Meet “Harry” the Bowling Robot

By Patrick Brettingen
USBC Communications

One of the most important members of the USBC Specifications and Certification team is not a human being.

He’s a robot, and his name is “Harry.” Click on the image to watch a video of Harry.

Harry (named in honor of former testing facility employee Harry Lawrence) is an approximately seven-foot tall robotic bowling ball thrower who is an integral part of the equipment testing and research effort at the USBC Specifications and Certification test facility in Greendale, Wis.

Developed by USBC and in use since 1999, Harry is a unique computer controlled hybrid machine partly encased in safety glass that combines hydraulics, air pressure and electronics that power a mechanical arm that delivers bowling balls to help test balls, lanes, pins and oil patterns. Harry is similar to the United States Golf Association’s robotic golfer “Iron Byron” whose mechanical arm swings golf clubs for research purposes in that sport.

Harry has two “hands,” a device with two clamps that grabs bowling balls. A piston and cylinder assembly makes the machine’s hand open and close to pick up and release a ball. Springs and gravity provide forward momentum to propel a ball down the lane.

. [Read more]

Junior Gold Sells Out

 

USBC Junior Gold Championships sells out again

1/18/2008

By Lucas Wiseman
USBC Communications

For the third consecutive year, the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships will feature a sold-out field.

All 1,728 spots have been sold for the event, which will be conducted July 5-11 at three bowling centers in suburban Detroit. The Junior Gold Championships reached capacity in record time and will be sold out for the fourth time in five years.

“The fact that we sold out so quickly is a testament to the enthusiasm out there for this event,” USBC Vice President of Tournaments Jack Mordini said. “The Junior Gold Championships is the highlight of the bowling season for many of our youth athletes and we are pleased to see this event continue to attract big numbers.”

The Junior Gold Championships will be conducted at three Detroit-area bowling centers with Sunnybrook Lanes and Sterling Lanes in Sterling Heights, Mich., and Century Bowl in Waterford, Mich., hosting the event. [Read more]