arenas:
- Light-weight. Standard in the National Robotics ChallengeNational Robotics ChallengeThe National Robotics Challenge is a yearly event in which the robot contestants compete in one or many of the contests in order to win. It has been running since 1986...
. Robots may weigh up to 50 pounds and fit in a 2 foot by 2 foot box. - Standard class (sometimes named Mega-sumo) robots may mass up to 3 kg and fit inside a 20 cm by 20 cm box, any height.
- Mini-sumo. Up to 500 g mass, 10 cm by 10 cm, any height.
- Micro-sumo. Up to 100 g mass, must fit in a 5 cm cube.
- Nano-sumo. Must fit in a 2.5 cm cube.
- Femto-sumo. Must fit inside a 1 cm cube.
Classes are further divided into remote-controlled and autonomous robots.
Sumo robots are built from scratch, from kits or from Lego
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
components, particularly the Lego Mindstorms
Lego Mindstorms
The LEGO Mindstorm series of kits contain software and hardware to create small, customizable and programmable robots. They include a programmable 'Brick' computer that controls the system, a set of modular sensors and motors, and LEGO parts from the Technics line to create the mechanical...
sets.
Some sumo bots are built with only wood and motors for more of a challenge. The usual size for the wood is 12" by 12".
It makes it hard to construct a really large robot with this piece of wood.
External links
- FSI-All Japan Robot-Sumo Tournament
- Unified Robot Sumo Rules (English)
- JSumo - Unofficial Sumo Robot Web Site
- MiniSumo wiki A new wiki aimed at the mini class of sumo, the site also host a related forum for builders.
- RobotRoom
- Robot Tutorials for Beginners
- Official French Rules
- Full and detailed presentation of a robot sumo by students of Baronnerie,Angers (France).
- Autonomous robots, maze solvers, mini sumo forum
- Sumo Robot Parts Tutorial
Competitions
- International RoboGames Annual competition with global sumo contestants
- Istrobot Annual robotic competition in BratislavaBratislavaBratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
with Mini-Sumo - Milford Autonomous Robotics Competition Annual competition near Cincinnati, OH
- Robofest RoboSumo Competition
- RobotChallenge Annual robotic competition in ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
with Standard-, Mini- and Micro-Sumo - Official French Tournament
- Robot sumo Angers Annual French robotic competition in AngersAngersAngers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Robot-Sumo Competition
- BalticRobotSumo Annual Standard-Sumo, Mini-sumo and Roomba-Sumo robotic competition in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia
- Robot-SM The Swedish Robotics Championship with Standard- and mini-sumo.