A VIRTUAL ROBOT COMPETITION

                       Major Qualifying Project
                    Academic Year 2008-2009, A/B/C

Advisors:       Prof. Holly Ault, Mechanical Engineering (hkault@wpi.edu)
                Prof. Charles Rich, Computer Science and
                  Interactive Media and Game Development (rich@wpi.edu)

Students:       2 Mechanical or Robotics Engineering Majors
                2 Interactive Media and Game Development Majors 
                (* see below for recommended backgrounds)

Sponsor:        SolidWorks Corporation (www.solidworks.com)
                Ms. Marie Planchard, Education Director

ABSTRACT:

This project is inspired by the success of robotics competitions in
encouraging high school students to pursue engineering careers. Our
goal is to make a similar experience available to a larger population
of students, without incurring travel and materials costs, by
developing a virtual robot competition using computer game
technology. Solidworks will contribute its expertise as a leader in a
computer-aided design and modeling. (For example, Solidworks has full
CAD models for the current Vex Robotics Design System). The virtual
robot competition may contain many of the same key elements as current
physical robot competitions. However, the virtual competition may also
take advantage of aspects of the virtual environment to provide
interaction features which would not be possible in the real
world. Designing and implementing the virtual competition system will
require an interdisciplinary team to solve problems in mechanical
engineering, computer science and game design. The end product of the
project will be an open-source software prototype ("first playable" in
game terms).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

This project is inspired by the success of the FIRST robotics
competitions (www.usfirst.org) in encouraging high school students to
pursue engineering careers.  Our goal is to make a similar experience
available to a larger population of students, without incurring travel
and materials costs, by developing a virtual robot competition using
computer game technology.  Solidworks will contribute its expertise as
a leader in a computer-aided design and modeling. (For example,
Solidworks has full CAD models for the current Vex Robotics Design
System.)

The virtual robot competition may contain many of the same key
elements as current physical robot competitions, such as:

* The competition environment and scoring conditions are defined
  ahead of time

* Students (in groups) design their robot using a standard
  package of parts

* Robots compete live in front of an audience

However, the virtual competition may also take advantage of aspects of
the virtual environment to provide interaction features which would
not be possible in the real world.

Designing and implementing the virtual competition system will require
an interdisciplinary team to solve problems in mechanical engineering,
computer science and game design, such as:

* How to model the robot physics accurately enough to be a realistic
  introduction to engineering design, but efficiently enough to be
  practical in a real time game. (This project is *not* aimed at
  building a totally accurate rehearsal environment for the physical
  robot competition.)

* How to modularize the software so that it can be reused for different
  robot kits and competition environments

* How to design the artistic and game play aspects so that it is an
  engaging experience for participants and observers

The end product of the project will be an open-source software
prototype ("first playable" in game terms).

* Recommended background for ME/RBE students: Robotics (ES 2201,
  RBE 1001 or ME 4815), Kinematics (ME 3310), Advanced CAD (ES 3323)
  and programming skills.

* Recommended background for IMGD students: Technical Game Development
  (IMGD 3000/4000), Digital Imaging (AR 1101), Artistic Game
  Development (IMGD 3500/4500).