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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 23, 2006 Eric Dawson of Eugene, left, faces off against Keith Ormand of Talent in a mini-sumo robot match while Southern Oregon University Robotics Club President James Cooper keeps time. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli It’s all about the bots RoboMaxx 2006 pits technological creations against each other in a survival of the retrofittest By CHRIS CONRAD Mail Tribune Science fact met science fiction as robots did battle while a squad of stormtroopers stood guard Saturday afternoon in Southern Oregon’s University’s Stevenson Union. Robot sumo wrestling was one part of RoboMaxx 2006, a yearly exhibition where local robot enthusiasts show off their newest creations. The event was co-sponsored by the Southern Oregon University Robotics Club (SOURC) and the Southern Oregon Robotics Society. Robot racing was a big draw, as 20 people watched wheeled robots buzz around a plastic track. One competitor was Keith Orman’s robot Twitch, named for the nervous tic it made while circling the track. "I picked robotics up as a hobby," Orman said. "I’m looking to get into biomedical equipment repair, but this is just something I enjoy doing," Orman said. Twitch resembled a small remote control car without the fancy covering. But what it lacked in flash it made up for in smarts. Orman attached sensors on the front of the robot — or, as those in the know prefer, "bot" — allowing it to follow the strip of black electrical tape serving as the actual track. Twitch took a day to build and cost around $100, Orman said. Advertisement Orman studied electronics with SOURC president James A. Cooper at Rogue Community College. Cooper’s robot, Mouser, a souped-up computer mouse on wheels, navigated the track in 27 seconds, the day’s fastest time. Robot sumo wrestling seemed the most popular event. Two robots were pitted against each other on a circular platform. The bot that managed to push the other off the circle won. Tara Greenwood, an SOU math major from Alaska, watched her bot — named James Clarence Brown because "he’s the godfather of soul" — go down in defeat twice. "It’s OK, though," she said. "I lost to the second- and third-place bots. It’s all about learning for me, anyway. I’m not very competitive." The event was overseen by a squad of locals dressed as stormtroopers from the Star Wars films. The group is part of the national 501st Legion, a costuming organization dedicated to recreating characters from the Star Wars movie mythology. "We now have five members in this valley," said Martin Vavra of Phoenix. Vavra is the squad’s leader and spokesman. He’s been donning stormtrooper gear for three years, attending children’s birthday parties and escorting people to their seats at local theaters when the final Star Wars film opened this summer. The squad’s detailed armor was handmade by each member, all of whom endure a rigorous initiation process before joining the 501st. "Your suit has to accurately reflect the character you play, otherwise you don’t get in," said Mike Roseborough, who wore the armor of dreaded bounty hunger Boba Fett. The 501st is technically violating all sorts of copyright laws, but keeps a good working relationship with George Lucas by not charging for appearances or building costumes for sale. All they ask is a couple dollars for appearances, which goes to local charities, Vavra said. "Some garrisons work with the American Cancer Society and some for the March of Dimes," he added. "Our proceeds go to Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital in Portland. The community work separates us from people who just build good Halloween costumes." By the end of the day, some of the stormtroopers were getting antsy. "I wanna talk these guys into going to the Rogue Valley Mall," said Kevin Neale. "We can terrorize the public and get our pictures taken playing the Star Wars arcade game." Reach reporter Chris Conrad at 776-4471, or e-mail IT�S ALL ABOUT THE BOTS ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s