Comments on: Playing with kits http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/ Because someone has to build our future robot overlords! Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:24:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ash http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-39 ash Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-39 <p> Awesome! Maybe we should make that an official competition or something. </p> <p> "Build a device that can successfully deliver a cold beverage from an eski to a specified target area. Extra points for opening it before delivery." </p> <p> :)  </p> <p>   </p> Awesome! Maybe we should make that an official competition or something.

"Build a device that can successfully deliver a cold beverage from an eski to a specified target area. Extra points for opening it before delivery."

:)  

 

]]> By: kymhorsell http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-40 kymhorsell Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-40 <p> Now THAT's an idea! </p> <p> Maybe we need to start a "petit challenges" subject in the forums. :) </p> Now THAT’s an idea!

Maybe we need to start a "petit challenges" subject in the forums. :)

]]> By: daveymilla http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-42 daveymilla Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-42 <p> I like this idea. </p> <p> I already have a RC Esky which zips around delivering beers and which is due to get upgraded to pc control,  but I think a robot should be automated and not a RC model - as far as a competition goes.  So my RC Esky wouldnt count as it stands.  What do you guys think?  </p> <p> That robot wars thing is really Radio Controlled machines wars not robot wars? ? </p> I like this idea.

I already have a RC Esky which zips around delivering beers and which is due to get upgraded to pc control,  but I think a robot should be automated and not a RC model – as far as a competition goes.  So my RC Esky wouldnt count as it stands.  What do you guys think? 

That robot wars thing is really Radio Controlled machines wars not robot wars? ?

]]> By: ash http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-43 ash Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-43 <p> Yeah Robot Wars is a bit of misnomer really. But then again, trying to work out exactly what is a robot and what isn't is worth a PHD in itself these days :) </p> <p> Your RC eski sounds like a good platform to built automation onto though! </p> Yeah Robot Wars is a bit of misnomer really. But then again, trying to work out exactly what is a robot and what isn’t is worth a PHD in itself these days :)

Your RC eski sounds like a good platform to built automation onto though!

]]> By: daveymilla http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-44 daveymilla Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-44 <p> Gidday Ash, </p> <p> The idea is to make a platform robust enough to keep a PC or laptop mobile.  There seems to be no cheap off the shelf way to do this? ? </p> <p> Hey, have you noticed that in general chicks dont dig machines?  </p> <p> For instance,  every guy who hears about or sees the Teski (Tank Esky) wants one( theres a mpeg of it kickin around somewheres) and everyone says 'COOL you should do this and this and this etc... with it' - seriously I have never had so much enthusiastic feedback  - but not  from chicks -    I took the Teski in to show my old boss - he was enthused but the 6 girls who work at the presses at that drycleaning shop all saw it and none of them said one word - until Mandulah the indian girl said ' Oh I can see why you dont have a girlfriend !!!! ' </p> <p> Peggy is an old trooper though and would drink anyone under the table and she wanted a teski - so not all women are the same I suppose. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Howz your electronics skills?  I got sent some free samples from National Semiconductor.  These were programmable micro-potentiometers.   My plan was to find out what sort of pots my old RC transmitter unit uses and mirror them with pc controlled micropots - that way I could use my old rc unit handheld or computer controlled.   But I never interfaced the chips -   does anybody know if there is any reason why that sort of approach should not work?  </p> <p> dave </p> Gidday Ash,

The idea is to make a platform robust enough to keep a PC or laptop mobile.  There seems to be no cheap off the shelf way to do this? ?

Hey, have you noticed that in general chicks dont dig machines? 

For instance,  every guy who hears about or sees the Teski (Tank Esky) wants one( theres a mpeg of it kickin around somewheres) and everyone says ‘COOL you should do this and this and this etc… with it’ – seriously I have never had so much enthusiastic feedback  – but not  from chicks -    I took the Teski in to show my old boss – he was enthused but the 6 girls who work at the presses at that drycleaning shop all saw it and none of them said one word – until Mandulah the indian girl said ‘ Oh I can see why you dont have a girlfriend !!!! ‘

Peggy is an old trooper though and would drink anyone under the table and she wanted a teski - so not all women are the same I suppose.

 

Howz your electronics skills?  I got sent some free samples from National Semiconductor.  These were programmable micro-potentiometers.   My plan was to find out what sort of pots my old RC transmitter unit uses and mirror them with pc controlled micropots – that way I could use my old rc unit handheld or computer controlled.   But I never interfaced the chips -   does anybody know if there is any reason why that sort of approach should not work? 

dave

]]> By: ash http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-46 ash Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-46 <p> Hmm, my electronic skills are fine as long as you stay in the TTL digital world. It's the analog stuff that kills me! :) </p> <p> It probably wouldn't be too hard to splice in those pots so that you can switch between them and the original controller. You could then just plug the controller into your comp (perhaps via a <a href="http://greta.dhs.org/UBW/index.html">UBW</a> or something similar) and then bobs your uncle! (or aunt - these ARE modern times :) </p> <p> If your home computer is going to be around where your robot is you might want to think about offloading the processing via some sort of wireless link rather than trying to fit a lappy onto the actual machine. Depends what you are trying to do really. </p> <p> Because I am interested in computer vision I like the idea of the robot just being a physical interface for the computer to explore my house :) Also in the case of your Tesky (hehe cool name) it would then allow you to possibly use other sensors like cameras etc that are not even mounted on the robot itself. The digital pot idea sounds like a good straightforward way to easily switch between autonomous and manual control though. </p> <p> Regarding girls and robots, luckily for me I work with a lot of girls who are unusually into robots and my girlfriend has come to understand (over the years) how much I am into them so she gets as excited as I do when my table full of servos and LEDs starts flashing and jiggling around :) </p> <p> I would have to say the Transformers movie has also helped bridge the male/female/robot divide hehe :) </p> Hmm, my electronic skills are fine as long as you stay in the TTL digital world. It’s the analog stuff that kills me! :)

It probably wouldn’t be too hard to splice in those pots so that you can switch between them and the original controller. You could then just plug the controller into your comp (perhaps via a UBW or something similar) and then bobs your uncle! (or aunt – these ARE modern times :)

If your home computer is going to be around where your robot is you might want to think about offloading the processing via some sort of wireless link rather than trying to fit a lappy onto the actual machine. Depends what you are trying to do really.

Because I am interested in computer vision I like the idea of the robot just being a physical interface for the computer to explore my house :) Also in the case of your Tesky (hehe cool name) it would then allow you to possibly use other sensors like cameras etc that are not even mounted on the robot itself. The digital pot idea sounds like a good straightforward way to easily switch between autonomous and manual control though.

Regarding girls and robots, luckily for me I work with a lot of girls who are unusually into robots and my girlfriend has come to understand (over the years) how much I am into them so she gets as excited as I do when my table full of servos and LEDs starts flashing and jiggling around :)

I would have to say the Transformers movie has also helped bridge the male/female/robot divide hehe :)

]]> By: daveymilla http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-50 daveymilla Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-50 <p> Thanks for the reply Ash.   You ARE lucky to know girls into robotics!!!  I honestly only know one and she lives in London.  I think the Japanese girls really dig robots too, so I stand corrected. </p> <p>   </p> <p> As for setting a laptop up as the brain in a robot  ---- I will ask you one question -  can u give a robot a better brain? And I reckon most robots are too small anyway! </p> <p> ........... A couple of years ago I had a go at making the following robot for a party nite..... </p> <p> -----------------------------------------------------------  </p> <p> 2*battery drill motors + Wheels + castor base.... </p> <p> 2*12V lead acid batts........................................... </p> <p> 1*150Watt Inverter.(240V output)....................... </p> <p> 2*Stereo speakers + AMP..................................... </p> <p> 1* 100Mhz IBMThinkPad + wireless ethernet card ... </p> <p> 1* Parallel Port dual H-bridge Motor drive............. </p> <p>  1* Strap on inflatable sex doll.............................. </p> <p> ------------------------------------------------------------------ </p> <p> Using VB, I installed on the IBMThinkPad, a program that would output any text file, thru the speakers, as a sexy female computer voice !    ;)   </p> <p> From a second, desk based, computer I remotely controlled and sent text files to the mobile IBMThinkpad Dirty Mouthed Sexbot !!!!! </p> <p> For example I created a text file with obscene comments about my mate Mat who was getting married - it was his Bucks Party. </p> <p> Not only could I leave the IBMThinkpad robot to run its own on board programs,  but I could also remotely control what was running on that Laptop robot or even drive it directly via my second wireless computer. </p> <p> This robot was for my friend/boss in an IT department.  It sure was a HOOT buying that doll ;) </p> <p>  The Laptop was able to remain in its charging/docking station which recieved 240V via the inverter.  The inverter also powered the speakers/amp. </p> <p> In normal operation the laptop was ON but had its screen folded down for the lowest possible profile -  but the screen was invaluable when it came to interogate and program the robot. </p> <p> ........that said .....  s i g h .........! ! </p> <p> It didnt work that well.  The laptop had trouble keeping pace with synchronizing its pulses to the MOSFETS and speaking dirty at the same time.  The result was erratic and unpredictable behaviour of the motors.   It had me BAFFLED!!   I tested all components as ok, but still this monster had trouble just doing what is said it was doing.  The Laptops parallel port pins were  not firing when the software said but would often delay unpredictably.  I put this down to 'interlacing' issues of the multiple process operating system.  windoze .......I HATE BILL!!    </p> <p> I reckon the purchase of a real motor driver card from a real manufacturer would have solved all my problems -  oh,.. and a newer Laptop!!! </p> <p>  Oh well, onward christian robots!!! </p> <p> p.s. have you seen those air soft tanks??   Id love to hack the RC transmitter and computer control one of those babies!!!!!! </p> <p>   </p> <p>   </p> <p>   </p> Thanks for the reply Ash.   You ARE lucky to know girls into robotics!!!  I honestly only know one and she lives in London.  I think the Japanese girls really dig robots too, so I stand corrected.

 

As for setting a laptop up as the brain in a robot  —- I will ask you one question -  can u give a robot a better brain? And I reckon most robots are too small anyway!

……….. A couple of years ago I had a go at making the following robot for a party nite…..

———————————————————– 

2*battery drill motors + Wheels + castor base….

2*12V lead acid batts…………………………………….

1*150Watt Inverter.(240V output)…………………..

2*Stereo speakers + AMP……………………………….

1* 100Mhz IBMThinkPad + wireless ethernet card …

1* Parallel Port dual H-bridge Motor drive………….

 1* Strap on inflatable sex doll…………………………

——————————————————————

Using VB, I installed on the IBMThinkPad, a program that would output any text file, thru the speakers, as a sexy female computer voice !    ;)   

From a second, desk based, computer I remotely controlled and sent text files to the mobile IBMThinkpad Dirty Mouthed Sexbot !!!!!

For example I created a text file with obscene comments about my mate Mat who was getting married – it was his Bucks Party.

Not only could I leave the IBMThinkpad robot to run its own on board programs,  but I could also remotely control what was running on that Laptop robot or even drive it directly via my second wireless computer.

This robot was for my friend/boss in an IT department.  It sure was a HOOT buying that doll ;)

 The Laptop was able to remain in its charging/docking station which recieved 240V via the inverter.  The inverter also powered the speakers/amp.

In normal operation the laptop was ON but had its screen folded down for the lowest possible profile -  but the screen was invaluable when it came to interogate and program the robot.

……..that said …..  s i g h ………! !

It didnt work that well.  The laptop had trouble keeping pace with synchronizing its pulses to the MOSFETS and speaking dirty at the same time.  The result was erratic and unpredictable behaviour of the motors.   It had me BAFFLED!!   I tested all components as ok, but still this monster had trouble just doing what is said it was doing.  The Laptops parallel port pins were  not firing when the software said but would often delay unpredictably.  I put this down to ‘interlacing’ issues of the multiple process operating system.  windoze …….I HATE BILL!!   

I reckon the purchase of a real motor driver card from a real manufacturer would have solved all my problems -  oh,.. and a newer Laptop!!!

 Oh well, onward christian robots!!!

p.s. have you seen those air soft tanks??   Id love to hack the RC transmitter and computer control one of those babies!!!!!!

 

 

 

]]> By: ash http://ausrobotics.com/2007/08/playing_with_kits/comment-page-1/#comment-52 ash Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-52 <p> Hehe, that sounds awesome! </p> <p> I have to say, the appeal of the dirty-talking-sex-o-droid was probably only improved by the slightly out of control motors hehe :) </p> <p> How long did the batteries last for? I'm definitely gonna have to buy a mini- or nano-itx board and use that as a brain one day. That way I could just plug in a normal webcam and wireless card and run the OS from flash for efficiency. </p> <p>  I am looking forward to getting into the competition a bit more as soon as I get a chance. I have been really busy at work this week (as you can tell from the fact that I am posting this from work at 11:38pm :) but I'm definitely gonna try to get some more hardware for my beerdroid on Saturday. </p> Hehe, that sounds awesome!

I have to say, the appeal of the dirty-talking-sex-o-droid was probably only improved by the slightly out of control motors hehe :)

How long did the batteries last for? I’m definitely gonna have to buy a mini- or nano-itx board and use that as a brain one day. That way I could just plug in a normal webcam and wireless card and run the OS from flash for efficiency.

 I am looking forward to getting into the competition a bit more as soon as I get a chance. I have been really busy at work this week (as you can tell from the fact that I am posting this from work at 11:38pm :) but I’m definitely gonna try to get some more hardware for my beerdroid on Saturday.

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