[Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!

Tue Feb 5 18:01:45 PST 2008

I've got a couple of the tiny R/C tanks someplace and an interest in small
robots, like nano sumo. Perhaps I can tag along and learn more about how
this is done.

Paul

On Feb 5, 2008 5:13 PM, Andre Lamothe <ceo at nurve.net> wrote:

> Nice try :) I have so little time right now, I have to use complex numbers
> to compute my schedule. John, this is all you buddy :)
>
> Andre'
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <john at cozmicfunk.com>
> To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!
>
>
> OK, I vote that Andre leads the first class.
> I am at this moment converting one of my 12" death start droid robot
> bodies to a animating robot character with a new head. It is now a robot
> Sushi/Bartender with a mechanism taken from a toy called M.A.R.S. (
> motorized attack robo squad, that I found at Walgreen's) that walks and
> arms move and head shifts back and fourth. The motorized gearbox now
> animates the arms and the head for background movement of the new robot
> character. Even though the movements run in a cycle, it will help seeing
> a character in the background moving and giving life to that scene.
>
> I plan on adding a remote to it so I can trigger it as it needs to
> animate. I feel this is a great example on a small scale of merging
> modeling and robots to toys making your own toys and or props. I could
> see Prof Conrad doing similar things to those scary baby heads.
>
> JPF
> Andre Lamothe wrote:
> > For those that have never made models, its a lot of fun and very
> relaxing.
> > Minatures are especially fun since they are small enough that you can
> work
> > in a confined space and if you like painting and detailing you can make
> > them
> > look pretty good. Then all you need is a quick cam, some green, blue,
> > black
> > cardboard for a backdrop to film against, a rotating table that's about
> > 8-12" in diamters with some kind of angle marker on it, so you can
> repeat
> > positions. Then a couple cheap white lights with trimming pots on them
> > lighting your model for both ambient and specular effects. Then you just
> > snap, rotate, snap rotate, do your poses. Bring it all into photoshop or
> > paint shop pro (something with decent image processing), clean the edges
> > from the backdrop, add little lighting effects and glowing eyes etc. and
> > make little movies. Better than spending 2 years learning maya, 3d max,
> or
> > whatever, if you want quick and dirty 3D characters for something
> simple.
> >
> > Andre'
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <john at cozmicfunk.com>
> > To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:00 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!
> >
> >
> > OK, now I am getting really excited, especially that Andre has taken the
> > bait. I want to actually plan an event and put it on the calendar.
> >
> > I could even offer anyone interested in coming over to see my pops. I
> > can't bring them all out, except maybe SXSW coming up. I am waiting to
> > see what the Prez thinks about the workshop idea :)
> > JPF
> >
> > Andre Lamothe wrote:
> >
> >> In my book "tricks of the game programming gurus - 1994", I showed how
> to
> >> build a little stop frame animation studio then how to photo the
> >> miniature,
> >> extract the bitmaps, then all the math to project the 2D sprites into a
> >> 3D
> >> scene. I found the original book source, and unedited chapter, but I
> >> can't
> >> find the "loose" figures damn it! Anyway, I just tried the program and
> 14
> >> years later still works perfectly, now, that's defensive programming :)
> >> Anyway, I will bundle the material and create a link, so people can try
> >> it
> >> on their machine. Its a very simple demo, but a 3D space ship (very low
> >> rez,
> >> it as 1994) moves in a 3D starfield. As you control it with the numeric
> >> pad,
> >> right and left, it turns in 3D space, scales, etc. But, its not 3D, its
> >> just
> >> a 2D image with 8-16 different views and the math selects the view and
> >> the
> >> virtual camera position selects the scale for the 2D sprite. This is
> how
> >> DOOM and many 2.5D games worked in the 1990s, wing commander is another
> >> example. The toy was from the store and looked really cool. About 2" in
> >> length.
> >>
> >> Let me see if I can find the figures, now I am on a mission. If I have
> >> to,
> >> I
> >> can scan them from the book, but that's a pain.
> >>
> >> Andre'
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: <john at cozmicfunk.com>
> >> To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
> >> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 3:23 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!
> >>
> >>
> >> All right I am perfectly game for this!
> >> Now who else wants to step up to the plate? Bring our your models,
> toys,
> >> styrene, LEDs and Super glue. Hey Marvin, do you want to help and lets
> >> get Andre involved too, he built some amazing stop motion models years
> >> ago for a game. And Eric has built a creature for a film. How about you
> >> Vern, is there anything you don't know about? I would not be at all
> >> surprised if you have done some resin casting at some point. lol :)
> >>
> >> JPF
> >> Denise Scioli wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> And, we can have the class at The Heritage.  Saturday's are terrific,
> am
> >>> or in the afternoon.  Just let me know ahead of time.  I love this
> idea
> >>> John.
> >>>
> >>> Denise
> >>>
> >>> PS.  I have also wanted to do a concentrated class in Pepakura with
> >>> Gray,
> >>> as it confounds me.
> >>>
> >>> ----------------------------------------
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 14:21:15 -0600
> >>>> From: john at cozmicfunk.com
> >>>> To: robotgroup at puremagic.com
> >>>> CC: bonafont at sbcglobal.net
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!
> >>>>
> >>>> Hey Grey,
> >>>> I wanted to thank you for your public insight regarding this. Every
> >>>> once
> >>>> and a while, a topic emerges with direct relevance to my work.
> >>>> I have been a fan of this movie forever. A week ago Andre also
> replied
> >>>> and then replied to me personally about this. The robots in this film
> >>>> are amazing, I wanted to make a replica of them for years. I even
> have
> >>>> the Japanese model kits of them but they are so tiny, you can't even
> do
> >>>> much with lights or motors etc.
> >>>>
> >>>> These little ships are the best visual fusion of UFO's and Robots. I
> >>>> wonder why they never made any toys of them?
> >>>> Also, I did email Javier about his prop and never received any word
> >>>> back. People are busy and these kinds of projects take a lot of time
> >>>> and
> >>>> inventive strategy. I feel very fortunate to be associated with a
> group
> >>>> of such giving and insight, especially Grey Mack who always so much
> to
> >>>> contribute in his knowledge and understanding of problem solving
> >>>> solutions!
> >>>>
> >>>> I propose that we also do a prop class for those interested. Some of
> >>>> you
> >>>> know my miniature and model skills. In last couple of years I started
> >>>> to
> >>>> get into more motorized or robotic features of my models and I have
> to
> >>>> say it is the best challenge for me as an artist. I want to learn
> more
> >>>> from the seasoned veterans of this group. I think if we did some kind
> >>>> of
> >>>> class, those interested could learn from each other and we could all
> >>>> benefit. I want to share my successes of model and LED application
> >>>> aesthetics. Let me know if we can do a workshop on this. Have a great
> >>>> week:)
> >>>>
> >>>> For those interested, I have updated my You tube channel with my
> short
> >>>> horror film I dis last year. I created all of the visual effects
> among
> >>>> everything else. I could have used more blood in the grand finale
> >>>> effect, live and learn.
> >>>> http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=cozmicpfunk
> >>>> JPF
> >>>>
> >>>> Gray Mack wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> Javier, I saw this post recently and was wondering if
> >>>>> you got anywhere with your robot designs.
> >>>>> In looking at an example from the movie "Batteries Not
> >>>>> Included"
> >>>>> http://www.ketzer.com/original_movie_props/wheems.html
> >>>>> You might be right that a real robot may not be the
> >>>>> best approach for something small and detailed like
> >>>>> that.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> My suggestion is to try to model it in a cad program.
> >>>>> Something like autocad or google sketchup. Then you
> >>>>> have a basis for your CGI model already done.
> >>>>> And you can experiment with the little details like
> >>>>> teeth, eyebrows, etc which are likely important in
> >>>>> making your robot seem menacing or lovable or
> >>>>> somewhere in between.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The next step might be to check out some card folding
> >>>>> applications. Download a free copy of Pepakura
> >>>>> Designer ( http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/ )and
> >>>>> see that it will import the format that your CAD
> >>>>> program can export. This will allow you to print out a
> >>>>> cut-out-and-fold paper model of your 3d design. You
> >>>>> could probably transfer the design to thin sheet metal
> >>>>> and tin snip it out for something more rigid. With
> >>>>> some careful design, you might even be able to use
> >>>>> some pushwire cables to animate it. Here is an example
> >>>>> of a CAD to 3d paper model I created using these
> >>>>> techniques in just one evening:
> >>>>> http://robotics.meetup.com/69/photos/135747/1094946/
> >>>>>
> >>>>> You may find it hard to get anyone to volunteer to
> >>>>> actually build one as it involves a lot of time and
> >>>>> work. But it is something you could do yourself, or
> >>>>> maybe you could find a way to get some kids involved
> >>>>> for some sort of contest/prize?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -Gray
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --- Javier Bonafont <bonafont at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>> Hi robot afficionados.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I'm an austin filmmaker and I have a possible Web
> >>>>>> series that involves a
> >>>>>> small robot, about 4" tall, and I'm looking for
> >>>>>> somebody to help design and
> >>>>>> build it.  There will be a CGI version of it also,
> >>>>>> but I want to start with
> >>>>>> the physical version.  Anyone in the austin area
> >>>>>> interested?  possible
> >>>>>> deferred pay if the pilot is picked up.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> The robot is essentially a mechanical puppet, not
> >>>>>> necessarily a real robot,
> >>>>>> but it has to look like something out of "batteries
> >>>>>> not included" or
> >>>>>> something of that nature, with parts that move and
> >>>>>> light up, etc.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> email me for more information and details at
> >>>>>> bonafont at sbcglobal.net
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> thanks!
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Javier Bonafont
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> >>>>> Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
> >>>>> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
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> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
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