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  • Members: 944
  • Category: Robotics
  • Founded: Oct 7, 1999
  • Language: English
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#1644 From: David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@...>
Date: Mon Jan 3, 2005 7:54 pm
Subject: Re: [dorkbotsf-blabber] last call for participants in the robot performance art show
askelad
Send Email Send Email
 
We're also doing art robots at ROBOlypmics:

http://robolympics.net/events.shtml

Heather:  Let me know if Simone and I can help with the ATA show.

At 11:30 03-01-05, heather@... wrote:

>Hey everyone, I wanted to put out a last call for participation in the robotic
>performance art show on April 2 at ATA. Looking for work in all media relating
>to robotics, automation, artificial life/intelligence, etc. and performance. If
>you are interested email me back and sign up for the mailing list at:
>http://deweyhagborg.com/mailman/listinfo/robo_performance_deweyhagborg.com
>
>We need to put together a description of the event for next years calendar, so
>responses by friday at the latest.
>
>best,
>Heather
>
>
>........................................................................
>.........dorkbot: people doing strange things with electricity..........
>..........................http://dorkbot.org............................
>........................................................................

#1645 From: Connie Hendrix <chendri@...>
Date: Tue Jan 4, 2005 1:06 am
Subject: Re: [rsa] Re: [dorkbotsf-blabber] last call for participants in the robot performance art show
orbbuild
Send Email Send Email
 
Dear Fans of Robots
John O'Connell high school in the mission district (real close to ATA)
is home of the US FIRST competition's 2004 NW Regional Champions.
Saturday, we pick up the kit for this year's competition. We've lost
two of our valuable engineering mentors and are looking for
replacements. If any of you is interested in working with enthusiastic
high school students to build and program our bot, all comers welcome!
We meet Monday, Wed. & Fridays 3:30-5:00 PM. This Saturday, we're going
to San Jose for the kick off event and to pick up our kit. There, we'll
find out what the game is this year. We frequently meet at City College
on Saturdays to use their shop.

We've registered for the Las Vegas competition last week in March.
Energetic volunteer mentors may qualify for the trip!

Connie Hendrix
Curriculum & Technology Integration Specialist
John O'Connell High School
2355 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94110

ph: 415 695 5370
fax: 415 695 5379

On Jan 3, 2005, at 11:54 AM, David Calkins - RSA wrote:

> We're also doing art robots at ROBOlypmics:
>
> http://robolympics.net/events.shtml
>
>  Heather:  Let me know if Simone and I can help with the ATA show.
>
>  At 11:30 03-01-05, heather@... wrote:
>
>  >Hey everyone, I wanted to put out a last call for participation in
> the robotic
>  >performance art show on April 2 at ATA. Looking for work in all
> media relating
>  >to robotics, automation, artificial life/intelligence, etc. and
> performance. If
>  >you are interested email me back and sign up for the mailing list at:
>
> >http://deweyhagborg.com/mailman/listinfo/
> robo_performance_deweyhagborg.com
>  >
>  >We need to put together a description of the event for next years
> calendar, so
>  >responses by friday at the latest.
>  >
>  >best,
>  >Heather
>  >
>  >
>
> >......................................................................
> ..
>  >.........dorkbot: people doing strange things with
> electricity..........
>
> >..........................http://
> dorkbot.org............................
>
> >......................................................................
> ..
>
>
>
> SF robot meetings are at 7PM on the first Wednesday of the month at
> SFSU's Science bldg - 1600 Holloway, room SCI 256.
>
> http://www.robotics-society.org/images/sfsu_map.gif
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>  •  To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sfrsa/
>  
>  • 	 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> sfrsa-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>  
>  • 	 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
> Service.
>
>

#1646 From: "David Calkins" <dcalkins@...>
Date: Tue Jan 4, 2005 5:59 pm
Subject: Happy Birthday Rovers!
dcalkins@...
Send Email Send Email
 
#1647 From: ZCS <contact@...>
Date: Tue Jan 4, 2005 8:40 pm
Subject: Zach's Cool Stuff update for Jan. 2005
zsradding
Send Email Send Email
 
Hello and Happy New Year from Zach's Cool Stuff,

This is going to be a big year for ZCS.  We have some very exciting classes
scheduled for the next few months. On Jan. 22nd we will hold our six legged
walker workshop.  This one-day workshop has you building a very cool robot that
is yours to keep.  The cost of this workshop is $225.

Back by popular demand is our "Two-wheeled balancing robot" workshop.  On Sat.
March 5th. we will be holding this one-day workshop.  This robot keeps its
balance on just two wheels.  The cost for this workshop is $200.

ZCS is also starting up its 6 & 8 week classes.  These classes are designed to
get you building your own projects.

Our "Electronics Prototyping" class is starting Feb. 2nd .  This class meets
each Wed. night for 8 weeks.  This class is designed for the beginner, but it
will quickly advance your skills in building electronic hardware.  The cost for
the class is $350.

Starting Feb 7th is our "Intro to Microcontrollers" class. This class meets each
Monday night for 6 weeks  Learn how to harness the power of these super small,
super cheap, super powerful computers.  You will see why microcontrollers are in
almost every electronic gadget today. This class is also designed for the
beginner, but it will quickly get you up to speed programming microcontrollers. 
Cost for this class is $300.

For more information and to sign up for classes go to: 
http://www.buildcoolstuff.com
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at contact@...

Zach Radding
ZCS Director, Instructor, and Builder of Cool Stuff
------------------------------------------------------------------

As always, if you want to be taken off this email list, just reply to this mail.

#1648 From: Isaac Reuben <isaac@...>
Date: Wed Jan 5, 2005 9:39 pm
Subject: Meeting tonight?
isaac@...
Send Email Send Email
 
Is there going to be a meeting tonight at SFSU?  Thanks!

#1649 From: "S.O. Robotics" <sorobotics@...>
Date: Fri Jan 7, 2005 12:21 am
Subject: January Robot Meeting
sorobotics
Send Email Send Email
 
Roboteers,
 This is a reminder for this month's meeting Saturday the 8th beginning at 6pm. The meeting will be held at Brighton Academy as usual in the activity room at the back of the school.
 
 Bring your robots for show-n-tell. We'll be discussing our choice to use the Atmel line of processors and we'll begin design of the new group project.
 
 See you there,
 
-Dan
 
Please do not reply to this email, if you need to contact me write to dan@...
 
 
 


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#1650 From: "S.O. Robotics" <sorobotics@...>
Date: Sun Jan 9, 2005 1:11 am
Subject: Meeting Reschedule
sorobotics
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Roboteers,
Due to heavy snow in some areas many of our members could not make this meeting. We've decided to postpone it til next saturday the 15th. Sorry for the short notice, but I doubt there'd have been much of a turnout anyway.
-Dan


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#1651 From: "Cliff Thompson" <cliff@...>
Date: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:05 am
Subject: Saturn's Moon Titan's Cassini-Huygens robot probe landing webcasts (live) and TV shows
clifftrobot2
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Greetings Autonomous Bipedal Biomorphic Explorers,

Here is a Robotics Society of America (RSA) Legacy Web Site robot news
update:

Robotics Society of America (RSA) Legacy Website News: Saturn's Moon Titan's
Cassini-Huygens robot probe landing webcasts (live) and TV shows info.

CASSINI-HUYGENS MISSION

"After flying 2 billion miles, a probe to Saturn's moon will attempt what
has never been tried before. The Huygens' probe will plunge into Titan and
its mysterious atmosphere on Jan. 14, 2005...Joined...for the last seven
years, Cassini and Huygens finally separated Dec. 24 PST after a...2.2
billion mile... journey through our solar system. While the Cassini
spacecraft continues its four-year tour of the Saturnian system, the Huygens
probe will plunge into Titan and its mysterious atmosphere on Jan. 14, 2005.
" -- RedNova News

"On Friday, Jan. 14, the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Huygens probe is
scheduled to descend through the mysterious atmosphere of Saturn's moon
Titan...Huygens descends into Titan's atmosphere (Descent begins 5 a.m.
EST)...Huygens mission duration of 153 minutes, corresponding to a maximum
descent time of 2.5 hours plus at least 3 additional minutes (and possibly a
half hour or more) on Titan's surface...During its descent, Huygens' camera
will capture more than 1,100 images, while the Probe's other five
instruments will sample Titan's atmosphere and determine its
composition...Data from Huygens will be relayed to the Cassini Orbiter
passing overhead. The data will be stored onboard Cassini's Solid State
recorders (SSR) for playback to Earth......NASA TV/webcast will carry ESA TV
during the Titan events...Check the TV schedule for full details (all times
listed are in Eastern Time). " -- NASA Cassini-Huygens Mission

WEBCAST SCHEDULE

NASA TV/webcast TV schedule, Titan events, (all times listed are in Eastern
Time)
Excerpt:
January 14, Friday
All times below are Earth received times, Eastern U.S. time. Actual
spacecraft events occur 67 minutes earlier, as this is the time taken for
signals to reach Earth from Cassini. -- ESA

3 a.m.     - 3:30 a.m.    - Live Coverage and Commentary "Cassini Turns
Towards Titan - Interruption of Radio Contact" - JPL/ESA
5 a.m.     - 6 a.m.       - Live Coverage and Commentary "The Huygens Probe
Enters the Atmosphere of Titan" - JPL/ESA DESCENT BEGINS AT 5AM
7:30 a.m.  - 8 a.m.       - ESA News Briefing "Mission Status" - JPL/ESA
8:30 a.m.  - 9:15 a.m.    - ESA Commentary on Huygens Probe Mission -
JPL/ESA (Mission Coverage)
10 a.m.    - 10:30 a.m.   - ESA Commentary "Cassini Turns Back to Earth -
Data Transmission Begins" - JPL/ESA
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.   - Huygens Probe News Briefing (will confirm if we
are receiving data from Huygens via relay by Cassini)
1 p.m.                    - NASA Update with Sean O'Keefe - KSC
5 p.m.     - 6 p.m.       - ESA Commentary and "Presentation of First
Triplet Image of/data from Titan" - JPL/ESA

January 15, Saturday
5 a.m.     - 6 a.m.       - ESA Final Wrap Up on Huygens Probe Mission -
JPL/ESA (Mission Coverage)
12 p.m.    - 1 p.m.       - ESA News Briefing "Early Look at Science
Results" - JPL/ESA

Website
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html>


WEBCASTS

NASA TV, other sources
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html>
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html>

San Francisco Exploratorium Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception:
Saturn, Webcast Schedule/Archive
http://www.exploratorium.edu/saturn/index.html
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/saturn/index.html>
http://www.exploratorium.edu/saturn/webcasts.html
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/saturn/webcasts.html>


WEBCAM (ESA Operations Center Main Control Room; image auto-updated every 60
seconds)
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEMN3Y274OD_0.html
<http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEMN3Y274OD_0.html>



HUYGENS MISSION TIMETABLE
(Note: Schedule of Titan events, (times listed include Pacific Time))

"Huygens Probe (Titan-C) Mission Description...December 2004...Jet
Propulsion Laboratory...California Institute of Technology...Overview...The
Cassini-Huygens program is a joint NASA/ESA mission to study Saturn, its
rings, environment, origins, and satellites - particularly the largest,
Titan. The Cassini spacecraft is a complex JPL/NASA-built orbiter, which has
carried with it the Huygens spacecraft, an ESA-built Titan atmospheric
probe. This document describes the Titan probe mission which is to occur on
the third targeted flyby of Titan, and covers not only the Huygens descent
to Titan, but both the Huygens and Cassini activities which support and lead
up to the probe descent itself." -- NASA Cassini-Huygens Mission

Excerpt
(Note: if you can't see the inserted html graphic timetable below, you can
alternately view it in the attached gif)
(Note: "Ground UTC is the time that the signal is received on Earth. The
light travel time from the spacecraft to Earth is about 1 hour and 8
minutes." --ESA)



Huygens Probe Mission Description, mission timetable (pdf pg. 10)
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/products/pdfs/tcFlyby20041221b.pdf
<http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/products/pdfs/tcFlyby20041221b.pdf>



HUYGENS MISSION DESCRIPTIONS (Supplemental)

Parachuting to Titan
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/30dec_titan.html
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/whycassini/30dec_titan.html>
January 14, 2005: Huygens at Titan
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/timeline/huygens_titan.html
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/timeline/huygens_titan.html>
ESA Huygens Timeline
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEMXYGQ3K3E_0.html
<http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/SEMXYGQ3K3E_0.html>
Cassini-Huygens 3d model
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31385
<http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31385>
Space Agency Webs: Cassini Mission (NASA), Cassini-Huygens (NASA, ESA)
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html>
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm
<http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm>
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/index.html
<http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/index.html>


OTHER COVERAGE

TV

"The Science Channel Presents an In-Depth, Two-Part Special on NASA's
Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn, Including Coverage of the Historic
Landing on Saturn's Moon Titan...The Science Channel will air the world
premiere of "RENDEZVOUS WITH SATURN'S MOON" on January 13, 2005, from 8-9 PM
(ET/PT). The one-hour special will follow the multinational Cassini-Huygens
Saturn mission...Then, with cameras inside mission control at the European
Space Agency in Germany, The Science Channel will present the U.S. premiere
of "TOUCHDOWN ON SATURN'S MOON" on January 14, 9-10 PM (ET/PT), offering
viewers the chance to witness that day's dramatic landing on Titan and the
first data transmissions and photographs sent back from the probe..." --
RedNova News

RedNova News, Discovery Science Channel Cassini page
http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=114436
<http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=114436>
http://science.discovery.com/convergence/cassini/cassini.html
<http://science.discovery.com/convergence/cassini/cassini.html>


FINAL COMMENTS

(1) Virtual Reality Titan

It will be interesting to compare what Huygens sends back, to the original
artist impressions created by Space Artist Chesley Bonestell, who together
with German V2 Rocket Scientist Werner Von Braun, instrumental in developing
America's Rocket Program, & scientist including Willey Ley, teamed up in the
mid 1950's to produce, for Collier's magazine, a series of visionary
articles describing the case for Space Exploration, which reports were
picked up by Walt Disney & developed as a series of Disneyland TV series
"Tomorrowland" episodes, which were seen by President Dwight D. Eisenhower &
credited with being instrumental in launching both the American & Russian
Space Programs.  Some of the Bonestell Space Art is also available as
Virtual Reality Modeling models, created by Paul S. Hoffman, who notes he
has "reproduced some of Bonestell's works in VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling
Language)...Re-creations of Bonestell Panoramas:...I've created interactive
versions of the 360-degree panoramas Chesley Bonestell painted for the
Griffith Observatory Planetarium in 1958 and 1959 ...[which
includes]...Bonestell's Titan Panorama..."


Bonestell  VRML Tribute, Titan Panorama ("Click in the image, then use the
mouse or arrow keys to move around.")
http://www.digitalspaceart.com/moonship/Welcome.html
<http://www.digitalspaceart.com/moonship/Welcome.html>
http://www.digitalspaceart.com/panos/bonestell_titan.html
<http://www.digitalspaceart.com/panos/bonestell_titan.html>

Bonestell Collier's Covers, Gallery, Graphics
http://www1.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/coltech.html
<http://www1.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/coltech.html>
http://www.bonestell.org/colliers.html
<http://www.bonestell.org/colliers.html>
http://www.skiesare.demon.co.uk/cb.html
<http://www.skiesare.demon.co.uk/cb.html>


(2) Fellow Villa St Jean Alumni & Physics enthusiast at NASA

NASA Space Science Director for Strategic and International Planning, Dr.
Marc S. Allen - Thank You for this greatest of NASA missions to date!
(Space Man, I can't find your original NASA bio formerly at
http://spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/bios/allen.htm
<http://spacescience.nasa.gov/admin/bios/allen.htm> , so provided below are
some replacement "jigsaw links")


Websites: Space Mission, Directorate
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/ <http://science.hq.nasa.gov/>
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/directorate/index.html
<http://science.hq.nasa.gov/directorate/index.html>
Members of the Space Science Advisory Committee & Subcommittees listing Dr.
Marc S. Allen
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/strategy/sscac/members.html
<http://science.hq.nasa.gov/strategy/sscac/members.html>
Speaker Event Description (see "April 23 (Friday), Talk: "NASA Explorations
Program", Dr. Mark Allen ('71), Director for Strategic and International
Planning for NASA."
http://www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/PHYS/RadiationArchive/apr18_04.html
<http://www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/PHYS/RadiationArchive/apr18_04.html
>
Villa St Jean House Band Historical & Current Music Circle Website 1967
Graduation Ball photo of Marc - movin' thru space as cool then as he is now!
:-)
http://www.robots.org/Cliff/VSJ/VSJMusicCircle.htm#Marc
<http://www.robots.org/Cliff/VSJ/VSJMusicCircle.htm#Marc>





ATTACHMENT: Huygens Schedule




Allrighty Then,


Regards,

Cliff Thompson
Mediameister,
Legacy Website Creator
San Francisco
Robotics Society of America (RSA <http://www.robots.org/> )
Webmaster,
Friends of African Outlet SIG (FOAO
<http://www.geocities.com/friendsofafricanoutlet/> )
Appropriate Technology Evangelist
Paths of Native Africa (PONA <http://www.pathsofnativeafrica.org/> )
Mobile Developer Evangelist,
NorCal Mobile Computing SIG (NCMCS <http://sf.mobilecomputingsig.com/> )
Villa St. Jean Alumni,
Sufferin' Kind Band Guitar/Keyboard,
Webmaster,
VSJ Sufferin' Kind Historical Website & Music Circle (VSJSKMC
<http://www.robots.org/Cliff/VSJ/VSJMusicCircle.htm> )

#1652 From: "S.O. Robotics" <sorobotics@...>
Date: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:52 pm
Subject: Southern Oregon Robot Meeting
sorobotics
Send Email Send Email
 
Roboteers,
 We will be holding our meeting this weekend, Saturday the 15th at 6pm.  We're meeting in the usual place, Brighton Academy in the activity room.
 
 Bring your robots for show-n-tell, and we'll see you there!
 
-Dan Gates
 
Please do not reply to this email, if you need to contact me send an email to dan@...


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#1653 From: "Jack Buffington" <yahoo@...>
Date: Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:23 am
Subject: robosapien
raefsel
Send Email Send Email
 
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000193026518/

There are a few new robosapiens out there.  Here is a page with some info
and video too.


-Jack

#1654 From: "Alejandro Alonso Puig" <alejandro.alonso@...>
Date: Mon Jan 17, 2005 12:20 am
Subject: PID control of two motors speed via serial port
mundobot
Send Email Send Email
 
I have published a new article at my website about the design of a PID
controller for the speed of a couple of dc motors with quadratic encoders.
The commands to the controller are sent via serial port. It is quite
applicable to robots with differential drive (the most common). The article
includes methods for manual adjustment of gains with no need to get in
mathematics formulation

The article is available at: http://mundobot.com/tecnica/pid/enpid.htm

Best regards from Spain

Alejandro Alonso-Puig
http://mundobot.com/
alejandro.alonso@...

#1655 From: David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@...>
Date: Tue Jan 18, 2005 4:00 am
Subject: ROBOlympics - Only one month left to register!
askelad
Send Email Send Email
 
The largest robot competition in America is back - and even larger! Last year,
400 robots came from 11 different countries.  Don't miss out this year!  Come
compete against the most diverse robot builders on the planet.

We've moved from the 50,000 ft sq Fort Mason pavilion to San Francisco State
University (where I teach) - and over 100,000 square feet!  This lets us have
separate buildings for each events - sumos get their own area, soccer gets it's
own area, combat its own, etc.  (there were complaints about combat robot noise,
so non-combat robots need not worry - we have 5 separate buildings this year!) 
This is the largest robot competition in history!

We really want to see more robots registered - especially non-combat robots.  If
you've got sumos, fire-fighters, a soccer team, legos, old FIRST bots, or a
home-brew bot you've been wanting to show off - BRING IT!  With two and a half
months til the show, you've still got time to build, tweak, hack, and weld some
bots into shape - or just dust off the old ones.  There is $28,220 in prize
money!

You MUST pre-register - registration closes Feb 27th - do NOT wait til the last
day or your event might have filled up (32 slots/event.)

Even if you can't bring your own robot, come to see the huge assortment of
robots present: bi-peds, soccer bots, legos, exo-skeletons, combots, two-wheeled
balancers  - they'll all be here!

While most cities have small robot events, this is the one robot show that you
should not miss. For robot sports to be taken seriously, we really need to show
the world all the different events at once.

All events have cash prizes and incredible Gold/Silver/Bronze medals with
scrolling LED displays (courtesy of Winchell Design and Parallax, Inc.)

Students 17 and under pay no entry fees!

For a complete list of all events, go to
http://robolympics.net/events.shtml

For some of the press (including videos) from last year, go to
http://robolympics.net/news.shtml


COMPETITIONS AT ROBOLYMPICS

* Robot Soccer:  Autonomous robots search for the ball and try to score,
   just like the real thing!  Three classes.

* Sumo:  5 different weight classes.  The easiest bot to build.  What
   are you waiting for?

* Fire-Fighting: Using the Trinity Rules,

* Maze Solving: Got a micromouse?  Built something better?  Here's you
   chance to show off.

* Walker Challenge: All non-biped walkers compete to find out who's fastest.

* Biped Race: Got a biped? race it against the other bi-peds to see who's
   fastest.

* Robot Triathlon: Just like the human version, Robots complete a three-
   stage race: legs, wheels, and water. Robot Triathlon was invented just
   for this event!

* The Line Slalom: Break out your line-follower

* Ribbon Climber: Last year's winner got $1000 and a trip to Washington DC.
   This important event

* Lego Challenge: Lap running robots.  Simple concept, hard to finish.

* Lego Open: Build your craziest Mindstorms bot and show it off.

* Aibo Performer: Competitors program their Aibos to perform tricks or
   routines.

* Balancer Race: Two-wheeled balancing robots match programming for
   agility and balancing power.

* Best of Show: Those bots that don't fit into other classes get their
   chance to shine here!

* Robomagellan: Remember DARPA?  This similar concept will test the
   finest builders!

* BEAM:  Three different events for the analog builders.  Special guest judge!

* Exo-skeleton:  Contestants build human-assisted metal exoskeletons that
   compete in lifting, and carrying contests. This event truly combines the
   best of man and machine!

* Combat:  You either love it or you hate it.  If you love it, bring your
   robot and compete against the best.

* Robo-One:  Imported from Japan by Robolympics, robo-one are bipedal
   humanoid robots capable of astounding stunts.  From the most delicate tasks
   like door opening and one-legged balance, to stair climbing and free-form
   demonstrations of agility, these machines amaze with every movement.

* Art Bots:  New event! Art bots can be anything from delicate automata that
   serve tea to a crashing, banging one-robot band!  Four categories!

* Junior League (<18 yr old): Competitions designed especially for the young
   engineers among us.   Events include: 500g sumo robots, 3 different lego
   events, 120 pound combat, BasketBall Challenge (like US First), and
   HandyBoard Ball (like BotBall).

#1656 From: "rtstofer" <rstofer@...>
Date: Mon Jan 17, 2005 8:01 pm
Subject: Re: PID control of two motors speed via serial port
rtstofer
Send Email Send Email
 
Very nicely done.

The spreadsheet is a nice touch.

--- In sfrsa@yahoogroups.com, "Alejandro Alonso Puig"
<alejandro.alonso@m...> wrote:
> I have published a new article at my website about the design of a
PID
> controller for the speed of a couple of dc motors with quadratic
encoders.
> The commands to the controller are sent via serial port. It is
quite
> applicable to robots with differential drive (the most common).
The article
> includes methods for manual adjustment of gains with no need to
get in
> mathematics formulation
>
> The article is available at:
http://mundobot.com/tecnica/pid/enpid.htm
>
> Best regards from Spain
>
> Alejandro Alonso-Puig
> http://mundobot.com/
> alejandro.alonso@m...

#1657 From: "rtstofer" <rstofer@...>
Date: Fri Jan 14, 2005 6:02 am
Subject: Re: Impressive: Lego logic gates
rtstofer
Send Email Send Email
 
Absolutely brilliant!  I have got to try this - I want a 4 bit full
adder with carry-in!

--- In sfrsa@yahoogroups.com, Nick Donaldson <nick@g...> wrote:
> These are really clever - mechanical logic gates (AND, OR, NOR
etc.) built
> entirely out of Lego.  Plus, the guy who designed them is now
working on a Lego
> Difference Engine (a la Babbage).  Can't wait!
>
> http://goldfish.ikaruga.co.uk/logic.html
>
> cheers,
>
> nick.
>
> --
> _________________________________________________________
> Nick Donaldson                  mailto:nick@g...
> Bot Wrangler Extraordinaire!    http://www.gotrobots.com/
> 415.333.4664 voice              415.378.7250 mobile

#1658 From: "robertalanwolfie" <wolfr@...>
Date: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:09 am
Subject: article on Zach Radding
robertalanwo...
Send Email Send Email
 
There's an article about Zach Radding and tinkering in today's SF
Chronicle (Tuesday, Jan. 18).  It's online at

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/18/BAG\
HKARRN41.DTL

--Robert Wolf

#1659 From: ken callegari <ken@...>
Date: Thu Jan 6, 2005 4:22 am
Subject: When are the SFRSA Meetings?
kcallegari
Send Email Send Email
 
I was at  SFSU's Science bldg - 1600 Holloway, room SCI 256. from 7:10 to 7:30.  There was no one there.
 
When and where are the SFRSA meetings?
 
-Ken

#1660 From: Luke Laurie <mrlaurie@...>
Date: Mon Jan 24, 2005 3:51 pm
Subject: Robotics Music
mrlaurie
Send Email Send Email
 
I have just finished an album of music that may appeal
to Robo folks. It's all available as free mp3
downloads:

http://homepage.mac.com/mrlaurie/flee/fleethecreator.html

It is a story of robotic enlightnement. What if the
robots became the war machine, and what if they
decided not to fight?

-Luke

=====
Luke Laurie

MESA Advisor
Curriculum Director for RoboChallenge
Science Teacher, Department Chair, El Camino Junior High

mrlaurie@...
http://homepage.mac.com/mrlaurie/mrlaurie.html
http://homepage.mac.com/mrlaurie/robo/robochallenge.html



__________________________________
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Yahoo! Mail - Helps protect you from nasty viruses.
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#1661 From: "Cliff Thompson" <cliff@...>
Date: Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:48 am
Subject: NASA Cassisi talk at Foothill JC Wed. 7pm, Los Altos Hills
clifftrobot2
Send Email Send Email
 
'Allo,

'ere's a talk...

Astronomy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Event Info:
(650) 949-7888
Wed 1/26/2005
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

fee/admission: Free

Smithwick Theater
Foothill College
12345 El Monte Rd.
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
(650) 948-4444

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
"Exploring the Lord of the Rings: Cassini at Saturn," an illustrated,
nontechnical talk with NASA Ames Research Center astronomer Jeff Cuzzi.
--Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/listings/event.php?events,e191580
<http://www.sfgate.com/listings/event.php?events,e191580>


Regards,
Thanks in advance, appreciate any help you can provide,

Cliff Thompson
Mediameister,
Legacy Website Creator
San Francisco
Robotics Society of America (RSA <http://www.robots.org/> )

#1662 From: "pbp_2k4" <pbp_2k4@...>
Date: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:18 pm
Subject: Robot is on line!
pbp_2k4
Send Email Send Email
 
Hi Everyone,
     Just thought I'd invite you to check out the robot I built.
I wanted to give it a human brain but I'm not that good of a
programmer so I did the next best thing.

I hooked it up to the internet!

My robot roams freely around my house and can stream audio and video,
convert entered text to speech, accept navigation commands and report
collisions over the internet.

I turn it off at night so I can get some sleep but currently leave it
on:
6pm-10pm weekdays  and 8am-10pm weekends

You are welcome to check it out at:
http://www.urmyrobot.com

#1663 From: "Larry Geib" <LJGeib@...>
Date: Thu Feb 10, 2005 4:04 am
Subject: PDXbot05 Now there's something to do in May, too!
lorenzojose2000
Send Email Send Email
 
The Portland Area Robotics Society announces  that this year's annual
contest-PDXbot'05 - will be held Sunday, May 1st this  year. That's a
bit earlier
than usual, so start getting your robots ready now!  The Folks at PSU
are
allowing us to use the Smith Center Ballroom again, and  parking will
again be free.

This year, we are offering several  competitions.

SRS-RoboMagellan- We have decided to offer this great new  outdoor
navigation
contest as envisioned by the Seattle Robotics Society. Same  rules as
in
Seattle, with a twist of being in a somewhat more restraining
environment on the
South Park blocks, right in back of the Smith Center. Get  those
object
sensors working! The exact time and date for this event hasn't been
set due to
scheduling concerns (it could be Saturday or Sunday), so keep
checking at the
PDXbot web site www.pdxbot.org for the latest  updates.

Sumo- Contests will be held in five classes this year: Nano,  Micro,
Beginner's Mini, advanced Mini, and 3kg classes. No hold down
devices  (vacuum or
magnets) will be allowed in any class.

Line following- We are  offering Beginning and advanced versions of
this
contest. If we have enough  contestants, we'll have head-to-head
racing!

Walker race- Last year's  popular out and back race returns with some
rules
clarifications.

Talent  show- If you have a neat robot, bring it and show it off. If
the
judges like  your robot, you could walk off with a prize!


A note on rules- In an  effort to make your robots able to compete in
several
contests, we have been  working with our friends in the Seattle
Robotics
Society to unify the rules for  most contests. You'll find that this
year's
Robothon will use the same rules for  most of these contests, so you
won't have to
modify your robots to meet  differing rules. Now you have no excuse
to not
build that great new robot! We  didn't get around to unifying the
Sumo rules, but
they aren't that much  different anyway. The same robots seem to do
well at
both contests. All the  rules are posted on the PDXbot site.

PDXbot.05 will include new and  improved tech displays, vendor
booths,
demonstrations, Items for purchase, food,  a Kid's robotics zone,
robot-related
raffles, and fun for the whole family.  Admission is free! Plan your
visit Now!

Visit the PDXbot web site  www.pdxbot.org  for information on rules,
maps,
travel information, venue  directions, and information on our
sponsors and
vendors.

And, if you  haven't been to a PDXbot event, you can see what one is
like by
going to the  PARTS web site ( www.portlandrobotics.org ) and
clicking on the
merchandise link  to get a copy of the PDXbot04 and '03 DVDs.

#1664 From: "S.O. Robotics" <sorobotics@...>
Date: Sat Feb 12, 2005 6:22 pm
Subject: Tonight!!! Robot Meeting
sorobotics
Send Email Send Email
 
Roboteers,
 
 I'm a little late at getting around to sending the monthly notice, it's that time again... that time where we must drive our robots to their meeting.  Tonight! Sat. Feb 12th
 
 As usual, the robots will be meeting at Brighton Academy 1121 NE 7th St, GP.  For some reason the robots like the 6:00pm hour, so lets be sure to get them there on time.
 
Bring any parts that you plan to donate to the group project, we need to start designing this thing and the more stuff we have availible the easier it will be.
 
See you there,
-Dan

__________________________________________________
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#1665 From: "Cliff Thompson" <cliff@...>
Date: Sat Feb 12, 2005 7:42 pm
Subject: Robotics Society of America (RSA) Legacy Website News: EXPO 2005 Robot Project
clifftrobot2
Send Email Send Email
 

Greetings Neural Networking Types,

 

Here is a Robotics Society of America (RSA) Legacy Web Site robot news update:

 

"EXPO 2005 The 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, 3/25-9/25...Robot Project: We Live in the Robot Age...An Opportunity to Encounter Diverse Robots...The Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition will conduct a Robot Project at EXPO 2005. The project will feature working robots that clean, patrol, guide visitors, and perform other tasks, as well as prototype robots...Japanese people have had an affinity to robots for decades, largely due to their depiction in animation and other fiction...[Program tracks include]...Working Robots...Five types...Prototype Robot Exhibition...63 prototypes...held for 11 days from Thursday, June 9, to Sunday, June 19, at the Morizo and Kiccoro Exhibition Center...Robot Station...the hub of the Robot Project. The pavilion will include a stage on which working robots will give demonstrations...visitors will be able to interact with robots at any time...."

 

RSA: EXPO 2005 Robot Project links

http://www.robots.org/#EXPO2005

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Cliff Thompson

Mediameister,

Legacy Website Creator

San Francisco

Robotics Society of America (RSA)

 

 


#1666 From: "pbp_2k4" <pbp_2k4@...>
Date: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:20 pm
Subject: Robot is on line! (update)
pbp_2k4
Send Email Send Email
 
I have made significat improvements to the robot's flash interface.


You are welcome to check it out at:
http://www.urmyrobot.com

6pm-10pm weekdays and 8am-10pm weekends (pacific time)



Hi Everyone,
Just thought I'd invite you to check out the robot I built.
I wanted to give it a human brain but I'm not that good of a
programmer so I did the next best thing.

I hooked it up to the internet!

My robot roams freely around my house and can stream audio and video,
convert entered text to speech, accept navigation commands and report
collisions over the internet.

I turn it off at night so I can get some sleep but currently leave it
on:
6pm-10pm weekdays and 8am-10pm weekends

You are welcome to check it out at:
http://www.urmyrobot.com

#1667 From: max@...
Date: Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:46 pm
Subject: I love you!
maxwell_buns...
Send Email Send Email
 
your big love, ;-)

++++ Attachment: No Virus found
++++ Norton AntiVirus - www.symantec.de

#1668 From: David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@...>
Date: Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:10 pm
Subject: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!
askelad
Send Email Send Email
 
Registration has almost closed - Don't miss out on competing at ROBOlympics
2005!

Last year we had over 400 robots!  This year we're at SF State University, we
have 3 full buildings for the events, and expect over 500 robots!  Don't miss
out!

For the non-combat builders:  We've got TWO full buildings for you!  Huge
auditoriums where everyone can see your robots and you don't have to worry about
any noise from the combat guys.  We've still got lots of slots for the open
categories: sumos, soccer, fire-fighting, artbots, the lego events, and BEAM
bots.  All events here:
http://robolympics.net/events.shtml

Combat builders:  This is the largest robot combat event since BattleBots! 
Don't miss out!  We're filling a whole basketball court.

But remember, you MUST pre-register.   It honestly only takes about five minutes
to register the first time (and under a minute if you've previously registered),
so don't forget this important step:
http://robolympics.net/registration.shtml

Can't compete?  Buy tickets and enjoy the show form the stands!
http://robolympics.net/buy.shtml


-David E. Calkins
Robotics Professor, San Francisco State Univ.
President, Robotics Society of America
Founder, ROBOlympics
http://www.robolympics.net

-----------------------------------------------
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though
checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither
enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows
not victory nor defeat."
- Teddy Roosevelt

#1669 From: "jmiller3931" <robotics@...>
Date: Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:33 am
Subject: Re: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!
jmiller3931
Send Email Send Email
 
David,
How about the schedule for all the events? Even if it preliminary it
would be helpfull. I couldn't find one on the website. I plan on
competing in at least two events- maybe three depending on the
schedule. I might need to find an alternate "driver" if there are
conflicts.
Joe


--- In sfrsa@yahoogroups.com, David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@r...>
wrote:
> Registration has almost closed - Don't miss out on competing at
ROBOlympics 2005!
>

#1670 From: "Ted Larson" <ted@...>
Date: Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:41 am
Subject: RE: [rsa] Re: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!
ted_srf_dude
Send Email Send Email
 

 

I 2nd that.  I entered four different robots, and now that I think about it, the schedule might make it impossible for me to run them all myself.

 

Thanks,

 

-Ted

 

 


From: jmiller3931 [mailto:robotics@...]
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 4:34 PM
To: sfrsa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [rsa] Re: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!

 


David,
How about the schedule for all the events? Even if it preliminary it
would be helpfull. I couldn't find one on the website. I plan on
competing in at least two events- maybe three depending on the
schedule. I might need to find an alternate "driver" if there are
conflicts.
Joe


--- In sfrsa@yahoogroups.com, David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@r...>
wrote:
> Registration has almost closed - Don't miss out on competing at
ROBOlympics 2005!
>






SF robot meetings are at 7PM on the first Wednesday of the month at SFSU's Science bldg - 1600 Holloway, room SCI 256.

http://www.robotics-society.org/images/sfsu_map.gif





#1671 From: David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@...>
Date: Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:05 am
Subject: Re: [rsa] Re: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!
askelad
Send Email Send Email
 
It's up there - just look at the 3rd column:

http://robolympics.net/events.shtml

At 16:33 20-02-05, you wrote:


David,
How about the schedule for all the events? Even if it preliminary it
would be helpfull. I couldn't find one on the website. I plan on
competing in at least two events- maybe three depending on the
schedule. I might need to find an alternate "driver" if there are
conflicts.
Joe


--- In sfrsa@yahoogroups.com, David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@r...>
wrote:
> Registration has almost closed - Don't miss out on competing at
ROBOlympics 2005!
>






SF robot meetings are at 7PM on the first Wednesday of the month at SFSU's Science bldg - 1600 Holloway, room SCI 256.

http://www.robotics-society.org/images/sfsu_map.gif



Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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U.S./Canada


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-David E. Calkins
Robotics Professor, San Francisco State Univ.
President, Robotics Society of America
Founder, ROBOlympics
http://www.robolympics.net

-----------------------------------------------
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
- Teddy Roosevelt


#1672 From: "Ted Larson" <ted@...>
Date: Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:25 am
Subject: RE: [rsa] Re: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!
ted_srf_dude
Send Email Send Email
 

Cool.  Hey one more thing…I noticed that the rules for the balancer race link gives a “file not found” error.  Where are the rules for this event?

 

Thanks,

 

-Ted

 


From: David Calkins - RSA [mailto:dcalkins@...]
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 5:05 PM
To: sfrsa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [rsa] Re: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!

 

It's up there - just look at the 3rd column:

http://robolympics.net/events.shtml

At 16:33 20-02-05, you wrote:



David,
How about the schedule for all the events? Even if it preliminary it
would be helpfull. I couldn't find one on the website. I plan on
competing in at least two events- maybe three depending on the
schedule. I might need to find an alternate "driver" if there are
conflicts.
Joe


--- In sfrsa@yahoogroups.com, David Calkins - RSA <dcalkins@r...>
wrote:
> Registration has almost closed - Don't miss out on competing at
ROBOlympics 2005!
>






SF robot meetings are at 7PM on the first Wednesday of the month at SFSU's Science bldg - 1600 Holloway, room SCI 256.

http://www.robotics-society.org/images/sfsu_map.gif



Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
[] 

Get unlimited calls to

U.S./Canada


Yahoo! Groups Links


-David E. Calkins
Robotics Professor, San Francisco State Univ.
President, Robotics Society of America
Founder, ROBOlympics
http://www.robolympics.net

-----------------------------------------------
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
- Teddy Roosevelt

SF robot meetings are at 7PM on the first Wednesday of the month at SFSU's Science bldg - 1600 Holloway, room SCI 256.

http://www.robotics-society.org/images/sfsu_map.gif




#1673 From: "Steve Hassenplug" <steve@...>
Date: Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:26 am
Subject: RE: [rsa] Re: ROBOlympics - Only One Week Left to Register!
stevehassenplug
Send Email Send Email
 
On Sun, February 20, 2005 7:41 pm, Ted Larson said:
>
> I 2nd that.  I entered four different robots, and now that I think about it,
> the schedule might make it impossible for me to run them all myself.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Ted

Come on Ted, you can do better than four robots.  I currently have 11 robots
entered.  :)  And, according to the schedule, only one conflict...

See you there
Steve

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