Return to Previous Press Release
Enter your name and a friend's email address in the fields below and click "Submit" to email this Press Release to a friend.
Your message will look like this:
[YOUR NAME HERE] thought you might be interested in this story from the University of Rochester.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Sherwood 585.273.4726
February 25, 2004
TIME, DATE, AND PLACE: Noon, February 25, May Room, Wilson Commons at the University of Rochester
Engineering students will compete during National Engineering Week to design the best robots to sweep away "mines" from a simulated minefield. Senior mechanical engineers at the University of Rochester have formed into six teams to build the robots that will navigate the minefield and clear it of mines in less than three minutes.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers describes the competition this way: "Of major concern to most nations is the plethora of anti-personnel mines that remain in place around the globe, remnants of past wars and conflicts. Given that these devices are armed and can cause great physical harm and possibly death, humanitarian efforts are under way to locate and disarm these mines. The purpose of this year's contest is to generate novel devices that facilitate the execution of this noble task."
The robots must be battery powered and will run on a short-napped, outdoor-style carpet complete with wooden obstacles to simulate real-world working conditions. Six mines-hockey puck-like cylinders-must be found, picked up, carried, and carefully placed in a receiving area without bumping into any obstacles.
Past Engineering Week competitions have included hovercraft races and designs of magnetic-levitation cars.
The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering is complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, and the Memorial Art Gallery.
PR 1708, MS 151