How to Enter Instructables and RoboGames Robot Contest

Robots are never going to take over the world if we don't get off the couch and make them ourselves!

That's why we've teamed up with the folks atRoboGames to bring you the Robot Contest!

Want to win a trip to RoboGames 2009? Tell us how you made your robot.

Good robot design is highly detailed, so we're asking you to document specific parts of your robot for this contest. Maybe you built the ultimate manipulator arm, designed a killer sensor array, reused some great trash, or just made a gorgeous housing - pick something you're proud of, and share how you made it.

Show us what you and your robots can do, and win a trip to go to RoboGames, flight and hotel room included! We're also giving away a RoboPhilo Walking Android kit, and lots of Robot-themed gear.

You're probably already working on some sort of robot - just be sure to document it carefully.
The more ideas we can share about making robots the more we'll be helping others learn how to make robots! The more people know about robots, the more awesome robots will be built all over the world!
Information wants to be free. Share your knowledge, inspire others, and win great prizes!

You can bring your robot to this year's RoboGames! There are 70 different events so robots of all types can find a suitable category. It's a great opportunity to test the machines you've been working on, or to give your FIRST robot an extracurricular challenge.

Since robots take time to build and document, we're giving you plenty of time to enter. You have until a couple weeks after the RoboGames in June to submit your robot Instructable. So get your camera ready and let's see what you've got!

Robots can be either remote controlled, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous. Since an entry can be either a complete robot or a part of a robot it's possible to submit multiple entries from one robot, each discussing a different part of the process. Entries can also fall into multiple categories. For example, an autonomous beer-fetching bot may fall into the "brain" category for its autonomy, "sensors" for its ability to find the beer, and "manipulators" for its ability to grab the beer.

Prizes

Grand Prize (1): A trip to the June 2009 RoboGames in San Francisco, CA! Includes airfare
for one from anywhere within the continental US, 4 nights in a hotel near the event, and VIP access/enrty fees for the lucky winner. Also a Robot prize package including both Instructables Robot and RoboGames t-shirts, and a selection of robot-themed stickers.
Value: $2500

First Prize (1): RoboPhilo Walking Android kit! Plus the Robot prize package.
Value: $500

Second Prize (30): A Robot prize package including both Instructables Robot and RoboGames t-shirts, and a selection of robot-themed stickers. Five (5) prizes will be awarded for each category.
Value: $50

Step 1: Official Rules

1. All federal, state, and local taxes on prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. No purchases are necessary; void where prohibited by law.

2. Participants agree to abide by all decisions of Instructables, contest co-sponsors, and judges, which shall be final and binding with respect to all issues relating to this contest.

3. Prize is not transferable and no cash alternative or prize substitution is available. Instructables and contest co-sponsors reserve the right to substitute a similar prize of equal or greater value if the prize listed is unavailable for any reason. All potential winners are subject to verification at the discretion of Instructables and contest co-sponsors.

4. Winner agrees that prizes are being provided "as is", and Instructables and contest co-sponsors make no warranty, representation or guarantee regarding the prize, including but not limited to its quality, condition, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

5. Instructables and contest co-sponsors are not responsible for problems including (but not limited to) damaged, incorrect, inaccurate, lost, delayed, or defective entries, or for injury or damage to any computer resulting from participation in this contest. Entries that have been tampered with or altered are void.

6. Instructables reserves the right to modify, cancel, postpone or end the contest at any time as necessary, at its sole discretion, or to disqualify any participant or winner, at its sole discretion, deemed to have cheated, destroyed, obstructed, or otherwise acted illegally or in bad faith in relation to this contest.

7. Instructables reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be in violation of the Terms of Service; to be acting in violation of these Official Rules; to be acting in a unethical or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person.

8. By submitting an entry and entering this contest, you represent and warrant that: you are over the age of 18, or entering with the knowledge and permission of your parent or guardian (subject to verification), and that the entry does not contain or incorporate the intellectual property and/or confidential information of any third party.

9. By submitting an entry and entering this contest, you hereby grant Instructables and RoboGames a perpetual, irrevocable, sublicenseable, worldwide, royalty free right to publish and distribute your entry for their promotional purposes.

10. Governing Law: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of the official rules, or the rights of entrants, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with, the substance laws of the State of California and any applicable laws and regulations of the United States.