index,
1978-9,
1980,
1981-a,
1981-b,
1982,
Micromouse - the early years, 1982
AGK/JRR March 26, 1982
Mr David L buckley
48 Agamemnon Road
West Hampstead
London NW6
Dear Mr Buckley
Mr John Billingsiey has asked us to write to you and advise you that
this year's British Finals of the Euromouse Contest will be held at
the IPC Computer Fair at Earls Court from 23rd to 25th April.
Competition will be fierce, and it is important to pass the
elimination trials on Friday and Saturday, 23rd and 24th, On Saturday
afternoon there will be a special schools heat, for which the major
prize will almost certainly be a BBC Micro. All qualifying contestants
will take part in the final on Sunday afternoon, where we hope that the
prizes will include an expenses-paid trip to Israel to compete in the
Euromicro Final.
To be sure of a chance to qualify please let Mr Billingsley have
definite confirmation that you are coming. In one or two exceptional
cases it may be possible to reserve a Saturday qualifying slot for those
unable to arrive on Friday - given sufficient notice.
There will be a chance for mice to "limber up" the previous week at the
North London Hobby Computer Club's fair in the Polytechnic of North
London - 15th/17th April. For this, please contact Robin Bradbeer,
North London Hobby Computer Club, Room 45, Polytechnic of North London,
Holloway Road, London.
If you were at Wembley last year, watch out for the "computer programme"
No. 9, to be shown on Sunday morning 11th April. You may see yourself!
Mr Billingsiey can be contacted at: The Portsmouth Polytechnic, Department
of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Anglesea Building, Anglesea Road,
Portsmouth P01 3D3. Tel: (Daytime) (0705) 827681 Ext. 509. (Evenings)
(0705) 812466.
Tony Kynaston
Exhibition Manager
Accumulator, page 3, vol. 4 #9 May 1982
LETTERS
Micromouse
Ever since that wierd humanoid Douglas Adams gave away the
secret or the true postition of mice in the Universal Order,
a bunch of his fellow Terrans have been endevouring to mimick
their behaviour pattern with Robots.
At the Computer Fair the latest phase of the
competition, the British Finals were held ridiculousley
early in the year. It heralded a new winner and the demise
of some of the old favourtes. T3, latest of the Theseus
series, and still run by the effective technology of a
keyboardless ZX80, claimed the top prize of a trip to Haifa
for the world Finals in the first week in September. Self
financed competitors may make it to the Euromicro contest in
Paris the following week.
From the same stable Son of Theseus romped in second
but took over twice the time, showing the improvements in
programme and motive power achieved in T3. This won his
master a new Sinclair Spectrum which is in danger of being
the first one of its breed to be stripped down for action in
the maze.
Brainy Bricks, made of a Lego and driven by a Kim,
carried off the best prize of the day, a Colne Robotics
Armdroid.
The maze running was a major attraction for the
1argely under 16 attendance at the Computer Fair and despite
the thoughtfull provision of tiered seating it was hard to
get a view, such were the crowds. The arrangements were much
better than at Wembly 1ast year, with the maze cordonned off
to give the competitors some space, and a separate and again
protected area for repairs and closer examination of the
mice.
We hear of many projects under way and it would be
nice to see more of the many mice in existance, even if
uncompleted, at the competitions. The builders might get
some helpfull advice, and more significantly, it would help
to encourage yet more people to have a go at simple
robotics.
Benjy & Frankie.
British Finals
Mouse Time(mins:secs)
T3 1:13
Son of Theseus 3:21
Brainy Bricks 4:53
Maisey out of time
Thumper retired
Theseus retired
Marvin retired
Robotics
New Competition for 1986
Our probing reporter has discovered what the devious Mr John Billingsley
is planning to introduce as the new competition to follow Micromice in 1986.
Ping Pong or Table Tennis, on a table measuring 2m x 1/2m, 1/4m high net,
12cm square black bat. There are height restrictions of 1/2m over the net,
and at each end to avoid the ball going way out of reach. Detecting the ball
is likely top be restricted to optical systems as radars will tend to interfere
with the opponent.
While you are planning your robot to play with that little problem how about a
quick mouse just to get your hand in.