Tower of Hanoi
Hardware & Software Hardware and Software Support
The European Commission strongly supports the open source movement in general, but also in the field of robotics. The Commission has therefore requested the organizers to provide free access to hardware and software wherever possible to allow teams which do not have a sufficient budget to do this on their own to also participate in the contest..
Robot platforms
You can participate in the challenge with all kind of platforms fit for mobile manipulation tasks.
In case you would like to participate but do not have a platform at hand, the following robot manufacturer so far is willing to provide free access to robot hardware for testing, experimentation and the final contest (we are still looking for more providers of robot platforms!):
- KUKA Laboratories GmbH, Germany, will provide a number of KUKA youBot mobile manipulators
(contact the event secretariat contest@locomotec.com if you want to use a KUKA youBot for the contest)
KUKA - youBot |
KUKA - youBot Platform |
KUKA youBot Arm |
Hardware will be made available at one or two yet to be defined central locations. Teams can access the hardware at these locations either physically or remotely (from a distance). Access times have to be negotiated with the event secretariat.
Teams who want to access the hardware remotely (from a distance) will first have to install and test the simulation software (for simulators see section below) to see if their software functions properly. Upon such verification the teams will receive an IP address to where they can upload and install their software. Staff of the event secretariat will then perform the actual testing and evaluation. The tests will be broadcasted back to the team via video conferencing.
Hardware and the operating staff to perform the trials from a distance will be available also for the qualifications (see description above). Two days before the contest the hardware will then be available physically at the contest venue.
Simulators
The following companies are willing to provide free license for their simulation software for the purpose of the contest:
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– http://www.cyberbotics.com/ – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fjyu_wzIgc (animation of contest) – http://www.youtube.com/user/cyberboticswebots#p/u/6/vFwNwT8dZTU (presentation of the youBot) |
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Software
The software packages below contain open source software that may be useful for the contestants:
- KUKA youBot API: http://www.youbot-store.com/programming-interfaces/13/software.aspx
- A Robot SDK that will support the contestants is currently being developed. It will be made available as soon as possible.
