[Alex Cormier]

So I just received the email from the people doing the contest saying I was one of the 25 selected to do it. The kit will be mailed to me within a week and the dead line for the contest and you tube video of it working is June 1st. Also just stated in the email, I get an additional $100 to purchase anything form the vex site. wahoo!

here is my robot submission:

"Robots are becoming more a part of today's culture and are being integrated with everyday life. With that in mind, I present to you a modern twist on an everyday task. The robot will accomplish the task of playing fetch with a dog or even an enthusiastically active cat, while giving treats as a reward. The robot will be designed to pick up a ball with the supplied gripper and have a duel wheel launching system to fling the ball across the entire house or backyard. With the ball being launched far away from the robot, it makes sure the animal gets exercise and the joy of play time. When the ball has returned to the robot, via switch a treat could be dispensed rewarding the pet. The robot can be operated in a chair via a controller and use the camera system to locate the play toy along with the pet. The camera supplied in the kit would be used to locate missing balls once your pet losses interest and doesn't come back for that well deserved treat. This new way to play fetch with the family pet is especially useful to those who cannot walk, such as the elderly, or those with an injury or permanent disability. Solidworks will help greatly during the design process. I have experimented with the Solidworks program and other CAD software, and am excited to use Solidworks in the planning and building of a fun and easy to use robot which will play with the family pet. I have been involved in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) since 2003 and have built numerous robots in my life time. I am excited to have one of my innovative ideas come into being. I always try to come up with creative ways to conquer problems. I see not being able to play with your pet easily is a problem for both the human and animal. I believe that my idea is a great way to integrate robots into everyday life and is a progression towards more robots being used creatively to solve day to day problems."