Thrills, chills, and plenty of spills- one of the entrants in the Tsukuba Challenge 2010 being cheered on by enthusiastic supporters
They`ve been getting ready for the big race for weeks, months, maybe even years. Training, training, and then more training- working to improve speed stamina and coordination: knowing that every SECOND will count in the pursuit of victory.
And it all comes down to Thurday and Friday of this week, at an event for which they will be converging on Tsukuba from all over Japan. For victory. For the prize. For the glory!
No. I am not talking about the famous and very popular Tsukuba Marathon, which will be held later this month ( on the 28th), and in which thousands will run. I`m referring to the 4th annual Tsukuba Challenge, also known as the Real World Robot Challenge- in which about 70 robots- on-wheels of various design will try to negotiate a course around Tsukuba`s Central Park. This year the course will run a gruelling 1.1 kilometers, from Tsukuba`s Expo Center, around the pond at Tsukuba`s Central Park, then over the pedestrian bridge to Nova Hall! There will be various designated stopping points along the way.
If you think this sounds difficult, IT IS. In fact, last year only 5 out of 72 teams could complete the course, which was much shorter than what they will have to navigate this year.
A practice run over the pedestrian bridge between Tsukuba Center and the Expo Center
If you`ve been around Tsukuba Center over the past few months, more specifically on the pedestrian road between Nova Hall and the Expo Center, you have almost surely seen the curious sight of some of the teams practicing the course with their robots. It is a strange sight indeed to see groups of two or three green-capped, name-tag wearing OTAKU (computer nerd) types clustered around the odd looking, diminutive, wheeled vehicles ( often made using wheel chairs, of all things!), making their way along the path at what could only be called a SNAILS PACE.
The Tsukuba University team ironing out some technical problems during a practice run
Starting tomorrow( Thursday November 18) at 10 AM at the Tsukuba Expo center will be a trial run which will be held over a 240 meter coure. Those who successfully complete it, will be able to take part in the FINALS on the following day, also starting at 10AM.
Passing by the Tsukuba Library on a practice run
Since Tsukuba is Japan`s SCIENCE CITY, and is now perhaps the capital of cutting edge robot technology, this event seems to me just perfect. Much more appropriate for the city than the Tsukuba Matsuri ( in which the main theme is a group of floats which are taken from a very famous festival in Aomori prefecture-after they have finished using them there), or even the Tsukuba Marathon, since there are many marathons held all over Japan ( a dime a dozen!).
So come on out tomorrow and the next day for a unique, TRULY TSUKUBAN event. Join the nerds cheering the robots on! At the rate they go it will take quite a long time. They will need plenty of encouragement to make it to the finish line!
In fact, however, the finishing time will be 4PM tomorrow and 1:30PM, the next day.
See you there!
One of the many robots entered in the race which make use of a wheel-chair
The starting point- at the Expo Center
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