Battling bots

>> Rooting for artificial intelligence

by NAOMI BLOCH

Some were fighting in the name of science, some were in it for the cold hard cash. All admit the contest was not a fair fight. In Robowars, humans kick machine ass any day, but most humans were still rooting for the machine.

So, when the artificially intelligent robot Hooligan tracked its human-controlled opponent Rokinfreakapotomus and bulldozed it off the fighting mat to win the first round, spectators at Concordia University's Sumo robot tournament erupted in cheers and thunderous applause. It was a singular and very brief victory. In the following two rounds of a three-round battle, Hooligan succumbed to its opposition's brute power and human wit. Rokinfreakapotomus went on to place second (dominated by another RC robot, Done That) and took home a cool $500. The mastermind behind Hooligan, 37-year-old Dave Chu, took home only his pride.

Still, even Rokinfreakapotomus's team captain, 16-year-old Jason Levine, has little doubt as to which robot was superior. "Hooligan was one of, if not the best, designed and engineered robots at the event," says Levine.

Hooligan: profile of an AI robot
Theme song: "Sweet and Tender Hooligan," by the Smiths
Cost: $500-600
Mass: 3.1 kilogrammes

Mirror: How powerful is Hooligan compared to a remote-control toy car?

Dave Chu: I think a standard toy car should be between one and three amps. Hooligan has four motors that use three amps each, with a stalling current of 12 amps each (total of 48 amps). That makes it around four to 16 times more powerful than a toy car.

M: Why didn't you use jamming signals?

DC: I have thought about this, and making a jammer is very simple. But it wouldn't be very sporting to have your opponent's RC robot go off the platform out of control without your autonomous doing what it was designed to do. Plus, it's a very good feeling when one's autonomous robot beats an RC robot.

M: How does Hooligan find the opponent and attack?

DC: There are four sets of ultrasonic sensors for detecting the opponent at a distance and four contact sensors on its sides which are triggered when contact is made. When the ultrasonic sensors detect something, Hooligan will try to track it. If physical contact is made, the robot will use full power to push its opponent.

M: How does Hooligan react when attacked?

DC: When it's pushed from one side, the robot will try to pivot in that direction and face its attacker. Since there's no steering on the robot, it pivots by setting two wheels on one side to go forward and the wheels of the other side to reverse.

M: What were Hooligan's strongest and weakest elements?

DC: The four-wheel drive design was the most important in terms of power. But, when working properly, its ability to react much quicker than a person with an RC robot is its biggest advantage. However, because it's only as smart as its programming, once an RC robot's controller knows where Hooligan's sensors are, that person can attack Hooligan's blind spots.

M: If you had a NASA budget, what kind of robot would you build?

DC: I would use an image-processing scheme with video cameras to detect the opponent; steering and a suspension system to improve traction; and sensors to monitor power [fluctuations] to the wheels and make the proper adjustments. Also, a Global Positioning System, so it knows where it is on the platform without relying on infrared sensors.

M: Are RC designs really robots?

DC: Yes, they are. RC robots can operate in environments dangerous to humans. And there are robots that, with a human operator, do by-pass heart surgery. Right now, the surgeon is in the same room as the robot, but the doctor can actually be anywhere in the world with a fast network connection.

M: Is understanding your fondness for robotics important to understanding who you are as a person?

DC: Robotics is just a hobby. I enjoy starting from an idea and seeing it through to completion. I guess I'm still working on Sumo robots because I still see ways of improving on my design and want to have it working the way I envisioned it.

M: Are you a geek?

DC: I would hate to have people see me as some geek because I like to work on robots and computers. I would like people to think of

me as creative and as having good work ethics.

Rokinfreakapotomus: profile of an RC robot
Theme song: "TNT," by AC/DC
Cost: About $150
Mass: 4.5 kilogrammes

Mirror: What kind of power did your robot have?

Jason Levine: It was powered by motors that we ripped out of a Mercedes-Benz, used to raise and lower power windows. So that's kind of cool. It could push 30 pounds around, no problem.

M: What were the strongest and weakest elements of your robot?

JL: The motors we used were pretty inventive. I think that was pretty amazing. They had a ton of torque so they had a lot of power. We had a hard time getting the power to the floor. Our wheels weren't perfect, we didn't have enough traction.

M: Some people complain that RC robots aren't real robots. Do you agree with that?

JL: I do agree with it. I've made autonomous robots in the past, but for this competition I thought I'd have a better chance of winning with an RC robot. We're actually donating all of the money to our school's tech program [at St-George's High School]. Another reason I didn't go the autonomous route is because when a program doesn't work it drives me insane. I hate that. I'm more into the physical design.

M: If you had a NASA budget, what kind of robot would you build?

JL: I'd definitely use sonar and infrared range finding. I'd have a really big processor. If I had NASA's budget, I guess I'd hire NASA engineers to help me build it.

M: You wouldn't build a robot to change the world or do your housework?

JL: No. Although I am working right now on a really heavy robot that can walk dogs. It has a video transmitter and receiver on it. I have one model that can walk dogs that aren't very strong. But it's not powerful enough to walk heavier dogs because they can drag it all over the place.

M: Are you a geek?

JL: I'd like to consider myself a geek. I think geeks are very chic. But I don't think other people consider me a geek. Most people think I'm a pretty social guy.

M: Is understanding your fondness for robots important to understanding who you are as a person?

JL: No, but I do have a fondness for all things mechanical. I worked in a garage for a while. I just love building things in general.

M: What do you want to do when you grow up?

JL: After high school I'd like to invent something that would make me a millionaire and change the world. This would eliminate the need for further education.