{"id":1565,"date":"2013-06-19T17:42:44","date_gmt":"2013-06-19T22:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.spaceelevatorblog.com\/?p=1565"},"modified":"2025-05-04T22:35:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T05:35:11","slug":"the-japan-space-elevator-association-announces-spider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spaceelevatorblog.com\/?p=1565","title":{"rendered":"The Japan Space Elevator Association announces SPIDER"},"content":{"rendered":"

I received an email from Shuichi Ohno, President of the Japan Space Elevator Association (JSEA)<\/a> telling me about a new racing event they are holding – SPIDER.\u00a0 Shuichi had this to say about it:<\/p>\n

“Today, I would like to introduce to you our new category SE climber activities. It is called SPIDER from it’s characteristic, right weigh, speedy, smart(will be).<\/em><\/p>\n

Until this spring, we have been holding some kind of SE climber activities. But now, we categorize them in 3 series:<\/em><\/p>\n

– LASER : Lego bricks Activities with Space Elevator Race (weight <500g)<\/em><\/p>\n

– SPEC(SPEC in Japan, JSPEC for the world)\u00a0 : Space Elevator Challenge (weight > 1.5kg)
\nSub category ; SPEC class (<1km height)\u00a0 and Full-SPEC (>1km)<\/em><\/p>\n

– SPIDER : Light weight , inexpensive climber activities (500g < weight < 1.5kg)
\nSub category ; Spider (Radio controlled) and Auto Spider (automated)<\/em><\/p>\n

Distinction of SPIDER :
\n– Cheap : It is possible to build up with RC car kit parts and total amount in Japan is under $160 except RC\u00a0 controller or micro board computer. ( Type 540 motor and Ni-mH battery, no expensive Li-Po battery)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Easy to build ( but not too much easy) : Builder must work with drill and jig saw and file. EST to finish by high school techie student is 30 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n

– Safety awareness : Builder must study and think about dropping provision and safety mechanism with break.\u00a0 Those are very different point from other robot building activities.<\/em><\/p>\n

– Automation : I t is very easy to change RC receiver to micro computer like Aruduino.<\/em><\/p>\n

On June 8th, we held a mini-race with collage and university students. 8 climber came and 4 climber succeeded to climb in almost 10km\/h ascend speed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I would like to ask you to introduce this kind of activities on you blog. It is not so difficult to build a smart climber with RC kit \/ parts of recent-day.<\/em><\/p>\n

Important thing : Energy of recent battery and power of motors may cut the belt very easily if tire\/roller run idle much. Please consider to use the heat-stable material tether\/belt. In Japan we strongly suggest to use aramid fiber belt. Before you climb, please do the run idle and tether cutting experiment.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He also posted a video on YouTube relating to this:<\/p>\n