'Mercury', new type robot leg parts for KRS-4000 series were put on the market (Jan 28, 2009)

CRAFT HOUSE put 'Mercury, MELISSA Parallel-Link Leg set', new type robot leg parts, on the market on Jan. 28, 2009. MELISSA is KRS4000 Series Standard Model, just for using KRS-4000 series servo for biped robot produced by KONDO CO. LTD. New parts set is consisted of just parts, excluded servo and control board.

Feature of Mercury are as follows:
1) Mercury is a leg parts set using parallel-link mechanism for KRS-4000 Series servo produced by KONDO CO. LTD.
2) The parallel-link mechanism makes heavy robot body (Open Class using high power servo as KRS-4013, 4014) move with stability, or makes Standard Class body using low power servo as KRS-4024 with stability.
3) Leg size is depended on using structure, 280 x 48 x 42 mm or 302 x 48 x 42 mm
4) Mercury is just leg parts set, so robot builder can make another robot using their surplus servo and parts with the kit. The parts of 'MELISSA' for example, body or legs, also get from Hobby Robot site of CRAFT HOUSE.

The prototype of `Mercury` was used for Super Digger Ⅱ produced by Hironochi. Super Digger Ⅱ became the winner of the 1st JSRC (Japan Standard Regulation Community) Championship on Jan. 11, 2009 in Osaka. Mercury was developed by Kyushu Robot Group for Standard Regulation Class robot against 'Daigakku' which was the winner of standard regulation class and the third place of open class in the 8th Robofights on Nov. 2 and 3, 2008, also has parallel-link leg mechanism.

It was proved that the parallel link mechanism of leg is suitable for Standard Regulation Class (SRC) which is limited number of high torque servo as five and also for open class robot.

Under 1 kg Humanoid Robot Competition in Akihabara, Tokyo ( Jan. 18, 2009)

Robot competition, "U1K, Under 1 Kg“ sponsored by RT Co., Ltd. was carried out at RT Office in Akihabara, Tokyo on Jan. 18th, 2009. While the ROBO-ONE humanoids have set the standard for 2 kg at the 15th Championship on May 4th, 2009. Some hobbyist just don’t have the space, resources, or budget to get actively into building large robots. To expand the playing field, RT Co., Ltd. planed an under 1 kg biped robot competition. The regulation of biped robot body are as follows;
Weight: under 1 kg, Height: under 60 cm, Total axis: more than 15 ( arm with 6 servos, foot with 8 servos ), Sole size of foot: under 12 cm, Max wide length: under 60 cm, Robot control: wire, radio, IR control or autonomous.

The rule of the game `Pylon Attack` are follows; Field Size: 90 cm square, located 4 cubes along the center line. Robot puts off the rival’s pylon out of the field is winner. Robot gone down from the field is loser. Robots could attack each other and knocking down is not related to winning or losing of the game.

Twelve robots attended the competition. As marketed robots, i-SOBOT or G-ROBOT are fitting the body regulation, 3 i-SOBOTs and 2 G-ROBOTs attended the competition. However i-SOBOT is too small to compete other original robots or G-ROBOTs, competition for just i-SOBOT was also carried out.

The winner was Demo-5(UEMURA), G-ROBOT. G-ROBOT was marketed on March 2007 by HPI JAPAN. Its weight ( 900 g ) and movement activity are just suitable for U1k. The second place was Soga (IGAA), original robot developed for battle using small size servo by Mr. Igaa who developed Saga. In the i-SOBOT competition, KENTA-ki (KENTA) was winner.




The video are as follows:
Semifinal match 1


Semifinal match 2


Final match


i-SOBOT Semifinal match


i-SOBOT Final match


For other videos of the competition, click here.

The 6th Wandahoo Robot Carnival in Kawasaki (Jan 11, 2009)

Robot competition, "The 6th Wandahoo Robot Carnival" sponsored by Mr. Ishikawa was carried out at Institute of Industry Promotion Kawasaki, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture on Jan. 11th, 2009.







Forty robots joined the competition. Four type games, 2m foot race, pushing or pulling basket with bottles, Dice soccer and getting cubs (team game) were carried out. Robots got points from each game. In the case of team game, winner team robots got points.


The competition stared at 11:30 am. The winner was Sarga (Igaa). The 2nd place was Garu (Kumama), the 3rd place was WhiteDowarf (Emanon).　The winner, Sarga got the right to join the 15th ROBO-ONE Light Class Championship in Kawasaki on May 4th, 2009.








Videos are as follows:
Dash 2000(2m foot race)



Bottle tracking(pushing or pulling basket with bottles)



Dice Soccer



Getting cubs (team game)


Ramble Battle Final

Semifinal Battle


Final Battle

Robovie-X PRO, a highest class model, will be put on the market ( Dec 17, 2008 )

Vstone announced Robovie-X PRO using 16 high torque servos `VS-S281J` instead of `VS-S092J` will be put on the market. The robot is not a kit but just a constructed product. The shipment scheduled in the beginning of January, 2009 from Vstone or its web shop.

The characteristics of a new model are as follows:
1)Using high torque servo `VS-S281J` (28.5 kg/cm) which torque is 3 fold of `VS-S092J`(9.2 kg/cm) , makes up the mobility of the robot, for example the speed and stability of walking.

2)Considering the safety, the robot has a mechanism prevent finger from putting between arms and a handle for easy carrying.

3)The robot will be sold just from Vstone or its web shop with a robot-stand which keeps the robot standing. `VS-IX001`, a board for gyro sensor and position sensor is also included.

Specifications are as follows:
Length: 383(H)×180(W)×73(D)mm
Weight: 1.96kg(including battery)
Axis: 19 (head 1, arm 6, foot 12)
Servo: VS-S281 x16, VS-S0921J x3
CPU: VS-RC003HV ( including VS-IX001 board for gyro and position sensors)
Motion editor: RobovieMaker2
Battery: 6V Ni-H
OS: Windows2000/XP/Vista (in Japanese)
Interface: USB
Others: `VS-LED1`×2 for eyes

Autonomous Robot Beach Flag Competition in Ciba ( Nov. 23, 2008 )

The second `Autonomous Robot Beach Flag Competition` sponsored by KONDO CO. LED was carried out at Chiba Institute of Technology ( JR Sobu-line Tsudanuma in Chiba Prefecture ) on Nov. 23, 2008. The first competition was held in the 4th KHR Anniversary robot competition on June 7, 2008.

Robot Beach Flag game is similar to human's one. Two robots start from each opposite side and push down the pole sat in the center. The robot push down the pole at first is winner. The game was carried out in the court that of KONDO CUP Succor. The pole ( beach flag ) attached 40kHz ultra sonic wave sender was sat in the center circle.

As radio control is prohibited, all robots have to move autonomously. Just robots based KHR-1, KHR-2HV or KHR-1HV could join the competition. There were two classes, one was student class and the other was expert class. The robot joined the student class has to use KCB-1 as sensor control board and the robot joined expert class has no limitation concerning sensor control board. Eight team robots joined to the student class and 2 robots joined to the expert class.

It is necessary for winning the competition to reproduce the movement accurately. Because the winner is the robot could push down the pole at first in each game. The robot has to win each game. The Robot with best time is not always the champion.

The winner of the student class was `Yakushin Ver. Kaijin`(Nihon Kougakuin College of Hachioji), the second place was `Isokou-Walker`(Kanagawakenritsu Isoko-technological high school) and the third place was `Gram Replica`(Shibaura Institute Technology SRDC). The best time of the student class was 25.14 sec by `Isokou-Walker`. The winner of expert class was `BLACK TIGER`(IKETOMU).

The best time robot `Isokou-Walker` has 3 of ultra sonic wave sensors (USW) and 5 PSD sensors. When the robot start, the USW sensor system was used and when the robot was in the short distance from pole, the PSD sensor system was used.





The videos are as follows:

Isoko-Walker vs G, the semifinal 1st game


Isoko-Walker vs G, the semifinal 2nd game
Isoko-Walker recorded the best time 25.14 sec.


Gram Replica vs Syusaku-1, for the 3rd place 1st game


Gram Replica vs Syusaku-1, for the 3rd place 2nd game


Yakushin Ver. Kaijin vs Isoko-Walker, the final 1st game


Yakushin Ver. Kaijin vs Isoko-Walker, the final 2nd game