iglide plastic bearings used on Laval University RoboCup entry

Laval University students use igus iglide J plastic bearings on robot with artificial intelligence

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – March 21, 2006 – Igus® Inc., the leading developer of iglide® plastic bearings, announced today that s tudents from Laval University in Quebec, Canada used iglide J on a robot that competed in RoboCup 2005, a unique robotics competition aimed at promoting artificial intelligence. The international event is an educational initiative that invites schools from around the globe to create autonomous robots in order to examine and integrate different technologies.

The Laval University team, comprised of twenty-five students, took a seat to watch the game, instead of taking hold of the controls at RoboCupSoccer, the central focus of the RoboCup activities. The team created its robot specifically for the Small Robot League where entries cannot exceed 22 centimeters in height or 18 centimeters in diameter.

After receiving a free supply of bearings in conjunction with igus’ Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, aimed at furthering the mechanical design ideas of students, the team used iglide J to effectively decrease the amount of friction between the robot’s structure and the wheels’ stainless steel shaft. This eliminated any loss of power to the robot’s transmission.

At the North American RoboCup US Open 2005, the team’s robot had to, without any human intervention, follow the orders of a ground-located computer to move and strike a small ball. To accomplish this goal, the robot was equipped with artificial vision that enabled it to determine the location of the “players”, the ball and the goal.

The team was classed in third position at the event and intends to continue competing in annual RoboCup challenges. Igus GmbH, igus Inc.’s parent company in Cologne, Germany is an official sponsor of the 2006 RoboCup. Students in the U.S., Canada and Mexico can contact igus Inc. for free samples if competing this year and students around the globe can visit www.igus.de to receive free samples from igus GmbH.

To learn more about Laval University’s RoboCupSoccer team, visit www.etudiants.phy.ulaval.ca/~robocuplaval/accueil_en.htm. If you are a student or professor who would like to learn more about the Y.E.S. Program, contact Courtney Toomey, Y.E.S. Program administrator via e-mail at ctoomey@igus.com or visit www.igus.com/yesprogram.

About igus
Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide. Product lines include Energy Chain Systems® to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, iglide self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings. For more information, contact igus at (800) 521-2747 or visit www.igus.com.

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	Download now Hi-Res/Lo-Res View the entire igus photo gallery and get other images and captions for print or online publication! Go now!			Laval University students use igus iglide J plastic bearings on robot with artificial intelligence EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – March 21, 2006 – Igus® Inc., the leading developer of iglide® plastic bearings, announced today that s tudents from Laval University in Quebec, Canada used iglide J on a robot that competed in RoboCup 2005, a unique robotics competition aimed at promoting artificial intelligence. The international event is an educational initiative that invites schools from around the globe to create autonomous robots in order to examine and integrate different technologies. The Laval University team, comprised of twenty-five students, took a seat to watch the game, instead of taking hold of the controls at RoboCupSoccer, the central focus of the RoboCup activities. The team created its robot specifically for the Small Robot League where entries cannot exceed 22 centimeters in height or 18 centimeters in diameter. After receiving a free supply of bearings in conjunction with igus’ Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, aimed at furthering the mechanical design ideas of students, the team used iglide J to effectively decrease the amount of friction between the robot’s structure and the wheels’ stainless steel shaft. This eliminated any loss of power to the robot’s transmission. At the North American RoboCup US Open 2005, the team’s robot had to, without any human intervention, follow the orders of a ground-located computer to move and strike a small ball. To accomplish this goal, the robot was equipped with artificial vision that enabled it to determine the location of the “players”, the ball and the goal. The team was classed in third position at the event and intends to continue competing in annual RoboCup challenges. Igus GmbH, igus Inc.’s parent company in Cologne, Germany is an official sponsor of the 2006 RoboCup. Students in the U.S., Canada and Mexico can contact igus Inc. for free samples if competing this year and students around the globe can visit www.igus.de to receive free samples from igus GmbH. To learn more about Laval University’s RoboCupSoccer team, visit www.etudiants.phy.ulaval.ca/~robocuplaval/accueil_en.htm. If you are a student or professor who would like to learn more about the Y.E.S. Program, contact Courtney Toomey, Y.E.S. Program administrator via e-mail at ctoomey@igus.com or visit www.igus.com/yesprogram. About igus Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide. Product lines include Energy Chain Systems® to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, iglide self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin® linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings. For more information, contact igus at (800) 521-2747 or visit www.igus.com.