Israeli designed and operated robots swept the 11th Annual International Fire Fighting Robot Contest this month, taking first, second and third prizes. All told, Israeli teams filled six out of the top ten places. 45 teams (ten of which were Israeli) from seven different countries took part in the competition, which was held at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
The first place award in the High School Division of the prestigious competition went to the six-member team from Hayovel High School in Herzliya, with their robot "FF-01=FE"; in second place was the team from Aviv High School in Ra'anana, with "Robo-Gyg"; and the third place winner was the team of high schoolers from Ramot Hefer, with "Citizen Tito". In sixth place was Blich High School of Ramat Gan, with their robot "Zosha"; in addition to their third place win, Ramot Hefer filled the ninth spot; as Aviv rounded out the top ten.
The specific challenge of the International Fire Fighting Robot Contest is to build a computer controlled robot that can move through a model floor plan structure of a house, find a lit candle and then extinguish it in the shortest time possible. Contest guidelines point out that the contest is meant to simulate the real-world operation of a robot performing a fire protection function in an actual home, with the candle representing the uncontrolled fire and the "maze" including all the dynamic variations and problems that may be encountered in the real world.
The first place award in the High School Division of the prestigious competition went to the six-member team from Hayovel High School in Herzliya, with their robot "FF-01=FE"; in second place was the team from Aviv High School in Ra'anana, with "Robo-Gyg"; and the third place winner was the team of high schoolers from Ramot Hefer, with "Citizen Tito". In sixth place was Blich High School of Ramat Gan, with their robot "Zosha"; in addition to their third place win, Ramot Hefer filled the ninth spot; as Aviv rounded out the top ten.
The specific challenge of the International Fire Fighting Robot Contest is to build a computer controlled robot that can move through a model floor plan structure of a house, find a lit candle and then extinguish it in the shortest time possible. Contest guidelines point out that the contest is meant to simulate the real-world operation of a robot performing a fire protection function in an actual home, with the candle representing the uncontrolled fire and the "maze" including all the dynamic variations and problems that may be encountered in the real world.