Datasheet

Page 8· Applied Robotics with the SumoBot
its opponent. The less friction, the more easily the SumoBot slips, which means it can no
longer push as hard.
There are two ways to increase the friction between the tire tread and sumo ring. First,
increase the SumoBot's weight, and second, find the best possible tread material. The
interesting thing about tire tread materials is that they have to be paired with the material
the sumo ring is made out of. While one material might work best in the SumoBot
Competition Ring poster, a different material might work better on a painted wood
surface. Activity #3 introduces experiments you can perform to quantify the increases in
friction from both increasing the SumoBot's weight and changing the tread materials.
ACTIVITY #1: ADJUSTING THE PLOW
One of the keys to increasing your SumoBot's chances of winning a match against
another Parallax SumoBot is adjusting the plow so that it's more likely to pass under the
opponent's plow. For example, the "winning" SumoBot in Figure 1-1 has the mechanical
advantage, with its opponent off balance. In this activity, you will repeatedly test and
adjust your SumoBots' plows while looking for the setting that will give one of your
SumoBots the best chances in the sumo ring.
Losing Winning
Figure 1-1
SumoBots Wrestling
The one on the right
has the advantage
Parts Required
(2) Fully assembled and tested Parallax SumoBot robots
(1) SumoBot Competition Ring poster, or other sumo ring
Clear tape (not included)
Black felt-tip marker (not included)