PAReX Meeting Notes

We discussed a lot at the March meeting. I'm looking for volunteers to help out with Bot Bash 99. We are going to need people for crowd control, logistics, arena assembly etc. etc... If you're interested in helping out this year, drop Bob a note. There will also be a maze competition at the Bot Bash with Prizes etc.. It will be a complicated maze. So keep practicing at the monthly competitions. The Bash will be vastly different this year. We plan on having a hockey-like arena, a live DJ, a real pit area, press coverage etc. etc.. Sponsors will be announced soon. It ought to be a lot of fun.

We also talked about having a robot SUMO competition. We might be able to practice on a monthly basis, but the main competition would coincide with Bot Bash. We want to make sure that all our entries would qualify for the International competitions, so we could participate when ever the competitions come around. At the end of the month, March 25, there will be a International Competition on the University of California's campus in LA.

We are still working on that permanent meeting place and the tax status. The Maze competition was weak this month. So I've decide that we're too complacent. The maze next month will be extremely difficult. You guys need to work on this, if you want a chance at the Bot Bash maze competition. It would look bad for us if someone from out of town came in and took away a nice prize. Get building on those Bots!

IRS 501(c) Status: I have downloaded the required documents and forms from the IRS to get this process underway. My wife Kate, the accountant has agreed to assist me in these efforts. Discussion was had on whether we will plan on taking in over $10,000.00 in donation in our first four years of operation. Additionally a club mission statement and officers will have to be appointed to satisfy the requirements of the IRS. I will continue in my efforts and keep everyone posted on our progress.

Meeting Place: Bob has been talking with ASU and it looks as if we will have a home at the ASU Sr. Projects Mechanical engineering lab soon. This location sounds excellent, and the benefits of associating with a college include getting in on some cool sounding college robotics competitions.

Hamilton high school science fair: The PAReX display at the event went very well and according to data from Bob’s "arcade" robot we had 1,000 visitors and according to the generic Intel slinky index we had more than 36 kids program robots to complete the maze. Thanks to all who were there!

NEW BUSINESS:

Sumo Robot Competition: There will be 10 of the best robot Sumo’s from Japan at the competition at the Exploritorium in San Francisco, CA. On the 23^rd of this month, Bob Pitzer was investigating if there was an interest to go to SF to see this event, With a $2,000 Grand Prize it promises to provide quite a show.

Webauthor Needed Inquire Within: Bob was asking if we have any volunteers to take on the club web page, any volunteers out there?

BotBash 4: July is getting closer and we need to begin preparations for the forth installment of BotBash. The Arena needs to be rebuilt and some Lexan panels need to be added for the safety of the spectators. Any leads on donated Lexan sheets should be forwarded to Bob Pitzer. The event will be promoted as a warm up for the upcoming RobotWars (see below) and we will be keeping the current weight classes 5, 12.5, and 23 Kilograms. For complete rules go to John Kittlesrud’s web page and click on the BotBash link. BotBash will be held at the Hexacon in Scottsdale, AZ.

Robot Wars: It’s Baaaaaack ! Evidently all the legal maneuvering has been completed and Robot Wars has returned. It’s scheduled for August, hopefully the negative impact on BotBash will be minimal.

PAReX Meeting Pictures

Bob Pitzer - Cujo.
Mike Reiner - Blinky"

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