Popsicle stick projects

Thanks 'Dree for that cool link with the robot made from popsicle sticks.

Wonder what other kits and projects could be designed with those little wonders.  Craft shops sell them by the bagfull!

Addendum : Aug 21, 2011:
Have a look at Paige and Ellie's blog for a working prototype!

More progress on 2D robot

I have 4 small hitec servos lying around.

The minimalist platform is a 2D "arm" with shoulder, elbow and wrist joints plus a grasper (servo 4)
Because the arm is lying on a flat surface (only 2D motion) the forces on the servos are less.  I can also include objects to hold and stack, put a pen on the arm etc.

The user comes up with their own micro and software.  Later you could try simple motion capture so that movements of your arm get repeated on the robot arm.  Yippee!

Busted servos are us!

I have a collection of servos that got over-driven by errors in programming - See Autolander.

The guts, however, are super useful if they could be mounted with higher torque motors.  A few ideas came to mind for a plotter, robot arm and other models that could incorporate foam board and my molded casings.

This will help me to zero in on the first offerings.

Calgary Science

IDEA:

Something that is missing in Tyrell Museum and most Science Centers for that matter is something folks can take away.

The big idea > correlate the exhibits to kits and displays that folks can take away
Sell them in the gift shop or have smaller items in the exhibit areas.

Jot it down while it's fresh

I always keep a pen and paper next to my bed in case I think of a design for a flux capacitor or whatever, the next big movie idea - right!

That, plus it seems easier to write in the dark than fumble around with a smart phone.

1. Tamiya gear set + servo guts = super sized servo

2. Robot arm + Arduino + Camera + small objects + web interface = Remote Project Platform #1

Robot arm:
a) $78 from modelland
b} make a kit from foamboard + printouts = Kit #1

Calgary Science dudettes

Had a great meeting with some super-duper folks from the Telus World of Science today.

It's always a boost to chat with like minded people who are interested in prototyping, working with bright young minds and building stuff.

Some notes to follow:

For now> cleaning up around the house, getting kids ready for school, getting ready for the old grind-stone myself.  Actually, I love what I do plus it pays for the fun stuff.  Thanks Bill G and Steve B!

Processing.org > Joystick input

http://www.processing.org/reference/libraries/#hardware

See the section on hardware interface.  Someone wrote a Library called proControll which should do the job

What to do? What to do?

I need to chose a few quick wins for my first offerings

What to do?

Nice Vid from Adri

Link for Adri's Video of the "Monster" project.

What to do with the Ranger2 code?

Possibilities:

-Simple kit for target market
-Mount ranger on a RC car or climber. Use it to map and figure out position in a 2d environment
(Refs for 2d positioning?)
-Teach coordinate systems, translations
-Can be extended to 3d if you add another servo
-Incorporate line scanner camera (HVWtech/Parallax) for 3d B/W scan and modelling 

more Adri ideas

A nice simple platform with a EZ1 ultrasonic sensor mounted on a servo.

The Arduino code extracts the analog signal from the sensor and translates it into a serial stream.
The processing code renders a map of the room based on the data.

Code in a zip file "Ranger2"

Adri's ideas

Robot arm - for the immediate WOW factor


Simple quick wins for the high school target:

Scanning ultrasonic sensor with graphical readout in Processing
Multi-colored LED showing color components
Drumstick on a servo - music and rhythm

First thoughts

Raw mat'ls:

Foam board, aluminum(dulled), Poster board, Balsa, ply, MDF

See hobby shops like PM hobby craft and Michaels

Some initial ideas:

XY plotter - supply the parts in kit form. Drawing and cutting are possible.

Ski jacket with Lilypad components - Audio commands are interpreted and response is audio or visual. Get ski performance data and communications, hands free.

Dirt Digger & Camera - Website with a physical robotic arm in a sandbox. Users can book time then remotely interface with the hardware. A webcam gives feedback. A blade clears the sandbox for the next user.

Webify kit - take any experiment and mount it on the web. Control and monitoring.

Previously published models (UWI) - model airconditioning system, car sensors and actuators.

Simple models of industrial processes.

Aqua/Hydroponics - sensors and actuators with vessels in kit form

Smart House model.

A small engine (RC gas) or custom built. Electronic ignition and valves.

A simple steam engine

Alternative energy models - solar, wind, wave

Robots -an arm, simple vehicles (Car, Plane, Boat) - more complex ones (Tether submarine, Aerial photography, security, snow)

Processing/Arduino combos