San Diego Robotics Society

Proposed Agenda for the December 4, 1999 Meeting

(Roughly in order of priority. Forward any comments or suggestions to
sdrs-list@egroups.com)

1. Nomination of Officers
a. President
b. Vice President (Events chairperson)
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer

2. Election of Officers (Immediate or next month or ???)

3. Rules for the March 2000 Navigation Contest. Discuss, modify, and
adopt so that contestants can know how to build their robots to the
rules. (Proposed rules posted separately at
www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list)

4. Establishment of Committees
Should probably be first duties of newly elected board. Things like:
a. I.R.S. non-profit tax-exempt status?
b. Corporate sponsorship and/or donations of equipment to the
association.
c. What do we do if we outgrow the ITT spaces for our events?

5. GROWTH!!!  What do we do to increase our membership?
Invite other schools, like: ITT Anaheim (They have a robotics program),
UCSD, SDSU, Coleman College, Univ. of Phoenix, etc.

6. Web Page. We had a volunteer to build it but nothing has happened in
a month. What next?

7. January Meeting would normally fall on 1 January, 2000. Approve
proposal to push it back one week to 8 January, 2000.

Guest speakers will talk to us about

-  Building a robot for the Navigation Contest.

-  Easy ways to use plastics to enhance the appearance and functionality
of our robots.

richardv-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=29
> > If you'd like a presentation for the 4 Dec meeting of the sdrs,
> > at 9AM , I could bring another robot I am developing.
> >
> > With a few months aditional work - this robot would become my entry
> > in the Navigation contest. I could talk about the approach I am
using
> > to solve the navigation problem.
>
> YES!!!  Sounds great.
> Also, Wayne, Bill, Mike & I are preparing an entry for the Navigation
> Contest, and we could also talk to our plans.
>
> > As an alternative - I could give a presentation and demonstrate
> > a maze - solving robot.

sounds good to me
>
> This would be most appropriate for the Fire-fighting contest scheduled
> in June 2000. Why don't you give this presentation at the April
meeting?
>
> > Tell me your preference - so I can prepare for the meeting.
>
> That's my two cents....
>
> Richard T. Vannoy
>

> ----------
> From:  richardv2@...[SMTP:richardv2@...]
> Reply To:  sdrs-list@eGroups.com
> Sent:  Monday, November 29, 1999 9:26 AM
> To:  sdrs-list@eGroups.com
> Subject:  [SDRS-list] Re: Presentation Topic for the 4 Dec meeting
>
> > If you'd like a presentation for the 4 Dec meeting of the sdrs,
> > at 9AM , I could bring another robot I am developing.
> >
> > With a few months aditional work - this robot would become my entry
> > in the Navigation contest. I could talk about the approach I am using
> > to solve the navigation problem.
>
> YES!!!  Sounds great.
>
OK - I'll bring it and talk about it.

> Also, Wayne, Bill, Mike & I are preparing an entry for the Navigation
> Contest, and we could also talk to our plans.
>
I'd like that - please present your plans at the meeting.

> > As an alternative - I could give a presentation and demonstrate
> > a maze - solving robot.
>
> This would be most appropriate for the Fire-fighting contest scheduled
> in June 2000. Why don't you give this presentation at the April meeting?
>
OK - I'll present it at the April 2000 meeting.

> > Tell me your preference - so I can prepare for the meeting.
>
> That's my two cents....
>
> Richard T. Vannoy
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
>

> If you'd like a presentation for the 4 Dec meeting of the sdrs,
> at 9AM , I could bring another robot I am developing.
>
> With a few months aditional work - this robot would become my entry
> in the Navigation contest. I could talk about the approach I am using
> to solve the navigation problem.

YES!!!  Sounds great.
Also, Wayne, Bill, Mike & I are preparing an entry for the Navigation
Contest, and we could also talk to our plans.

> As an alternative - I could give a presentation and demonstrate
> a maze - solving robot.

This would be most appropriate for the Fire-fighting contest scheduled
in June 2000. Why don't you give this presentation at the April meeting?

> Tell me your preference - so I can prepare for the meeting.

That's my two cents....

Richard T. Vannoy

To Richard Vannoy and SDRS list
From Jim Ubersetzig

If you'd like a presentation for the 4 Dec meeting of the sdrs,
at 9AM , I could bring another robot I am developing.

With a few months aditional work - this robot would become my entry
in the Navigation contest. I could talk about the approach I am using
to solve the navigation problem.

As an alternative - I could give a presentation and demonstrate
a maze - solving robot.

Tell me your preference - so I can prepare for the meeting.

Jim Ubersetzig

I was checking out the data base and vault section of this service. How
can we utilyze this for our benifit?? If it turns out to be too time
consuming (paperwork type stuff) then forget I mentioned it.

richardv-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=22
> billconan-@... wrote:
> original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=15
> > "ubersetzig, jim" <jim.ubersetzi-@...> wrote:
> > original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=4
> > I just wonder about the $$ involved in building and if it will keep
> > members from really getting involved.  There must be some way of
> > pooling resources of sorts or at least defraying the cost of
building
> > individual 'bots.  Should this be addressed at a meeting or am I off
> > base with this one?
>
> I see several ways to go on this...
>
> 1. Every time we set up an event, the main focus should FIRST be how
we
> can have events that INCLUDE everybody, including beginners and those
> without deep pockets. Events (Like Robot Wars) that take thousands of
> dollars per robot would do little to promote local robotics,
especially
> when it seems like a large part of our membership may be made up of
> students.
>
> 2. Supporting members to form up and join teams will help a lot. Let's
> say one person on our team is a "starving student". So what? The
others
> are probably quite willing to front the cost of hardware needed in
> return for the student's contribution of time, work, and talent. If I
> was totally broke, I'd join a team just for the experience as long as
I
> could contribute and they would have me and my empty wallet.

I just thought I'd sound off on that one to make sure everybody knows
this is not about what a person has to spend but rather what are they
willing to learn.  Thanks for the reply...
>

richardv-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=20
> billconan-@... wrote:
> original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=13
> > I just registered into the group.  I'm looking forward to the next
> club
> > meeting on 3 Dec.
>
> SATURDAY, 4 December!!
>           ^
> I'm always a dollar short and a day late. I thought this time I'd try
to be a day early.  See you on the 4TH.

Here's another one...

>From: "William Cox" <william@...>
>Reply-To: stamps@...
>To: "Stamps" <stamps@...>
>Subject: [STAMPS] Serial problems
>Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 17:05:49 -0500
>
>Hey,
>    I trying to do some serial communicating between 2 stamps. I'm using
>the
>code in the stamp manual (one stamp transmits hello, the other receives).
>The first time I did it, I worked, then the reloaded it and it just gives
>me
>totally mixed up letters. When I try to transmit
>"ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYX", It prints out totally different letters.
>What's the deal here? Also, is it possible to hook up a led to the serout
>pin, and let the other stamp decode it with a IR detector on the serin pin?
>That would be cool. Thanks.
>-William
>
>____________________________
>http://robot-central.webjump.com/
>Robotic books, projects, resources,
>links, news, and more!
>
>
>- To subscribe -or- unsubscribe send e-mail to majordomo@...
>and
>- put SUBSCRIBE stamps -or- UNSUBSCRIBE stamps in the body of the message

______________________________________________________

This came off the "Mailing List" for the Stamp.  I'll forward anything of
interest.

>From: "J.M. Mongeau" <jmm@...>
>Reply-To: stamps@...
>To: <stamps@...>
>Subject: [STAMPS] Communication error
>Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 18:37:12 -0500
>
>Hi. I am having some communication problem with the Basic Stamp IIsx. I am
>trying to receive data from the Sharp GP2D02 infrared transceiver, however,
>in the debug window I keep getting readings of 255; I don't know why. Also,
>for some reason, win95 detects my stamp and I can run simple program such
>as
>flashing and LED, but when I try to download the following program
>(http://www.acroname.com/robotics/info/examples/GP2D02-4/GP2D02-4.html
>)into
>the stamp it gives me a "hardware not found error'' in dos and "could not
>open port" in windows even though my stamp is working fine. Any help would
>be appreciated!
>
>Thanks.
>J.M. Mongeau
>
>
>- To subscribe -or- unsubscribe send e-mail to majordomo@...
>and
>- put SUBSCRIBE stamps -or- UNSUBSCRIBE stamps in the body of the message

______________________________________________________

billconan-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=15
> "ubersetzig, jim" <jim.ubersetzi-@...> wrote:
> original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=4
> I just wonder about the $$ involved in building and if it will keep
> members from really getting involved.  There must be some way of
> pooling resources of sorts or at least defraying the cost of building
> individual 'bots.  Should this be addressed at a meeting or am I off
> base with this one?

I see several ways to go on this...

1. Every time we set up an event, the main focus should FIRST be how we
can have events that INCLUDE everybody, including beginners and those
without deep pockets. Events (Like Robot Wars) that take thousands of
dollars per robot would do little to promote local robotics, especially
when it seems like a large part of our membership may be made up of
students.

2. Supporting members to form up and join teams will help a lot. Let's
say one person on our team is a "starving student". So what? The others
are probably quite willing to front the cost of hardware needed in
return for the student's contribution of time, work, and talent. If I
was totally broke, I'd join a team just for the experience as long as I
could contribute and they would have me and my empty wallet.

Yes, one of the many LA area campus sites offers an Associate's Degree
in Robotics.  I'll find out and call them. Maybe they will come to this
list and become part of our competition!

billconan-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=14
> I just thought of something.  Doesn't ITT have a Robotics cours at the
> LA campus?  What would they think about a little low level
competition?
>  If not at least some advice. Is this something we address as a club
or
> should our very own instructor make the call?  This is just a thought
> and all that implies...
>

billconan-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=13
> I just registered into the group.  I'm looking forward to the next
club
> meeting on 3 Dec.

SATURDAY, 4 December!!
           ^

"richard t. vannoy ii" <richardv-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=10
> Forwarding this to SDRS-list@egroups.com. Please register at
> www.egroups.com/groups/sdrs-list/ and put future correspondence like
> this there. Thanks.
>
> WRITER3965@... wrote:
> >
> >     This is Joshua, I have a suggestion, we could have two seperate
parts to
> > this navagation contest.  The simple one in the first part and the
advanced
> > mine navigation in the second part.  This way both the begginers
and experts
> > are happy.
>
I think we already addressed this situation with the 3 Levels of
competition.  If not, pleasr expand upon it Joshua. Thanx...
> Proposed and adopted. Confirmation/discussion/vote next meeting. See
> discussions on
> www.egroups.com/groups/sdrs-list/

richardv-@... wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=2
> I'd like to give a big THANK YOU! to Peter Cresswell for setting up
> this forum for the SDRS.
>

HERE HERE

"ubersetzig, jim" <jim.ubersetzi-@...> wrote:
original article:http://www.egroups.com/group/sdrs-list/?start=4
>
>
> Someone suggested using magnets as objects to be found by the robots
> as part of our Navigation Contest.
>
> If we do this I recommend radio shack #64-1888 which is a set of five
> magnets.
> These magnets are ring shaped and lie flat on the floor. If the
> north-seeking
> side of the magnet is painted, then with the painted side up - all
robots
> will
> be looking for the same magnetic pole.
>

I just wonder about the $$ involved in building and if it will keep
members from really getting involved.  There must be some way of
pooling resources of sorts or at least defraying the cost of building
individual 'bots.  Should this be addressed at a meeting or am I off
base with this one?  Myself, I'll wash toilets to get what I want.
Done it before-will do it again.
> For the robot sensor I recommend the magnetic compasses you can
purchase
> at http://dinsmoregroup.com/dico/
>
> These compasses will detect the direction of any nearby magnet.
> They are 1/2 diameter and 3/4 inch tall.
>
> The model 1490 needs 4 digital input pins on your robot's
microcontroller
> chip.
> It reports 8 directions of magnetic field.
>
> The model 1525 and 1655 require two of the analog-to-digital
converter pins
> on the 68HC11. These are analog sensors, with one pin reporting
North-South
> magnetism and the other pin reporting East-West magnetism.
>
> The last time I ordered these parts the 1490 was $12 and the other
models
> were $35
>
> Let's each of us BUILD robots !
>
> Jim Ubersetzig
>
>

I just thought of something.  Doesn't ITT have a Robotics cours at the
LA campus?  What would they think about a little low level competition?
  If not at least some advice. Is this something we address as a club or
should our very own instructor make the call?  This is just a thought
and all that implies...

I just registered into the group.  I'm looking forward to the next club
meeting on 3 Dec.  I hope members realize we only have 3 months before
the first competition.

Since the First Saturday of January is 1 January, 2000, I propose that
our January meeting be pushed back one week to 8 January, 2000.

If there are no major objections, I'll ask for approval at the December
meeting.

Come to the San Diego Robotics Society Monthly Meeting on the first Saturday of
the
month at ITT Tech. Check the calendar for details.

Event: SDRS Monthly Meeting
Date: Sat Dec 04, 1999
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Description: San Diego Robotics Society Monthly Meeting

When: First Saturday of the month at 9AM
Where: ITT Technical Institute
        9680 Granite Ridge Drive
        San Diego, CA 92123

I-15 to Aero Drive,
West on Aero to Ruffin Road (second signal),
South on Ruffin to Granite Ridge Drive,
West on Granite Ridge and North into ITT Tech



To add this event to your personal calendar, simply click on this link:
http://www.egroups.com/cal?md=copy&prevMd=d&day=10929&eid=387960

If you have any other comments, you can reply to this message.

eGroups.com Calendar

Forwarding this to SDRS-list@egroups.com. Please register at
www.egroups.com/groups/sdrs-list/ and put future correspondence like
this there. Thanks.

WRITER3965@... wrote:
>
>     This is Joshua, I have a suggestion, we could have two seperate parts to
> this navagation contest.  The simple one in the first part and the advanced
> mine navigation in the second part.  This way both the begginers and experts
> are happy.

Proposed and adopted. Confirmation/discussion/vote next meeting. See
discussions on
www.egroups.com/groups/sdrs-list/

I don't want you to give away any of your TOP SECRET development plans,
but I would like to know who is actively working on the contest and how
you are doing.

So far I know...
Jim Ubersetzig has his robot half built.
Wayne Lundberg, Bill Conant and I have teamed up. The robot base and
h-bridge motor controller designs are done. We're using the BASIC Stamp
I.

How about you??

Based on your input so far, all seem to be in favor of "Keep it
simple." for our first contest, and SOME want a very challenging event.
With Bill Conants suggestion, I think we can have both!

I'm presently preparing to present the ideas below in the form of
contest rules to the membership at our December meeting. I will also
post anything I get here so you all get to progress as I proceed and
have time to comment or think about it.

On contest day, there will be THREE events. All will be conducted in a
30 X 40 "playing Field".

1. Basic Navigation: Get from Point A back to Point A after navigating
around 4 posts in a square or rectangular pattern. Total distance about
80-90 feet. Measure distance to Point A when robot finishes run.
Shortest cumulative distance for three runs (or best two out of three,
or whatever) is declared the winner.

2. Advanced Navigation: Same playing field, only the pattern around
posts will be more complex, like a figure eight.

3. Mine Discovery: Same playing field. Two or three "mines" (small
magnets) will be placed randomly in the field. Shortest times to find
mines wins.

Rules will be so that the same robot (with different programming) could
compete in all three events.

Please post all "for the group" comments and suggestions here.

In my not-so-humble opinion, this kind of post is EXACTLY why we can
all benefit from a common forum like this.  THANKS!


> If we do this I recommend radio shack #64-1888 which is a set of five
> magnets.

> Could someone please post here - a summary of the conversations
> so far on the contest rules ?

I'll try my hand at cutting and pasting, starting with your comments.

> > Because of the unique construction of this robot - the contest rules
> > should not prohibit the use of an eye-safe class 3A laser. This is
> > the same class 3A found in laser pointers. Less than 5 milliwatts
> > of visible red light.
> > The contest rules should allow temporary placement of reflective
> > targets on the contest arena walls. My robot uses these with the
laser
> > to determine it's location.
Richard: > We were going to set up "Beacon Placement" areas at each
corner so contestants could use light, sound or radar or whatever, so
that should work ok.
> > I wonder about adding the complexity of finding magnets to the
> > "general navigation problem" for indoor robots.
> > This general navigation problem is for the robot to travel reliably
> > from point A to point B. The task is more complicated if there are
> > obsticles on the floor.

Richard: I agree. See the email I sent just minutes ago asking for
comments by the membership.
Jim Ubersetzig

From Wayne Lundberg:
Okay by me to start simple and grow into complexity as we gain
experience and corporate sponsors.

From Bill Conant:
I don't see why we can't have different classes of contestd
Example
Beginner:Start point A cross point B end point C with points
for time and proximity to points B/C and time.
Advanced: Figure 8 Navigation (as we discussed originally).
Expert:  Mine detection (as suggested).
I think this will encompass most levels of experiance and give
everybody a chance to show what they can do.  There should be no problem
maintaing these 3 levels of competition for all events.

I got a few other face-to-face comments from people at ITT. Mostly
highly encouraged and supportive, with requests to "keep it simple" for
the first time.

I'll be on vacation next week, so I won't get any email until I return.

Jim Ubersetzig

Nov 18, 99

Someone suggested using magnets as objects to be found by the robots
as part of our Navigation Contest.

If we do this I recommend radio shack #64-1888 which is a set of five
magnets.
These magnets are ring shaped and lie flat on the floor. If the
north-seeking
side of the magnet is painted, then with the painted side up - all robots
will
be looking for the same magnetic pole.

For the robot sensor I recommend the magnetic compasses you can purchase
at http://dinsmoregroup.com/dico/

These compasses will detect the direction of any nearby magnet.
They are 1/2 diameter and 3/4 inch tall.

The model 1490 needs 4 digital input pins on your robot's microcontroller
chip.
It reports 8 directions of magnetic field.

The model 1525 and 1655 require two of the analog-to-digital converter pins
on the 68HC11. These are analog sensors, with one pin reporting North-South
magnetism and the other pin reporting East-West magnetism.

The last time I ordered these parts the 1490 was $12 and the other models
were $35

Let's each of us BUILD robots !

Jim Ubersetzig

I'm glad our new organization - the San Diego Robot Society
is having a robot navigation contest.

Could someone please post here - a summary of the conversations
so far on the contest rules ?

This is a good place for such a summary - so that everyone can
comment on this important subject.

Jim Ubersetzig

Nov 18, 1999

I'd like to give a big THANK YOU! to Peter Cresswell for setting up
this forum for the SDRS.

Welcome to the San Diego Robotics Society