CONTEST: The Crabfu Challenge
For those of you guys familiar with my tinkerings, know that I'm all about character, and tech is only used to achieve the illusion of life. So somehow I ended up with a bit of trossen credit, and figured instead of just hording it, that I would start another competition, and give away the store credit.
The challenge:
To bring a bunch of hardware the illusion of life and character. This is NOT about AI or fancy software or hardware. It's not to achieve real character or personality, but the ILLUSION of it. Autonomous robots can enter too, but this isn't a contest of the smartest robot, but a smartest "looking" and "moving" robot could win. This is about the art of breathing some charm into a bunch of electronics. So the goal is simple,
the most characterful robot wins.
The reward:
First place: $100 credit for anything you want from Trossen Robotics, it will be a transfer of a promo code from me to the winner.
Second place: choice of either ~$20 of trossen credit,
OR two used denso motors.
Donated by DB!
Third Place: What second place doesn't want
Rules:
-You can use any material you wish, add on whatever cosmetics you like. Cute and friendly, or mean and bad a$$, shy and nervous, gross, beefy, or whatever you choose.... as long as it triggers an emotional reaction by the way it moves and looks. Some materials that I've used to good sucess:
*Aluminum sheets are easily to cut, drill, and bend to shape. If the bot is small, soda cans works great, and can be cut with scissors, turned inside out or painted.
*Lexan.... soda bottles, plastic shrink wrap that you get with just about everything you buy these days.... all are great sources of material. After you cut to the shape you like, you can paint them with lexan paint (trust me, only use lexan paint if you work with this sort of plastic) from the inside or outside, depending on if you want a shinny gloss finish, or a dull matte look.
*wood... don't knock wood, it's easy to work with
These are just suggestions, you can use whatever junk you have around, or go custom with vacuum form, injection plastic, shapelock, whatever.
-This contest will not be judged by anything but for character, so it will not matter how complex or simple the robot is. Any type of robot can enter.... even a few servos could win, if it's got the most personality.
-Armor, cosmetics, whatever you add to your bot, must NOT interfere with the natural movement of your robot. It also can NOT be too heavy so that the robot does not function well.
-The robot must move in some way, this is not a statue contest. Movement is a HUGE part of character, this contest isn't just about body works, but how characterful the movements are as well. Sound effects is not required or judged, but if it adds to the character of the bot, go for it!
-Entries must be entered with at least one pic and a movie.
Judging:
- I, Crabfu, will be the judge... so bribes will be considered, starting at $100.99. Short of receiving a bribe, the contest will be based purely on which bot shows the most character. Dress up your existing robot, or make a new one if you wish.... but it's all about adding custom and unique things to your bot, adding the extra polish to your creation, or fully customize the LOOKS of your stock robot. Add motions so that it looks alive, and in character.
- You can not enter your robots that were finished before the start of this competition, not as is anyway. The idea is to make a new one, or take an old bot and add so much stuff to it, that it does not look or act like the original. If you enter a previously build bot, please include an before and after pic. Another words, I won't be impressed if you took your humanoid, and added a hat to it and nothing else.
- Aesthetics. You won't win if you just glue a bunch of random stuff on your robot. Care and planning must go into the bot, so it looks polished and well designed.
-Creativity. Don't try and do something that someone has done before.... this means no recreating a robot from your favorite movie etc. Make your own designs!
-One robot entry per builder please. You may post many pics or movies if you wish, as long as the entry is only for one particular bot.
The deadline:
Deadline is one month from today, so ends 9/8/08 at midnight... should be plenty of time. Winner will be announced the next day, and promo code worth a hundred little ones transfered over
So get moving folks, may the most characterful pile of moving hardware win....
-Crabfu
Entries:
Garg
Darwin
Lisa
Delfigelo
Robot Piggie
BubbleBoy
]
Linear Mode
