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5.8 End Notes
Exercise 5.25 [Advanced Reading]
Read Rodney Brooks’ one paragraph introduction to Chapter 1 in Cambrian Intelli-
gence 28 on the lack of mathematics in behavioral robotics. Now consider the behavior
of the CSM robot around white shoes and dandelions. Certainly it would be useful
to have theories which can prove when a behavioral system will fail. Is it possible?

Questions marked with a y were suggested by students from the University of
Wisconsin Lacrosse.

5.8 End Notes

For the roboticist’s bookshelf.
Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Robots 14 is a collection of case studies from top mobile
robotics researchers, detailing successful entries in various robot competitions. The
book provides many insights into putting theory into practice.

The IAUS Ground Robotics Competition.
The International Association for Unmanned Systems (formerly known as the As-
sociation for Unmanned Vehicle Systems) sponsors three annual robot competitions
for student teams: Ground Robotics, Aerial Vehicle, and Underwater. The Ground
Robotics competition is the oldest, having started in 1992. As noted in a Robotics
Competition Corner column, 101 the competitions tend to reward teams for building
platforms rather than programming them.

Reusability principle of software engineering and beer cans.
While researchers worried about picking up and disposing of soda cans, a popular
magazine began discussing what it would take to have a robot go to the refrigerator
and bring the user a beer. In an apparent acknowledgment of the lifestyle of someone
who would have such a robot, the robot was expected to be able to recognize and
avoid dirty underwear lying at random locations on the floor.

The 1995 IJCAI Mobile Robot Competition.
The competition was held in Montreal, Canada, and many competitors experienced
delays shipping their robots due to delays at Customs. The University of New Mexico
team spent the preparatory days of the competition frantically trying to locate where
their robot was. Almost at midnight the evening before the preliminary rounds were
to begin, a forklift drove up with the crate for their robot. All the teams looked up
from their frantic testing and cheered in support of the New Mexicans. Until the fork
lift came close enough and everyone could clearly see that the “This Side Up” arrow
was pointing down...The New Mexicans didn’t even bother to un-crate the robot to
catalog the damage; they instead sought solace in Montreal’s wonderful night life.