[Robotgroup] Divide and Conquer!

[brooksdesign]

I have the hexapod unfinnished parts filling the rafters of my workshop/storage building I'm trying to call home now .
-brooks

-----Original Message-----
>From: Ed Xavier Gonzalez <ohlaser at swbell.net>
>Sent: Sep 13, 2007 3:25 PM
>To: The Robot Group Mailing List <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
>Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Divide and Conquer!
>
>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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>>Robotgroup at puremagic.com
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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
>
>_______________________________________________
>Robotgroup mailing list
>Robotgroup at puremagic.com
>http://lists.puremagic.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/robotgroup


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