[Robotgroup] Divide and Conquer!

[Ed Xavier Gonzalez]

Jon,

A number of years ago, a few of the regular and active members of the RG 
started on a project they called 'Hexapod', which sounds a lot like what 
you're describing.

I believe their aim was to use [then] available technology to control each 
leg as you've described, and let the main CPU chip/processor do the higher 
order control of the overall unit.  There were various parts being worked 
on at a central location for quite some time, and I'm sure LOTS of stuff 
going on in the background.

I know a few of the names of those involved, but possibly not the main 
players, so I'll reserve embarrassing myself by listing anyone here.  I 
would ask those that were involved to either contact you through the list 
or offline if they're willing to reveal how far they got and what they may 
have had difficulties working on.

---------------------------------------------------

At 11:57 AM 9/13/07, you wrote:
>Hello everyone,
>
>                 I had an idea for a project. A sort of divide and conquer
>method of approaching a task. I want to design a 6 leg walking robot with
>the ability to use AI algorithms for object avoidance and things like that.
>However, that is not really, what I wanted to ask an opinion on.
>
>                 The ideat was since PIC chips are not that expensive and do
>not take up that much room. Why not divide the work into small tasks. Like
>one chip controlling each leg. The chip responsible for that leg knows how
>to operate the servos and things that move the leg. The chip hooked up to
>the sensors knows how to read the data and convert the data into more
>meaning full numbers and so on. This would leave more cycles for the main
>processor to to the heavy lifting. In addition, it would give you more room
>for more complex programs and algorithms to be performed by the main CPU.
>
>                 The only downfall I would think would the platform would
>have to be large enough to accommodate the extra electronics. It would also
>use more energy.
>
>                 Just wanted to pass the idea through the group to see what
>all your thought where.
>
>Jon
>
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<The right to Free Speech does not diminish the value of remaining silent>

Ed Xavier Gonzalez
Oak Hill Laser
ohlaser at swbell.net
(512) 288-5243