<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"><HTML DIR=ltr><HEAD><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"></HEAD><BODY><DIV><FONT face='Arial' color=#000000 size=2>This is my first e-mail to the DPRG List. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>First I want to thank DPRG for putting on the
competitions. I have participated in about four DPRG sponsored events that
required me and my students to build and run one of our devices.
Without the push of those competitions our robots would have just sat
in our labs. My students would keep saying, "Sure the robot can
do that, leave me alone to work on my algorithm." In reality,
our systems can't accomplish the simplist of tasks precisely, repeatably and
reliably.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I know the competitions are a big
hastle to set up and run. I greatly appreciate the time and
effort that others have invested. </FONT> I am a little hesident
to express my opinions about the competition but here it goes.</DIV>
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<DIV>- I like the big course because my tank can actually fit on the
course. The big course was too big for our hexipod but almost any
course is too big for our hexipod.</DIV>
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<DIV>- I really like the move to the outdoor courses. Dave Anderson, a.k.a
dpa, has done a great job of promoting these activities. We planned,
but failed to get a vehicle ready for the recent "Long-Haul"
competition. My son and I did show up however but left after about an
hour.</DIV>
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<DIV>I am sorry I can not be more insiteful, I son wants to go out and
play. Whatever you do. Please keep the competitions. Again,
thank everone for taking the effort to make them work.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Brian Huff</DIV>
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