An Easy Three June 12, 2009
Posted by williamself in RoBe:Do Robotics, Twitter, autonomous robots, robotics, robots.Tags: mobile robotics, Netbook, RoBe:Do Robotics, Three robot
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You’ve said you wanted a streamlined robot that can jumpstart and empower your robotics journey. You’ve asked us for a lower-priced model, even if that also meant fewer capabilities.
We heard you.
It took time (ten weeks to be exact) to design and build a robot that meets our production standards and which, we feel, answers your requests, but…
Hey! Here it is!
Zoom zoom!
Our latest mobile robot can get you to warp speed in Three time.
Three. Three easy steps to robotics engineering bliss with a 3-wheeled robot called Three.
Step 1. Order a robot named Three.
Step 2. Set up these three: your favorite computer, software language and software tools.
Step 3. Calmly accept the delivered package, then, soon as the delivery person leaves, rip open that package just like a kid! Your new robot can be ready for programming in less time than it will take for you to read the rest of this blog entry. That’s like less than three minutes. Two if I would just shut up.
Ahem.
Really, unpack Three and connect the included USB cable to your computer. No need to wait for batteries to charge, as the USB controller can be programmed using power from the USB cable.
By the time batteries are charged, you can likely have sufficient software configuration to activate robot motor control and sensing. You, a robot named Three, and suddenly you’re in the fast lane.
Three gets your need for speed.
PS. You won’t hear this from many netbook enthusiasts, but you don’t actually have to own a portable computer to get started with mobile robotics. You can begin with a desktop computer. What’s required? A Mac, Linux or Windows computer with an available USB port. It’s so easy with Three.
Order here: RoBe:Do Robotics Three.
Worldwide Robots May 27, 2009
Posted by williamself in RoBe:Do Robotics.Tags: LinkedIn
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Coppa Robot - Taiwanese Student Presentation
Our recent Twittering robot pops and delivers popcorn video received tons of views on YouTube, plus the story and video was posted on dozens of tech web sites and blogs. Traffic and inquiries originated from countries all over the globe.
The most unique result came from a student in Taiwan wanting to use one of our robot images in his masters degree research presentation. I love all these new connections. Isn’t the web great?
When You Own the Store, You Getta Do Fun Stuff! March 5, 2009
Posted by williamself in RoBe:Do Robotics.Tags: autonomous robot, autonomous robotics, laptop, LinkedIn, Linux, Mac, robotics application, robotics project
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Update 03-23-09: the sale is over… But don’t worry about missing out because there’s new fun for everyone just around the corner. We have new robots, improved automation, plus new vendor solutions coming soon.
Can I just be a little geeky? We’ve upgraded and improved our autonomous mobile robots and are, as the world’s best-dressed man, Prince Charles, might say, over the moon about it. (Translation: we think this is super peachy keen. We do.)
To celebrate the improvements, we’ve put the robots on sale.
Robot sale! Save $150 for a limited time!
Between now and March 21st, take 150 smack-a-roos off the price of a built-to-order ready-to-program RoBe:Do robot.
So hey, whatcha waiting for? You’ve got a robot to order!
This Video Has a Twittery Touch February 28, 2009
Posted by williamself in Twitter, autonomous robots, robotics.Tags: iPod Touch, robotics application, robotics project, Twitter
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Or: how to have fun using an iPod Touch, Twitter and a mobile robot
Here’s the scenario: a guy on his way home from the office sends a Twitter command, “Prep movie 15″, to his robot. The robot reads the command, waits for a bit, pops corn and queues up a movie. Go ahead and read that again. Fun, eh?
Coppa Robot Carrying Popcorn
I vowed to keep this entry simple, which in itself won’t be easy. The technology mashup involved in this video provided more enjoyment than I’ve had in twenty years of proof-of-concept projects. Even though I won’t let this become a 25-page technical paper, shop talk pegs the fun-o-meter, so if you’re dying to know the glorious technical data please post your questions.
As you’ll see in the video, we combined mobile communications, social networking software and, of course, one of our own mobile robots.
This scenario hints at our development trajectory. When you look at our robots, you think, ‘Oh, a wheeled robot’. But, you see, the robots are designed to grow in tandem with the user. They’re built with expandable and distributable control systems, powerful motors and strong metal. Plus they come with attachment mechanisms.
Soon, you’ll see our wheeled robots gaining new structure: arms, grippers and maybe even a humanoid torso. We’re not promising a fully capable R2-D2 or Rosie robot. Those would probably cost you $50,000. We are promising good technology and useful robots. Plus fun. Plenty of fun.
Key Project Components
- Apple iPod Touch
- WiFi networking
- Twitter as a two-way, easy-setup, secure, mobile-accessible robot command messaging system
- Automated setup of our entertainment center using a USB based infrared transmitter
- Do-it-yourself hacking: popcorn popper setup built in an hour using a hot-air popper, foot switch & various parts
- Simple yet repeatable robot motion control & sensing software code
- USB based controllers and sensors
- Netbook computer
- Our mobile robot, Coppa
- The fun & challenge of devising an actual task for a mobile robot
Put all this together and your next movie experience can be automated like never before.
Helllllo Tanzania! February 28, 2009
Posted by williamself in RoBe:Do Robotics.Tags: Robot videos, tanzania, video, YouTube
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My YouTube offerings are apparently rather popular in Tanzania. Or at least, according to my understanding of the YouTube Insight stats, we have lots of viewers in Tanzania.
Take a look at the stat map. Tanzania is dark because we had a huge viewer spike this week from there.
And hey, Tanzania, how you doin?
i-Sobot Humanoid Challenges Autonomous Robot February 19, 2009
Posted by williamself in RoBe:Do Robotics.Tags: eee pc, humanoid robot, i-sobot, laptop, Mac, Netbook, RoBe:Do Robotics, robot interactions, robotics project, robotics technology
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Video Description: Apparently unaware of its diminutive size, i-Sobot first insults then threatens the much larger Coppa Robot. Coppa watches before advancing. Will either robot back down from the challenge?
Today we enjoyed playing simultaneously with two of our robots. We also learned that a small, remote controllable robot can be a great way to test both software and sensor feedback.
In between capturing other technical and informational video scenes, we decided to have some fun. First, I made speed and timing adjustments to a new software module. Next we fired-up i-Sobot, started Coppa robot and began taping. As you can see in the resulting video, we had fun. And once again we were wowed by serendipitous events via uncontrollable environmental effects on mobile robot behavior.
The software module in use during this video is small and straightforward. The design’s main purpose is to stay 8 inches (+/- 2 inches) away from whatever is in front of the robot. Due to a combination of speed, timing, lighting, alignment and sensor feedback, Coppa ended up being a bit more hyperactive than expected. That turned out great for some video fun and useful system observations.
Early on Coppa maintains the expected distance from i-Sobot. As the two robots interact, though, Coppa closes the distance and actually nudges i-Sobot a few times before finally knocking and running over the smaller robot. From previous experiments with this software module, it’s clear to me that software timing pauses are the cause. Coppa simply wasn’t checking his data often enough, thus when the other robot moved, Coppa often ended up too close.
The remainder of the behavior in this video can probably be attributed to the sensor’s “grey area”. Because the sensor in use has a distance specification range of 4” to 30”, sensor values at 4” and closer are not expected to be either accurate or linear. Obviously the sensor values allowed an effective separation between the robots for quite a while, but then things changed. Over time Coppa became more “aggressive” and won the challenge brought on by the diminutive i-Sobot.
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Tech Notes
Most of my robot software development and mobile robot activity is performed using a 1st generation Asus netbook. Besides the advantages of being small and weighing a mere 2 pounds, I believe developing on a highly constrained computer assists with performance and capability. Using this approach ensures the entire architecture of our robots will work great using almost every available new netbook or laptop. Nearly every new computer available this year has three times or more capacity and speed. :)
(Oh, as far as the Robot’s pan/tilt webcam in this video… It was simply synchronized to move along with changes in direction and distance. The webcam was not used for image recognition or object detection).
Computer & Programming Info
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Computer: Asus Eee Pc
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Cpu: 600 Mhz
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Ram: 512MB
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Disk: 4GB
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Ide: Eclipse
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Language: Java
For When the Metal Ones Decide to Come For You January 30, 2009
Posted by williamself in robots.Tags: robot insurance, SNL
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Here is an old, but great robot skit from Saturday Night Live.
Robot muscle tested w/30 pound barbells & ~165 pound human January 28, 2009
Posted by williamself in RoBe:Do Robotics, autonomous robots, robotics, robots.Tags: building robotics, laptop, mobile robotics, Netbook, notebook, Phidgets, programmable robotics, robotics, robotics applications, robotics projects
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RoBe:Do robots are built for expansion. Employ the portable computer of your choice. Leverage the easy to use USB controllers. Add a body. Install more controllers. Add new sensors. Install robot arms. Expand your robotics endeavors: this robot is ready for it!
Here is a short video wherein Coppa robot’s muscle is tested with a 30 pound barbell plus a 165 pound human on a 5 pound trailer.
Art Becomes a Robot January 9, 2009
Posted by williamself in RoBe:Do Robotics, Twitter, autonomous robots, robotics, robots.Tags: artpad, Asus, automated software, autonomous robots, laptops, Netbook, notebook, RoBe:Do Robotics, technology
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If you’re using Twitter, you already know it as a social networking tool giving users unprecedented access to information about what’s going on, what’s new and what’s fun. Let me give an example: one of my wife’s Twitter followers posted a link to an amazing digital painting application at artpad. The Artpad Digital Canvas lets you paint, save your work and then share it with others.
This app is easy and fun, but that’s not all: it also has adjustable speed playback. Watching the playback can be quite entertaining.
You’ll recognize the upper left image as our Coppa Robot. The other image is my wife’s artpad robot creation. Check out the replay of the robot painting and be sure to try the Replay Speed Control settings.
BTW, you can follow me on Twitter: I’m @RoBeDoRobotics.
William
RoBe:Do Robotics
the future is automatic
