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  • Members: 3196
  • Category: Robotics
  • Founded: Jun 8, 2000
  • Language: English
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#47217 From: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon Oct 1, 2012 2:01 pm
Subject: Monday Night Chat, 10/1/2012, 7:00 pm
SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
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Reminder from:   SeattleRobotics Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Monday Night Chat
 
Date:   Monday October 1, 2012
Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Notes:   Need ideas on how to take your projects forward? Or just want to discuss what others are doing with them?
Come join us tonight for our weekly Monday Night chat session
and find out the latest.

Updated directions for joining can be found on the SRS Website.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/contact.php#Monday

And why not become a fan of the Seattle Robotics Society on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Robotics-Society/331139672992

Quick Links for some IRC Clients and for webchat

irc://irc.freenode.net/#SeattleRobotics
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=SeattleRobotics
 
Copyright © 2012  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#47218 From: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue Oct 2, 2012 1:01 am
Subject: Monday Night Chat, 10/1/2012, 7:00 pm
SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Send Email Send Email
 
Reminder from:   SeattleRobotics Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Monday Night Chat
 
Date:   Monday October 1, 2012
Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Notes:   Need ideas on how to take your projects forward? Or just want to discuss what others are doing with them?
Come join us tonight for our weekly Monday Night chat session
and find out the latest.

Updated directions for joining can be found on the SRS Website.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/contact.php#Monday

And why not become a fan of the Seattle Robotics Society on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Robotics-Society/331139672992

Quick Links for some IRC Clients and for webchat

irc://irc.freenode.net/#SeattleRobotics
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=SeattleRobotics
 
Copyright © 2012  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#47219 From: "David Shoemaker" <davids@...>
Date: Sun Oct 7, 2012 8:40 pm
Subject: Clearing some space free stuff
davids@...
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I have:

Barbie power wheels (no batteries or charger)

A couple of electric scooters, two are “new” in that they were never fully assembled and run and one part’s.  They don’t match.  Motors should work, electronics might, I don’t think they have batteries.

 

These are FREE but you need to come pick them up from my place in Monroe.  Ideally TODAY if at all possible.

 

David


#47220 From: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon Oct 8, 2012 2:01 pm
Subject: Monday Night Chat, 10/8/2012, 7:00 pm
SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Send Email Send Email
 
Reminder from:   SeattleRobotics Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Monday Night Chat
 
Date:   Monday October 8, 2012
Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Notes:   Need ideas on how to take your projects forward? Or just want to discuss what others are doing with them?
Come join us tonight for our weekly Monday Night chat session
and find out the latest.

Updated directions for joining can be found on the SRS Website.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/contact.php#Monday

And why not become a fan of the Seattle Robotics Society on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Robotics-Society/331139672992

Quick Links for some IRC Clients and for webchat

irc://irc.freenode.net/#SeattleRobotics
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=SeattleRobotics
 
Copyright © 2012  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#47221 From: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue Oct 9, 2012 1:01 am
Subject: Monday Night Chat, 10/8/2012, 7:00 pm
SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
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Reminder from:   SeattleRobotics Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Monday Night Chat
 
Date:   Monday October 8, 2012
Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Notes:   Need ideas on how to take your projects forward? Or just want to discuss what others are doing with them?
Come join us tonight for our weekly Monday Night chat session
and find out the latest.

Updated directions for joining can be found on the SRS Website.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/contact.php#Monday

And why not become a fan of the Seattle Robotics Society on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Robotics-Society/331139672992

Quick Links for some IRC Clients and for webchat

irc://irc.freenode.net/#SeattleRobotics
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=SeattleRobotics
 
Copyright © 2012  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#47222 From: twcarroll@...
Date: Sun Oct 14, 2012 4:41 am
Subject: Robot Power Supply
twcarroll@...
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Hi All,
     I saw this robot power supply on the EDN web site, edn@...
     Enjoy,
     Tom C.  

Building the perfect robot power supply

- October 9, 2012

I found this 2009 blog by Russell “ OddBot” that outlined the important aspects of a power supply architecture for most robotics.

Of course, one size does not fit all, but this is pretty well thought out and contains most of the key power areas a robot would need. R2D2 would be happy with this I am sure!

One thing most robots need is a power supply that can put out a reasonable amount of current for servos and other small motors as well as run a processor and sensors. Probably the best setup is 5x 1.2V NiMh cells to provide 6V for motors and servos with a low dropout regulator providing 5V for the processor and sensors.

Unfortunately this isn't always practical. Sometimes you have motors that need higher voltages or maybe the only battery you have lying around is a 7.2V battery from a RC model. In many of these cases there are ways around the problem which I demonstrated in a walkthrough on voltage regulation.

There are instances however when these solutions just won't work or will be very inefficent. In these instances you can't beat a good DC-DC converter. Unfortunately suitable DC-DC converters can be hard to find and very expensive so I've decided to build my own. I made a wish list of what I wanted:

1. Input voltage between 9V and 24V

2. Output voltage of 5V or 6V preferably adjustable

3. At least 3A of current output for driving lots of big servos.

4. Light weight / small size

5. Reasonable price

I then searched the internet for suitable controller ICs. Eventually I found the TPS5450 from Texas Instruments. This is a great little IC that can handle input voltages up to 36V and can switch currents up to 5A. It needs very few external components.

The only problem I could find was that it was a surface mount device. This was good from the small lightweight point of view but bad from the difficult / fiddly point of view. What the heck, if it works then the super small size will be great.

Designing the circuit was a snap since the data sheet included a sample that was perfect for my needs (figure 1). I just added a pot so that the voltage can be varied between 5V and 6V.

Figure 1: Author's power supply schematic


#47223 From: Pat Tressel <ptressel@...>
Date: Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:06 am
Subject: Re: Robot Power Supply
pat.tressel
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#47224 From: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon Oct 15, 2012 2:01 pm
Subject: Monday Night Chat, 10/15/2012, 7:00 pm
SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Send Email Send Email
 
Reminder from:   SeattleRobotics Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Monday Night Chat
 
Date:   Monday October 15, 2012
Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Notes:   Need ideas on how to take your projects forward? Or just want to discuss what others are doing with them?
Come join us tonight for our weekly Monday Night chat session
and find out the latest.

Updated directions for joining can be found on the SRS Website.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/contact.php#Monday

And why not become a fan of the Seattle Robotics Society on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Robotics-Society/331139672992

Quick Links for some IRC Clients and for webchat

irc://irc.freenode.net/#SeattleRobotics
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=SeattleRobotics
 
Copyright © 2012  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#47225 From: "Robert Dyer" <robert@...>
Date: Mon Oct 15, 2012 11:08 pm
Subject: Re: Robot Power Supply
robert33327
Send Email Send Email
 
Here's a TI eval board for TPS5450 - the chip in the EDN article below. 
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/TPS5450EVM-254/TPS5450EVM-254-ND/1907921 
$10 is a whole lot cheaper than I can make it myself!

And here's the data sheet for the eval board complete with schematic (not identical to the EDN article). 
http://www.ti.com/lit/ug/slvu211/slvu211.pdf 

Haven't gone through all the specs yet...
but it looks like I can add a pot in place of the 0-ohm jumper R3 and I've got a 5A, variable-DC supply!

Robert


From: "Pat Tressel" <ptressel@...>
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2012 12:07 AM
To: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [SeattleRobotics] Robot Power Supply


 



#47226 From: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:01 am
Subject: Monday Night Chat, 10/15/2012, 7:00 pm
SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Send Email Send Email
 
Reminder from:   SeattleRobotics Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Monday Night Chat
 
Date:   Monday October 15, 2012
Time:   7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Notes:   Need ideas on how to take your projects forward? Or just want to discuss what others are doing with them?
Come join us tonight for our weekly Monday Night chat session
and find out the latest.

Updated directions for joining can be found on the SRS Website.
http://www.seattlerobotics.org
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/contact.php#Monday

And why not become a fan of the Seattle Robotics Society on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Robotics-Society/331139672992

Quick Links for some IRC Clients and for webchat

irc://irc.freenode.net/#SeattleRobotics
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=SeattleRobotics
 
Copyright © 2012  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#47227 From: "sdk6772" <sdk6772@...>
Date: Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:39 pm
Subject: SRS Meeting this Saturday at Renton Tech College starting at 10AM
sdk6772
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Greetings,

We have a great meeting planned for this Saturday. Check the website and this
group Friday night or Saturday AM before coming just to be sure it's happening.

Bring along robots, great finds & bargains, projects to show, etc. Bring things
give away, trade, etc. during & after the meeting. If you have pictures you'd
like to show during the Round-the-room, bring them to me on a thumbdrive (before
the meeting if possible). Bring projects to work on during the afternoon
workshop.

Professor Manrk Ganter from the UW will present on the UW's 3D Printing Lab. If
you own a RepRap or other rapid prototyping machine, bring it along to show.

Bring info about area or online events coming that might be of interest to club
members.

Of course we always encourage lots of mingling after meetings.

WiFi should be available in the room.

I hope lots of you can make it.

===============================
If you'd like to give a robot (or other technical subject) talk at one of our
meetings, please contact me at the secretary email link on the SRS "Contact Us"
page or talk to me at a meeting. I'm booking slots beyond November.

Come early if you can & help set up the meeting room & chat.

Steve K. - SRS Secretary & Meeting Organizer
http://www.SeattleRobotics.org

#47228 From: "rwilkie_ee" <rwilkie239@...>
Date: Wed Oct 17, 2012 1:59 am
Subject: Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?
rwilkie_ee
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So, Im working on a UAV parachute for an undergraduate research class.  I need
a way to test it from heights higher than the 20 meter building Ive been
dropping it from.  Currently weve built a huge sling-shot and can get it as
high as 30 meters.

The plan at first was to tether a helium filled weather balloon and hoist it up
repeatedly, but apparently helium costs money.  So we can't do that.

So now we're trying to find a cheap way to get it up to 300 ft. or so and drop
it, repeatedly.  The only thing I can imagine is a multi-rotor of some sort
which can carry up to 1kg. payloads.  Maybe there's someone out there who'd like
to volunteer...?  We do our testing on Sunday mornings, usually, in West
Seattle.

#47229 From: Max Cato <maxsthekat@...>
Date: Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:26 am
Subject: Re: Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?
maxsthekat
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Umm. I hate to sound juvenile, but have you looked into rocket motors? Even the the Estes engine ones you don't need licenses for get a decent amount of thrust. You can buy them without ejection charges, too, if you want. 

A parachute test just screams model rocket engine to me. Lord knows several of my rockets could have used better parachutes (and tall tree avoidance systems!)

-Sean



From: rwilkie_ee <rwilkie239@...>
To: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 6:59 PM
Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?

 
So, I´m working on a UAV parachute for an undergraduate research class. I need a way to test it from heights higher than the 20 meter building I´ve been dropping it from. Currently we´ve built a huge sling-shot and can get it as high as 30 meters.

The plan at first was to tether a helium filled weather balloon and hoist it up repeatedly, but apparently helium costs money. So we can't do that.

So now we're trying to find a cheap way to get it up to 300 ft. or so and drop it, repeatedly. The only thing I can imagine is a multi-rotor of some sort which can carry up to 1kg. payloads. Maybe there's someone out there who'd like to volunteer...? We do our testing on Sunday mornings, usually, in West Seattle.




#47230 From: Wim Lewis <wiml@...>
Date: Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:26 am
Subject: Re: Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?
wimlwiml
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How about kites? It's the windy season, you should be able to get
something up without too much trouble if you pick a good afternoon. And
a pretty large kite can be built on the cheap. The publiclaboratory.org
people might have some good links to payload-carrying kite designs, I
know they use kites as well as balloons.

I think 750 grams of payload to 100m might be too much for easy
Estes-type rocketry; to lift that you might have to go to high-power
amateur rocketry, and that's a whole different level of complexity, both
technical and regulatory.

#47231 From: "raefsel" <jack2010.j.b@...>
Date: Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:36 pm
Subject: Re: Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?
raefsel
Send Email Send Email
 
Potato cannon.   Of course, then everything has to be able to deal with high
G's.

#47232 From: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:01 pm
Subject: Our Monthly Meeting, 10/20/2012, 10:00 am
SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Send Email Send Email
 
Reminder from:   SeattleRobotics Yahoo! Group
 
Title:   Our Monthly Meeting
 
Date:   Saturday October 20, 2012
Time:   10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Notes:   Our regularly scheduled meeting happens the third
Saturday of every month at Renton Technical College, room K-201. See www.seattlerobotics.org/meetings.php for details
 
Copyright © 2012  Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

#47233 From: robotMaker <robotmeiker@...>
Date: Wed Oct 17, 2012 6:04 pm
Subject: Re: Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?
robotmeiker
Send Email Send Email
 
How high does a two litter bottle of soda with Mentos travel, and how much payload can it carry? I saw something like this on Myth Busters.


From: Max Cato <maxsthekat@...>
To: "SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com" <SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 11:26 PM
Subject: Re: [SeattleRobotics] Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?



Umm. I hate to sound juvenile, but have you looked into rocket motors? Even the the Estes engine ones you don't need licenses for get a decent amount of thrust. You can buy them without ejection charges, too, if you want. 

A parachute test just screams model rocket engine to me. Lord knows several of my rockets could have used better parachutes (and tall tree avoidance systems!)

-Sean



From: rwilkie_ee <rwilkie239@...>
To: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 6:59 PM
Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?

 
So, Im working on a UAV parachute for an undergraduate research class. I need a way to test it from heights higher than the 20 meter building Ive been dropping it from. Currently weve built a huge sling-shot and can get it as high as 30 meters.

The plan at first was to tether a helium filled weather balloon and hoist it up repeatedly, but apparently helium costs money. So we can't do that.

So now we're trying to find a cheap way to get it up to 300 ft. or so and drop it, repeatedly. The only thing I can imagine is a multi-rotor of some sort which can carry up to 1kg. payloads. Maybe there's someone out there who'd like to volunteer...? We do our testing on Sunday mornings, usually, in West Seattle.








#47234 From: Pat Tressel <ptressel@...>
Date: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:45 am
Subject: Re: Re: Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?
pat.tressel
Send Email Send Email
 

Potato cannon. Of course, then everything has to be able to deal with high G's.

Or a catapult. And likewise.

I can't find anything online about the Page House (Caltech) catapult, let alone plans or stats. Nor about the Blacker Hovse molar cannon (not "molar" because of anything to do with chemistry, but because denizens of Blacker are moles). The catapult had much greater range than our air cannon, but then, we weren't trying to launch oranges into the PCC reflection pond several blocks away (caution -- story not verified), we were just trying to lob eggs into the Ricketts House courtyard next door (story definitely true -- I was part of the mechanism for one instance of the cannon -- I stood on the plank pinching off one end of the innertube as it was pumped up, then jumped off to fire it). ;-)

Or what about a ginormous slingshot?

-- Pat

#47235 From: David Kopala <davidk@...>
Date: Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:18 pm
Subject: Independent Study
keeperdavid78
Send Email Send Email
 

Hey, My name is David Kopala and I’m an 8th grader in Westminster, CO. In my Gifted and Talented LA class, were doing an independent study. My topic is “The Modern World Of Robotics: Animatronics, Artificial Intelligence, And Craft. I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web, so I was wondering if I could ask a couple of questions.

1)What is a servo?

2)What type of coding and software do you use?

3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build animatronics?

4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?

5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?

 

Thanks,

David Kopala


#47236 From: "David Buckley" <david@...>
Date: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:07 pm
Subject: Re: Independent Study
robots42
Send Email Send Email
 
David
I would have thought a gifted and talented person could use Google
I typed in "What is a servo?"
Have you done your homework to find out what the words "coding and software" actually mean so you could understand the answers?

3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build animatronics?

how about steel, aluminium, various types of plastic, electric, pneumatic and or hydraulic actuators. maybe a computer or two.

4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?

Define simple!

5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?

Go ask Disney or movie special effects people.

Gee, do your homework or is your talent getting others to do the work for you.

And if you think I am being hard on you, go watch these two videos

Montgomery County middle school students 

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8581143

Kyra, age 13, robot creation in 8th grade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwCgY-W-3RA

 

DAvid

 

 

 

 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:18 AM
Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Independent Study

 

Hey, My name is David Kopala and Im an 8th grader in Westminster, CO. In my Gifted and Talented LA class, were doing an independent study. My topic is The Modern World Of Robotics: Animatronics, Artificial Intelligence, And Craft. I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web, so I was wondering if I could ask a couple of questions.

1)What is a servo?

2)What type of coding and software do you use?

3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build animatronics?

4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?

5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?

Thanks,

David Kopala


#47237 From: Chris Baron <chris@...>
Date: Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:07 pm
Subject: Re: Getting 750 gram object over 300 ft. - ideas?
jojo5552000
Send Email Send Email
 
Construction crane?

I think a group of Mylar party balloons, perhaps with a higher He2
concentration, would be about your cheapest non-borrowed solution.
Welding He2 with a balloon nozzle on the bottle has been used.  You
might ask a welding store for a donation or discount.

Multi-rotors cost money too but would be a cool solution unless the
rotor wash disrupted your chute deployment or something.

Chris

#47238 From: "Kevin Ross" <kevinro@...>
Date: Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:59 pm
Subject: Re: Independent Study
kevinwross
Send Email Send Email
 
David,
 
If you have nothing of interest to contribute to a honest question by a student, please don’t reply. Your post is rude, did nothing for this student, and is a poor reflection on the other members of the SRS.
 
Kevin
SRS List owner
 
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [SeattleRobotics] Independent Study
 


David
I would have thought a gifted and talented person could use Google
I typed in "What is a servo?"
Have you done your homework to find out what the words "coding and software" actually mean so you could understand the answers?

3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build animatronics?

how about steel, aluminium, various types of plastic, electric, pneumatic and or hydraulic actuators. maybe a computer or two.

4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?

Define simple!

5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?

Go ask Disney or movie special effects people.

Gee, do your homework or is your talent getting others to do the work for you.

And if you think I am being hard on you, go watch these two videos

Montgomery County middle school students 

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8581143

Kyra, age 13, robot creation in 8th grade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwCgY-W-3RA

 

DAvid

 

 

 

 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 12:18 AM
Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Independent Study
 
 

Hey, My name is David Kopala and I’m an 8th grader in Westminster, CO. In my Gifted and Talented LA class, were doing an independent study. My topic is “The Modern World Of Robotics: Animatronics, Artificial Intelligence, And Craft. I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web, so I was wondering if I could ask a couple of questions.

1)What is a servo?

2)What type of coding and software do you use?

3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build animatronics?

4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?

5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?

Thanks,

David Kopala


#47239 From: "Kevin Ross" <kevinro@...>
Date: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:20 pm
Subject: Re: Independent Study
kevinwross
Send Email Send Email
 
1) What is a servo?
 
For most robotics, people usually associate a servo with a small motor that is used to provide accurate positioning. Same sort of motor is used, for example, to move remote controlled airplane parts (elevators and rudders).
 
The term Servo is a rather ill defined if you are looking for a precise explaination. A servo is a device that is used to provide control of something by incorporating sensors to feed information on the device back to the controller. In practical terms, there are lots of different servo mechanisms.
 
2) A lot of robot building people will code in a few languages, depending on the task. Most of us use C or C++. Some will use the BASIC programming language. Others use Labview, or few other languages. A lot of robot builders use free compilers for various controllers such as the GNU compilers for the Atmel series of controllers, or the Motorola brand of controllers.
 
3) Animatronics can use a wide variety of different hardware. There are usually servo motors to control the position of physical parts. There is usually some sort of control computer (look up Microcontrollers and Ardiuno Boards to see what they are like). The control computers are often very small, rather limited compared to a PC, but are very well suited for making things move. The rest of the materials depend on the builder of the robot.
 
4) How long does it take? That is a tough question to answer. Many variables.  FIRST Robotics students, working in teams, can build a very large and complex robot in about 6 weeks. Other peoples robots can take months or years. Simple robots, if you know what you are doing, can be built in a day.
 
5) Practical uses for animatronics?  Great question. Very few at the moment! The truly practical animatronic creations are used mostly in entertainment and education (museum displays, etc). If you expand that to robotics, there are lots of robots which do manufacturing. Of course, a few are on Mars.
 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 4:18 PM
Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Independent Study
 

Hey, My name is David Kopala and I’m an 8th grader in Westminster, CO. In my Gifted and Talented LA class, were doing an independent study. My topic is “The Modern World Of Robotics: Animatronics, Artificial Intelligence, And Craft. I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web, so I was wondering if I could ask a couple of questions.

1)What is a servo?

2)What type of coding and software do you use?

3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build animatronics?

4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?

5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?

 

Thanks,

David Kopala


#47240 From: twcarroll@...
Date: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:46 pm
Subject: Re: Independent Study
twcarroll@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Very good set of answers, Kevin.
Don't give up, David.  There are many people out there who can help you in building a first robot.  Good luck.
Tom C.
 
 
1) What is a servo?
 
For most robotics, people usually associate a servo with a small motor that is used to provide accurate positioning. Same sort of motor is used, for example, to move remote controlled airplane parts (elevators and rudders).
 
The term Servo is a rather ill defined if you are looking for a precise explaination. A servo is a device that is used to provide control of something by incorporating sensors to feed information on the device back to the controller. In practical terms, there are lots of different servo mechanisms.
 
2) A lot of robot building people will code in a few languages, depending on the task. Most of us use C or C++. Some will use the BASIC programming language. Others use Labview, or few other languages. A lot of robot builders use free compilers for various controllers such as the GNU compilers for the Atmel series of controllers, or the Motorola brand of controllers.
 
3) Animatronics can use a wide variety of different hardware. There are usually servo motors to control the position of physical parts. There is usually some sort of control computer (look up Microcontrollers and Ardiuno Boards to see what they are like). The control computers are often very small, rather limited compared to a PC, but are very well suited for making things move. The rest of the materials depend on the builder of the robot.
 
4) How long does it take? That is a tough question to answer. Many variables.  FIRST Robotics students, working in teams, can build a very large and complex robot in about 6 weeks. Other peoples robots can take months or years. Simple robots, if you know what you are doing, can be built in a day.
 
5) Practical uses for animatronics?  Great question. Very few at the moment! The truly practical animatronic creations are used mostly in entertainment and education (museum displays, etc). If you expand that to robotics, there are lots of robots which do manufacturing. Of course, a few are on Mars.
 
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 4:18 PM
Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Independent Study
 

Hey, My name is David Kopala and I’m an 8th grader in Westminster, CO. In my Gifted and Talented LA class, were doing an independent study. My topic is “The Modern World Of Robotics: Animatronics, Artificial Intelligence, And Craft. I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web, so I was wondering if I could ask a couple of questions.

1)What is a servo?

2)What type of coding and software do you use?

3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build animatronics?

4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?

5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?

 

Thanks,

David Kopala


#47241 From: "keeperdavid78" <davidk@...>
Date: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:42 pm
Subject: Re: Independent Study
keeperdavid78
Send Email Send Email
 
Thanks Dude

--- In SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com, "Kevin Ross" <kevinro@...> wrote:
>
> 1) What is a servo?
>
> For most robotics, people usually associate a servo with a small motor that is
used to provide accurate positioning. Same sort of motor is used, for example,
to move remote controlled airplane parts (elevators and rudders).
>
> The term Servo is a rather ill defined if you are looking for a precise
explaination. A servo is a device that is used to provide control of something
by incorporating sensors to feed information on the device back to the
controller. In practical terms, there are lots of different servo mechanisms.
>
> 2) A lot of robot building people will code in a few languages, depending on
the task. Most of us use C or C++. Some will use the BASIC programming language.
Others use Labview, or few other languages. A lot of robot builders use free
compilers for various controllers such as the GNU compilers for the Atmel series
of controllers, or the Motorola brand of controllers.
>
> 3) Animatronics can use a wide variety of different hardware. There are
usually servo motors to control the position of physical parts. There is usually
some sort of control computer (look up Microcontrollers and Ardiuno Boards to
see what they are like). The control computers are often very small, rather
limited compared to a PC, but are very well suited for making things move. The
rest of the materials depend on the builder of the robot.
>
> 4) How long does it take? That is a tough question to answer. Many variables. 
FIRST Robotics students, working in teams, can build a very large and complex
robot in about 6 weeks. Other peoples robots can take months or years. Simple
robots, if you know what you are doing, can be built in a day.
>
> 5) Practical uses for animatronics?  Great question. Very few at the moment!
The truly practical animatronic creations are used mostly in entertainment and
education (museum displays, etc). If you expand that to robotics, there are lots
of robots which do manufacturing. Of course, a few are on Mars.
>
> From: David Kopala
> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 4:18 PM
> To: SeattleRobotics@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Independent Study
>
> Hey, My name is David Kopala and I’m an 8th grader in Westminster, CO. In my
Gifted and Talented LA class, were doing an independent study. My topic is
“The Modern World Of Robotics: Animatronics, Artificial Intelligence, And
Craft. I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web, so I was
wondering if I could ask a couple of questions.
>
> 1)What is a servo?
>
> 2)What type of coding and software do you use?
>
> 3)What are some of the major hardware pieces that are used to build
animatronics?
>
> 4)How long does it take to build a very simple robot?
>
> 5)What are some practical uses for animatronics?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> David Kopala
>

#47242 From: Pat Tressel <ptressel@...>
Date: Fri Oct 19, 2012 11:02 am
Subject: Re: Independent Study
pat.tressel
Send Email Send Email
 

1) What is a servo?
The term Servo is a rather ill defined...

My turn to have a go at it! ;-)

A servo motor (also called an "actuator") can move something to a position you specify. A rotary servo can turn something to a specified angle. A linear servo can push something to a specified distance.

But they generally can't turn or push very far. Another type of motor is one that can keep turning (like a fan or a car engine) -- these are sometimes called "drive motors".

A rotary servo might be used to turn the joints on a robot arm or hand. A linear servo might be used to push a stopper into a valve to open or close off a tube, or to push a button.

Sometimes a servo is used to move to a position and then stop. Other times it is used to move through a pattern (e.g. for a walking robot, or an industrial robot doing assembly).

A servo tells when it's at the right position by feedback -- something measures how close it is to the desired position, and sends that signal back to the controller that's sending power to the motor, so it can slow the motor down as it approaches the right position.

My favorite description of feedback is:
"Are we there yet?" "No!"
"Are we there yet?" "No!"
"Are we there yet?" "In a while..."
"Are we there yet?" "Getting closer..."
"Are we there yet?" "Almost there..."
"Are we there yet?" "We're here!"
"Yay!!"

5) Practical uses for animatronics? Great question. Very few at the moment! The truly practical animatronic creations are used mostly in entertainment and education...

Animatronics used to be used for entertainment -- not just at Disney parks or for the British comedy "Spitting Image" (I got to see a live performance when I was in London...) but also for movie monsters and such. For instance:
http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/animatronics/page2.php

Now, computer graphics are the usual way that's done.

My favorite animatronic movie creature was Audrey II from Frank Oz's remake of "Little Shop of Horrors".

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Little_Shop_of_Horrors
The full-size Audrey II was only animatronic in the movie (as far as I can tell) -- for stage performances, a human operated the big Audrey II from inside! (My nephew played Audrey II in a local production in southern California.)

-- Pat

#47243 From: John Schlick <John_Schlick@...>
Date: Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:15 pm
Subject: Re: Independent Study by "David Buckley"
adventurousjohn
Send Email Send Email
 
I'm afraid that I'm in agreement with David.
The questions that were asked HAVE answers online, and in very easily found ways.
It struck me that the questioner was asking questions that were intended to get someone to do their work for them.

I mean I'll grant you that he did say " I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web" but
"What is a servo" could have been asked any number of other ways...   "Are there better articles to describe a servo than http://"blah blah blah
I typed in "uses for animatronics" just to see what would come up, the first three hits were "entertainment", and the fourth hit was disney.
How about "other than entertainment and Disney, what are the uses for animatronics?"

See, maybe they did read some of that stuff, but to me, the questions don't indicate that.
I have to feel like someone that cared about the topic would have asked, and maybe the same questions content wise, but in a different way that shows us some of their background so that we know better HOW to answer the questions.

My background that gives me this take is that I've been a lighting designer (internationally touring, live music concerts), and I have a website that gets hits from all over the world, 2 or 3 times a year there are teachers out there that give out homework assignments that tells the kids to figure out "things" about lighting designers (career path, what they do, etc), and I get emailed questions that range from thoughtful to (basically:) here is my homework assignment, can you do it for me.  I don't ever want to disillusion anyone, but I'm not about to do their work for them.  So, to start with, I tell them that if they want the answers they can call me and ask me, that way I haven't typed the answers for them to plagarize, and they will have to synthesize the information that I give them conversationally.  The ones that want their work done for them, guess what, they never call, the ones that care, guess what, they usually call, and the ones that call?  Those are fun conversations.

    John.
--------------------------------------------
David
I would have thought a gifted and talented person could use Google
I typed in "What is a servo?"
Top of the list was http://www.servocity.com/html/what_is_a_servo_.html

#47244 From: "Ryan Lum" <ryan.lum@...>
Date: Fri Oct 19, 2012 3:27 pm
Subject: Re: Re: Independent Study by "David Buckley"
cuervonolime
Send Email Send Email
 
Lol

Sent from my HTC One™ S on Solavei. Powered by Relationships.

----- Reply message -----
From: "John Schlick" <John_Schlick@...>
To: "seattlerobotics@yahoogroups.com" <seattlerobotics@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [SeattleRobotics] Re: Independent Study by "David Buckley"
Date: Fri, Oct 19, 2012 8:16 AM



 

I'm afraid that I'm in agreement with David.
The questions that were asked HAVE answers online, and in very easily found ways.
It struck me that the questioner was asking questions that were intended to get someone to do their work for them.

I mean I'll grant you that he did say " I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web" but
"What is a servo" could have been asked any number of other ways...   "Are there better articles to describe a servo than http://"blah blah blah
I typed in "uses for animatronics" just to see what would come up, the first three hits were "entertainment", and the fourth hit was disney.
How about "other than entertainment and Disney, what are the uses for animatronics?"

See, maybe they did read some of that stuff, but to me, the questions don't indicate that.
I have to feel like someone that cared about the topic would have asked, and maybe the same questions content wise, but in a different way that shows us some of their background so that we know better HOW to answer the questions.

My background that gives me this take is that I've been a lighting designer (internationally touring, live music concerts), and I have a website that gets hits from all over the world, 2 or 3 times a year there are teachers out there that give out homework assignments that tells the kids to figure out "things" about lighting designers (career path, what they do, etc), and I get emailed questions that range from thoughtful to (basically:) here is my homework assignment, can you do it for me.  I don't ever want to disillusion anyone, but I'm not about to do their work for them.  So, to start with, I tell them that if they want the answers they can call me and ask me, that way I haven't typed the answers for them to plagarize, and they will have to synthesize the information that I give them conversationally.  The ones that want their work done for them, guess what, they never call, the ones that care, guess what, they usually call, and the ones that call?  Those are fun conversations.

    John.
--------------------------------------------
David
I would have thought a gifted and talented person could use Google
I typed in "What is a servo?"
Top of the list was http://www.servocity.com/html/what_is_a_servo_.html



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#47245 From: twcarroll@...
Date: Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:35 pm
Subject: Re: Re: Independent Study by "David Buckley"
twcarroll@...
Send Email Send Email
 
     I'm afraid that I'm in complete agreement with Kevin.
 
     All it takes is a simple change in attitude to a question asked in earnest to completely change the attitude of the person asking the question.  A kind and helpful answer to a question asked by a 'newbie' can spur the person's interest to a level that he or she just might end up being a world-class robotics expert.  A snide response, on the other hand might start the 'newbie' into thinking that all people in robotics are a bunch of jerks; - that they don't care and just like to 'put people down' to show how smart they are.  "I don't want to be in this field.  Nobody really wants to help me."
    
     So, we know that the answer is "right in front of our eyes.'  Big deal! Yes, most of us know about the little devices that we call a 'servo.'  Our young 8th grader, David Kopala wrote a very nice letter to whom he felt were a group of 'experts,' - the Seattle Robotics Society.  He had probably heard of the term 'servo' as applied to small robot kits such as the BOE-Bot and others.  Maybe he's not the 'Google Master' that others think that he should be.  He might have typed in 'servo' and the first listing that came up described an industrial application or even a steam engine's speed-limiter, and nowhere did it mention the tiny plastic black boxes that are model airplane radio control actuators.
 
     A bit discouraged, he might have typed in 'animatronics' and saw an article about Disney's very complex hydraulic and pneumatic entertainment creations.  Looking for software, he might have stumbled across ROS or RDS, great software systems for more advanced robot builders, but not for newbies. 
 
     What I am trying to say is:  Don't jump on somebody's 'case' without first knowing the complete situation.  Let us all be kind and as helpful as we can be when somebody asks us a question.  Place yourself in young David's position, - how would YOU feel if you had read such an unkind and demeaning comment about YOUR question asked in earnest?
 
     Kevin is one of the many very talented and quite helpful Seattle Robotics Society members who always tries to help beginners.  It is people like him who make first-time visitors to our meetings want to return.  I have seen young people who first attended years ago and are now some of the best presenters with great robots at today's meetings.
 
     The bottom line:  BE KIND AND HELPFUL TO ANYONE WHO ASKS A QUESTION.
 
     Enough Said,
     Tom C.


I'm afraid that I'm in agreement with David.
The questions that were asked HAVE answers online, and in very easily found ways.
It struck me that the questioner was asking questions that were intended to get someone to do their work for them.

I mean I'll grant you that he did say " I am having a hard time grasping what I am Finding on the web" but
"What is a servo" could have been asked any number of other ways...   "Are there better articles to describe a servo than http://"blah blah blah
I typed in "uses for animatronics" just to see what would come up, the first three hits were "entertainment", and the fourth hit was disney.
How about "other than entertainment and Disney, what are the uses for animatronics?"

See, maybe they did read some of that stuff, but to me, the questions don't indicate that.
I have to feel like someone that cared about the topic would have asked, and maybe the same questions content wise, but in a different wa y that shows us some of their background so that we know better HOW to answer the questions.

My background that gives me this take is that I've been a lighting designer (internationally touring, live music concerts), and I have a website that gets hits from all over the world, 2 or 3 times a year there are teachers out there that give out homework assignments that tells the kids to figure out "things" about lighting designers (career path, what they do, etc), and I get emailed questions that range from thoughtful to (basically:) here is my homework assignment, can you do it for me.  I don't ever want to disillusion anyone, but I'm not about to do their work for them.  So, to start with, I tell them that if they want the answers they can call me and ask me, that way I haven't typed the answers for them to plagarize, and they will have to synthesize the information that I give them conversationally.  The ones that want their work done for them, guess what , they never call, the ones that care, guess what, they usually call, and the ones that call?  Those are fun conversations.

    John.
--------------------------------------------
David
I would have thought a gifted and talented person could use Google
I typed in "What is a servo?"
Top of the list was http://www.servocity.com/html/what_is_a_servo_.html

#47246 From: Pat Tressel <ptressel@...>
Date: Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:35 pm
Subject: Re: Re: Independent Study by "David Buckley"
pat.tressel
Send Email Send Email
 

that way I haven't typed the answers for them to plagarize

Many schools use plagiarism detection tools as a matter of course these days, given how easy it is to get material online. So long as the mailing list is public and allows indexing by web spiders, it will turn up in many of these tools. Doing a quick check...this mailing list is public and is getting indexed.

There are tools to detect plagiarism in text and in programs -- for the latter, moss is the standard tool. We used it at UW CSE...

...and while I was a TA there, guess who got sent to talk to the cheaters... I didn't scowl at them and tell them they were being bad -- I explained that: 1) If they copied, they wouldn't actually be learning the material, and this would come back to bite them later...usually on the next exam. 2) Once it was known that they cheated -- and it generally would become knows sooner or (not very much) later -- their reputation would be spoiled.

In case anyone has need of this sort of tool, one can (er) search for "plagiarism detection". ;-) But just a few links...

moss:
http://theory.stanford.edu/~aiken/moss/
https://moodle.org/plugins/view.php?plugin=plagiarism_moss

other:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism_detection
http://www.noblenet.org/merrimack/academic_integrity/detect.htm

Good students aren't going to plagiarize anyway. Students who might be tempted generally know -- or they know now -- that their work will likely be checked for plagiarism, which can act as a deterrent.

-- Pat

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