RIBO Labs

I have wanted a good place to save and share robot related files. We have YouTube for videos, which works very well. But the file sharing has not come as far yet. This is understandable, though, as more people will watch videos then download files, and they need to make money also.

Listed below are the best file sharing sites yet:

MediaFire - Tons of ads, hard to find the little “download” button once on the page. You can add a description and title for your file. Files will stay online forever.

SkyDrive - Personally, I like the folder layout of SkyDrive, although you can not yet drag files from one folder to another - you must re-upload the files. The files do not have a page for them where you can add a description or title. Online time for files is unlimited.

I feel that we will soon see good file sharing sites like YouTube.

If you know of any good file sharing sites, please let us all know by posting a comment!

–Scotty

My Bioloid has been running quite a bit and the wires are starting to get chewed up, so I have been looking into wire protection. I will put non-abrasion sleeving over the wires then put shrink tubing over the plugs and wire protection to reduce wear on the wire near the plugs.

Right now I am ordering Non-Fray Expandable Braided Sleeving from Cable Organizer. I will let you know how well this form of protection works.

A split wire:

Diagram of the protection concept:

Cable Organizer

–Scotty

Update -

I ordered both 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch sleeving in 1 foot lengths to see which size works best. 

Jon Hylands sent me a link today for anti-static bags with the note:

“The anti-static bags are great - Digikey sells them in 100-packs for $6.18 [CAD].”

Digikey Anti-Static Bags

Yellow Tape to Close the Bags

–Scotty

After about 23 hours work spread over 5 days William can do a full cartwheel!

With the IMU from HUV Robotics on, 3 in 5 Cartwheels work. Without the IMU, 1 in 5 cartwheels work.

I should have a better video up soon.

–Scotty

BTW - William is the name of my Bioloid.

Today William learned how to do a somersult!

(video)

Download the Code

–Scotty

The IMU came today. The shipping was very fast and the board looks great (thanks Jon)!

Also, the packaging was great. The IMU was in a stactic proof bag to insure that the electronics did not get ‘burnt’ in the mail.

I just got it so I don’t have anything built yet.

HUV Robotics

–Scotty

I started building the Bioloid right after unpacking the box.

A good use for a yoyo squid:

First part:

I found it quicker to find the right servo if they are all lined up by ID#:

After about 9 hours of building time my Bioloid was built in humanoid form!

(Note that the CM-5 is not on yet, so the IMU can be added easily later)

In this picture you can see the waist:

–Scotty

I mentioned back in June that Jon Hylands from HUV, was working on BrainBot (for more information look back at that post). Since that post, BrainBot has come very far! Also Jon Hylands has opened a new website, HUV Robotics, which has sensors for the Bioloid kit including a 6 axis IMU and pressure sensors for the feet of a Bioloid!

I ordered a IMU for my Bioloid which will help with balance, and should aid in other cool movements (it should come soon)!

All of the sensors can be used with the CM-5, or any other controller board suitable like a GumStix coupled with a USB to BUS board.

IMU:

USB to BUS board:

Links: 

HUV Robotics

–Scotty

Pictures are copyright 2007 HUV Robotics.

My Bioloid came today!

In addition to an IMU, I also bought an extra servo, cables, wireless setup, and a JIS set for my Bioloid (seen in the pictures below).

Although this knife looks dangerous, it’s not…

No this is not a robot squid, it’s a yoyo squid (it was in the box).

Time to get started on the build…

–Scotty

I ordered a Bioloid this morning, and I’m pleased to say that it has been shipped with delivery set at January 7 (2008)!

I also ordered a few “extras” which I won’t say about until then.

Stay tuned, pictures, videos, and code to follow…

–Scotty