Posts filed under ‘Robot Websites’
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].”
–Scotty
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.
–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:
–Scotty
Pictures are copyright 2007 HUV Robotics.
RoboPhilo is Shipping!
After the quick wait compared to Pleo, RoboPhilo is shipping!
“Kilroym42” said (although I have not confirmed it true) that due to recent lead paint on toys, RoboPhilo may come with decals or instructions on how to paint RoboPhilo yourself, until they receive the needed certificates to export.
Check out my previous post about RoboPhilo.
–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
RoboPhilo, Cheap? (Videos)
I have been wondering since I first heard about RoboPhilo, “where did they cut the money?” I think Mike Overstreet, answered this best in his recent write-up on Robots Dreams:
“The light weight frame makes more sense because of the low torque of the servos. This made me think. What if you could buy the robot now and then upgrade the servos and the brackets at a later date? That is when I realized that this was a Robonova-1 dressed in a cheap disguise.”
My thoughts of RoboPhilo, from what I saw at iHobby Expo 2007, are:
- Cool (in general).
- Torque is low in the servos, may restrict heavy add-ons.
- A bit shaky, not solid firm movements.
- Plastic (not good or bad).
- User friendly, utilizes a graphical interface for newbies, yet soon you will be able to program in “C” with an add-on SDK.
- Servos will be up-gradeable, no price set.
It is clear that you can not fight against a RoboNova-1, with RoboPhilo, but you could start a RoboPhilo group so that with hacks, all robots will be more or less in the same class.
If you have the money to buy a RoboNova-1, RBT-1, Bioloid, etc. you should get one of those, but if you don’t have a $1,000 to spend, RoboPhilo seems to be worth the $500 USD ($400 USD for the kit), and with RoboPhilo you can “upgrade as you go!”
If you get the kit for RoboPhilo, you will get to see the workings of the humanoid robot, and save yourself $100 USD over the pre-built.
Add-ons, like gyros, extra servos, and acelometors are possible, because RoboPhilo has 8 extra I/O ports and 4 un-used servo channel ports on the hacker favorite Atmel powered controller.
I’m sure we will be seeing cool software, and hardware hacks in the near future on RoboPhilo!
–Scotty
iHobby 2007, Meeting Internet Friends!
I went to iHobby Expo last Sunday, October 21, 2007, and met, and made friends!
When I arrived at iHobby Expo at about 9:00 A.M. CST, I went straight back to the pits to make sure my robot worked. About 30 minutes later Mike (also known as “Gort”) showed up with his robot Boomer (see below)!
After my Lego Sumo robot, “Mean Puppy”, was ready I headed over to the Chibots booth and found Steve Hassenplug from Team Hassenplug, Royce Pipkins leader of Chibots (thanks Royce for the great time)!
By the end of the day I had many more friends that I’m sure I’ll be talking to again! Two are Bryan Bonahoom, and Rick Brooks (creator of “ExSpurt”, to only name one robot).
Bryan (right) and me after we got our medals for Lego Sumo:
–Scotty
MINDS-i, Tough, Strong, Universal!
After I won third place with Mean Puppy in Lego Sumo, I headed over to the neighboring booth, MINDS-i. At first I was skeptical, okay it was not robotics, but like most other booths I stopped by to see what was going on. Mike Marzetta, inventor of MINDS-i, came up to me, and started explaining his ideas for his creation. Something kept me there at the booth; maybe it was his nice personality, maybe the pure coolness of this new invention!
He started by showing me the Buggy:
Then he showed me a rock crawler. At this point it grabbed me: the rock crawler had a Pro-Line body and 2.2 official rock crawling Pro-Line wheels and tires!
I’ve been waiting for a product where you can use other brands parts, and are not controlled by the company!
If you look at the above picture you can see white “loops” for stock 7.2 volt batteries for power, just above the axels! Not only does this let the robot/RC car have a low CG for climbing, you can use the old 7.2 packs that are on the workbench; NO need to buy “MINDS-i” battery packs (if you don’t have any batteries, just buys yours from MINDS-i)!
Look at this picture:
Stock servos, too!
It all did not set in until I handled the 6 wheel base:
(Notice the Futaba plug and the shocks)
It was not heavy, but light, very strong, and had killer looks!
A combat ‘robot’ is even possible to make with the MINDS-i parts!
Take a close look at the interlocking parts:
While at first it may seem to look like specially-made camoflash part(s) outside of this tank. After a closer look these same parts can be used on other creations also.
The wiring of the 6 wheeler:
(a stock motor)
On the flyer it says:
“By adding hobby-industry compatible wheels, motors, servos, radios, shocks and more, MINDS-i enables you to ignite your imagination and maximize your fun. For the highest-quality upgrade components, look no further than MINDS-i.”
Of course like most other products, there are those “I just don’t know…” with this one also. Like how would this hold up against a ‘real’ R/C car? Can you put in a brush-less system? How much weight could a Minds-i creation hold? Does every part work with every other part [I mean this up to a point]?
The MINDS-i products are just begging for a microcontroller and a CMU camera!
I was, and am, amazed! YOU control your robots, NOT the company you buy it from!
Coming Spring 2008!
–Scotty
RIBO Labs 
Recent Comments