Thank You, Mr. Roboto: Computer Programming and Training Robots
The 2006 RoboGames, held during San Francisco's chilly summer months, were attended by hundreds of amateur computer programmers and electrical engineering enthusiasts. Endless hours of training and programming can mean the satisfaction of crushing someone else's bot, but there's more to it than just demolition.
More Machine than Man
One fascinating robotic development merges technology with human muscle. Machine assistive suits called Tetsujin assist people in weightlifting, dexterity, and walking competitions. One suit, designed by Alex Sulkowski, can read electrical signals from muscles and respond accordingly to help during a weight lift. An air piston system helped him lift a 190-pound barbell as though it only weighed 30 pounds.Go For the Goal
Four national groups put forth robotic soccer teams for the annual RoboGames. However, the need for continual computer programming and training with the robots was pretty evident. During the event, a number of the robots fell down or needed to have their software reset. But U.S. citizens will be happy to know that the U.S. team won the robotic soccer tournament, beating the U.K., Columbia, and Brazil --which is probably the only time that will ever happen in soccer!Smash and Bash
The most popular spectacle of the RoboGames is the fighting. Robots competed in heavyweight, middle weight, and light weight divisions. As on the popular TV show BattleBots, two machines are directed remotely and try to disable the other machine. In the heavyweight fight, Ziggy launched Sewer Snake nearly 15 feet away.Get a Computer Programming Degree at an Online College
If you enjoy computer programming and engineering, some online training or an online college degree will help you to start your robotics hobby or career. A university degree can give you a thorough understanding of computer programming. With robotics, you'll probably want to add a few electrical engineering courses to your main computer programming degree. Robotics has a lot of overlap among the science disciplines, so you'll learn to be a jack of all trades. Luckily, an online college or university can make it easier to earn multiple degrees or take different classes along the way as you need them.Perhaps you'll create the next heavyweight robot champion!
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About the Author
James Tolles is a freelance writer and holds two B.A. degrees, one in Creative Writing and the other in History.
