[Robotgroup] Robotic Accomplishments (was: New Subscriber! :)

[Leslie Filip]

Vern,

These are all wonderful projects. There is no question about that at  
all. However, you are missing the point.

The problem I have is that many (not all) of these were built in  
isolation or near-isolation, not by the group as a whole. It is my  
opinion that this is the equivalent of a bunch of individuals doing  
their own thing and then taking it to show-and-tell. I know that  
people work together and help each other, but how much of this  
knowledge is really getting spread around like it should? Observing  
the design and building process is how people learn. It also helps  
greatly to have active mentors who are interested in walking a newby  
through the newby's ideas and provide assistance without taking over  
their project.

Les


On 07 Sep 2007, at 5:50 PM, Vern Graner wrote:

> Leslie Filip wrote:
>> I spent a year and a half going to "Robot" Group meetings, waiting
>> patiently as a new member for the robotics to begin,
>
> Lets see, off the top of my head... in the last ~1.5 years:
>
> Robotic projects in the "conventional" sense:
> ---------------------------------------------
> -Eric: SEEKER dual motor autonomous robomagellan bot,
>         w/GPS & digital compass, IR collision detection,
>         bump, sonar, optical sensors & encoders
>
> -Rick: R2D2 replica chassis in hand -achined aluminum,
>         satellite high-torque shoulder motors, replica
>         legs, plastic & aluminum parts
>
> -Nic G: BOEBOT robot dual wheel, skid steer servo
>          motor autonomous robot with sonar range
>          finder/guidance system
>
> -Bob C.: Big wheel dune buggy bots w/802.11
>           wireless tele presence and RC remote
>           control (TWO complete bots!)
>
> -Gray: omni-wheel triangular robo chassis w/ RC remote control
>
> -Vern: BoogieBot RC controlled mobile music chassis
>
>
> Robotic *Projects* incorporating microcontrollers,
> servos, motors, senors and user I/O (artistic,
> automated or autonomous):
> -------------------------------------------------
> -Vern: RoboSpinArt computer controlled paint system
>         with servos, audio systems, LED PWM lighting
>         solid state relays, Basic Stamp microcontroller
>
> -Paul/Vern/Rick/James/Ed: Hauntlights microcontroller
>   operated IR remote controlled PWM LEDs simulating flame
>
> -Vern: "XAR" 7-servo entertainment robot with dual articulated  
> arms, end
> effector, UV-LED display, and motor controller operated by Basic Stamp
> Prop-1 board
>
> -Gray: Parallax Propeller powered OLED display demo board & HSS sound
> system demos, multi-hundred LED wands with custom software
>
> -James: Minitramp-operated human interface device to computer
>
> -Denise/Vern/Kym/PY: Servo operated animatronic flower w/PWM LED  
> petals
>
> -Vern: Thereping microcontroller based sonar-operated MIDI-driven ear
> torture devices :) (published in Nuts ands Volts)
>
> -Eric: VR glove controlled robotic arm with video telepresense/ 
> feedback
> system
>
> -Vern: Trainsaver microcontroller operated IR motion detecting, IR
> position sensing, control system for model train (published in Nuts
> and Volts)
>
> -Eric/Ed: Babbling Head multimedia sculpture code re-write and upgrade
> including porting code from MINISSC to PSC, porting head and DEC talk
> code from LINUX to Win98, replacing servos and power supply.
>
> -Vern: Basic stamp based haunt controllers w/multiple solid states
> relays, stereo serial controlled MP3 players and programmed response
> triggers
>
> -Rick/Paul: Sisyphus microcontroller operated polar orbit robotic
>              arm sand art machine
>
> -Vern: Pinewood Derby basic stamp /servo controlled digital starting
> gate system with "xmas tree" starting lights and LCD
> instruction/feedback screen.
>
> -Marvin: Biomechanicals motor controlled, moving target IR blaster  
> game
>
> -Eric/Vern/Hawgfly: Animatronic baby for NBC's "Friday Night Lights"
>
> Whew!:)
>
> Ok, well I'm sure I've forgotten or overlooked some projects but...  
> that
> makes 21 projects by my count... in 18 months... that works out to  
> about
> 1 robotic project per month, EVERY month, for A YEAR AND A HALF.
>
> "waiting for the robotics to begin?" Seriously? :D
>
> I think we're a *fine* Robot Group! :)
>
> Vern
>
> PS: My apologies if I omitted any projects, feel free to chime in if I
> left your project out! ;)
>
> -- 
> Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE    | "If the network is down, then you're
> Senior Systems Engineer    | obviously incompetent so why are we
> Texas Information Services | paying you? Of course, if the network
> http://www.txis.com        | is up, then we obviously don't need
> Austin Office 512 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" ©VLG
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