Sir Kitt, a TV Presentor Robolution

This cool Humanoid was built by builder Orac to interview guests at a TV studio in the UK. Sadly it does not look like the recorded segment will air, replacing it with genuine human. Orac commented that he hopes to “enjoy the fruits of [his] labour” by finding some other job for his little friend! It will be interesting to see where Sir Kitt shows up next!

Links:

- Check out how Sir Kitt was built (includes many pictures) at RoboSavvy
- Orac’s UK Robot Group

Robot File Sharing

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

Anti-Static Bags

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

William’s Cartwheel (Video)

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.

Bioloid IMU

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

Time to Build a Bioloid!

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

HUV Robotics Bioloid Sensors

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.

Battery Charging, or Tires Warming? (Video)

BryanB’s line-following robot “Arty” got better times with each loop at Fall Chibotica 2007.

Although a small factor, the warmth the tires got from running may have caused them to get more traction. The added traction would have then caused the robot’s tires to slip less, and the robot would go faster. 

–Scotty

Line-Following Tow Truck (Video)

One more Steve Hassenplug creation that I saw at Fall Chibotica/iHobby Expo 2007 was a line-following tow truck named “Big Rig”

Steve kept the same design used by the LEGO(r) Tow Truck kit but changed the design enough to attach one NXT Brick under the hood, and light sensors to find and track a line in the front.

–Scotty

Best Humanoid Hits (Video)

At Fall Chibotica 2007 (hosted by Chibots), which was held at iHobby Expo, there were a few very good humanoid punches, served by Trossen Robotics’ RBT-1, Mike’s RoboNova-1, and Royce’s RoboNova-1! Watch the video below to see the best hits!

(Note: RBT-1 is the blue robot. Mike’s robot, Boomer, is the RoboNova-1 with Matt’s Grippers. Royce’s robot is the other RoboNova-1)

–Scotty