This document will teach you how to build and program a mini Sumo robot. You can build mini Sumo robot for learning/education or robot competition.

Mini-sumo robots are small autonomous mobile robots designed specifically for sumo style competition.

Overview

Mobile robots have the capability to move around in their environment and are not fixed to one physical location. In contrast, industrial robots usually consist of a jointed arm (multi-linked manipulator) and gripper assembly (or end effector) that is attached to a fixed surface.

Mobile robots are the focus of a great deal of current research and almost every major university has one or more labs that focus on mobile robot research. Mobile robots are also found in industry, military and security environments. They also appear as consumer products, for entertainment or to perform certain tasks like vacuum cleaning or mowing.

In the past few years industrial processes have monopolised practically all robotic developments and applications. However, the current tendency is marked by new robotics which will have a great impact in various spheres from the industrial to services and including entertainment and care assistance for persons, amongst other applications. This was the main topic analysed at the ‘Robot Business Opportunities’ (RBO) event, held the 24 and 25 January 2008 at Fatronik-Tecnalia Research Centre. This centre, located in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, organised this event, within its strategy of constantly seeking new business opportunities for the enterprise sector, an event to which a selected number, in a position to form part of the new businesses that will be generated around robotics, were invited.

For the first time in Spain, Fatronik-Tecnalia has brought together the most prestigious experts in robotics worldwide, such as Tatsuo Arai from the University of Osaka, Herman Bruyninckx, co-ordinator of the European Excellence Network for Robotics Research, François Pierrot from the French CNRS or Todd Simonds from the North American company CTC and close collaborator with the North American Carnegie Mellon University, amongst others.