ExSpurt Controls

Kill Push Button          Red/Green LED         Reset Push Button

        Sensor Adjustment    

ExSpurt Quick Instructions

1.    Plug in the red Deans Ultra connector.  The 5 second timer will start and the Red/Green LED will flash quickly.

2.    Push the Kill Push Button on ExSpurt or the remote.  This puts ExSpurt into the Sensor Test mode.

3.    Place ExSpurt on the Sumo ring with the front bumper on the start line.  See photo below.  The exact position is critical; no other start position is acceptable.

4.    Hold down the Reset Push Button.  Release the Reset Push Button at “Go”.  The 5 second countdown will begin and the LED will flash red and green quickly.

5.    When the match is over, press any kill push button on the remote or the Kill Push Button on ExSpurt.  This stops ExSpurt’s motors and initiates the Sensor Test Mode.

6.    Repeat item 3 through item 5 until the contest is over.

7.    When the whole contest is over, unplug the red Deans Ultra connector.

        Start Line

ExSpurt Detailed Instructions

ExSpurt has three modes of operation.

Run  This is the only mode where the motors run.  The LED is signaling sensor status (Green indicates that at least one sensor sees something, Red indicates that all of the sensors see something).  ExSpurt will initially run a specific pattern searching for the opponent.  The pattern changes with each run.  Pushing the Reset push button will restart the program, but produce no noticeable change in ExSpurt’s behavior.  Pushing the Kill push button (or any remote push button) will switch ExSpurt to the sensor test mode.

Countdown  The five second counter is initiated.  The LED flashes Red and Green quickly.  Pushing the Reset push button while in the Countdown mode restarts the five second counter.  Pushing the Kill push button (or any remote push button) while in the Countdown mode will switch ExSpurt to the Sensor Test mode.

Sensor Test  This is the standby mode between matches.  The LED indicates the status of the sensors.  If the LED is off, the five sensors do not detect anything.  If the LED is Green, at least one of the sensors sees something.  If the LED is Red, all of the sensors see something.  Pushing and releasing the Reset push button will start the Countdown mode.  Pushing the Kill push button (or any button on the remote) will be ignored.

Controls

Reset Push Button  Holding the Reset push button down stops all ExSpurt’s functions.  If ExSpurt is in the Run mode, pushing the Reset push button will stop ExSpurt’s motors.  Releasing the Reset push button will cause ExSpurt to continue in the Run mode.  If ExSpurt is in the Countdown or Sensor Test modes, pushing the Reset push button will stop all functions.  Releasing the Reset push button will start the five second delay in the Countdown mode.

Kill Push Button  The kill push button and every button on the remote have identical functions.  If ExSpurt is in the Run mode or Countdown mode, pushing the Kill push button causes ExSpurt to go into the Sensor Test mode.  If ExSpurt is in the Sensor Test mode, the Kill push button is ignored.

Sensor Adjustment  It may be necessary to adjust the sensor sensitivity depending on local lighting conditions.  Normally, the sensors are set once at the beginning of the contest and not tweaked during the event.

Initiate the Sensor Test mode, and place ExSpurt on the sumo ring start line.  Place another competitor (or any other object) on the other start line about four inches away.  The LED should be mostly Green but turning off on occasion.  If the LED is off or only flashes Green occasionally, increase sensor range by turning the Sensor Adjustment pot clockwise until the LED is Green most of the time.  If the LED is solid Green, turn the Sensor Adjustment counter clockwise until the Green LED turns off occasionally.

Start Position

ExSpurt must be placed with it’s front bumper exactly on the start line.  The ring must be the standard 77 cm diameter mini sumo ring with two 10 cm by 1 cm start lines, each centered 5 cm from the mini sumo ring’s center.   Since ExSpurt’s initial search routines do not rely on sensor input and some of the routines take ExSpurt very close to the edge of the mini sumo ring, any misplacement at the start will probably cause ExSpurt to run out of the ring.

Maintenance

There is no need to clean ExSpurt’s tires during the competition.  ExSpurt does not rely on brute force pushing power.

There is no need to recharge ExSpurt’s batteries.  One charge is normally sufficient for three or four complete contests.  Just leave ExSpurt in Sensor Test mode between matches and unplug ExSpurt at the end of the contest.

If one of ExSpurt’s wheels becomes loose during the contest, an Allen wrench is provided to tighten the wheels’ set screws.  There are two scratched lines (see photo below) on the wheel’s surface to indicate the location of the set screw.  Push the Allen wrench into the tire between the wheel scratches, about 1/8 inches in from the tire edge.  The hole for the Allen wrench is not very visible.  With a little probing, the wrench should engage the set screw.

Rick Brooks