|
Post by donburch on Jul 25, 2006 17:05:51 GMT 10
Unfortunately when you get away from the late linux distributions (e.g. Ubuntu and Mandrake), the unix/linux market still seems fragmented and excessively technical.
I haven't looked at LinuxRT yet, but would expect it to be a step back to the cryptic command line, writing device drivers, and having to port to specific hardware. That is not the sort of detail I'm interested in - I want a platform that just works, and lets me work on the higher level functions like artificial intelligence and machine vision.
I guess there are really 2 different robotics markets. LEGO, Parallax, etc are in the hobby market; for whom a bot with 4-bit CPU, wheels and sensors is a big deal - and the commercial / academic robotics market uses 32-bit processors on real-world applications, but assumes Engineering degree background. The only product I have seen which seems to bridge these two markets was the ER1 (http://www.evolution.com/er1/) - however this is no longer available except with their US$7500 Software Development Kit.
So what's the answer ? I guess that hobbyists train themselves to a point where they can join the professional market, and get a job in the industry, whereupon they get to work with 'professional' tools.
If companies can sell their 'advanced' tools for big bucks to universities and commercial clients, why would they want to support individual hobbyists at give-away prices ?
So that leaves Open Source projects with lots of different objectives and choices of environment, and utilizing the 'spare time' of few developers.
Now enter Microsoft Robotics Studio.
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Jul 24, 2006 22:20:27 GMT 10
Hi Bones,
I am also interested in robotics OS because, lets face it, a Basic Stamp isn't going to have the grunt to do any worthwhile image recognition (which is the direction I think I'm interested in).
I am also using WinXP at home & work - though I am keen to get away from the M$ monopoly. I started dabbling with linux last year, but got put off by the dual boot limitations. I'm now using VMware so I can hotkey between WinXP and linux ... sooo much more convenient ! Currently using Ubuntu and it installed easily and seems a good system, at least as far as my learning has gone.
Can't say I'm looking to the next level of learning linux - writing and compiling programs - with all of the unix terminology.
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Mar 18, 2007 11:57:20 GMT 10
It's probably old news to most of you guys, but I just came across a couple of Atmel-based boards which look as though they could be good for beginner and/or intermediate level. Your comments pleas... The Gadgetboard is a Free, low cost, user friendly microcontroller experimentation board on steroids. The Atmel ATMEGA32 microcontroller comes programmed with a command-line interface which runs over the serial port, allowing the user to read the 8 analog inputs and set the 8 outputs during prototyping. Four of the high current outputs optionally drive 15-amp relays, while the other 4 outputs are driven by the Atmel's 4 onboard PWM channels. All inputs and outputs are static-protected, and are connected to screw terminals so users don't have to bother with soldering connectors just to try out an idea. For the more advanced, the design of the ECB_AT91 Single-Board Computer is free. It already runs Debian, OpenEmbedded (Angstrom Distribution) and Buildroot. You can buy one or more, or download the design and build your own. The board is powered by an Atmel AT91RM9200 processor, which features an ARM9 core clocked at 180MHz. It supports up to 64MB of SDRAM, has one SD/MMC slot, 2 MB of serial flash, one 10/100 Ethernet interface, USB host and two serial ports. 1-off price is US$170. Coming from the software side, I would rather overkill on the hardware and use high-level OS and programming tools, so this sounds pretty good to me. I'm looking for enough processing power to analyse real-time video, so I guess their V2 would be even better... The ECB_AT91 V2 is compatible with the Free ECB_AT91 V1, but extend by a FPGA Spartan3 (XC3S400), a PSoC (CY8C29566), and Stereo audio codec (TLV320AIC23B) for US$295. If there are any obsenely affluent among us, they are developing a GNU/Linux powered robot using compatible with the ECB_AT91 family of boards. Price US$ 1200 <pre-order discount available>
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Sept 25, 2006 14:15:58 GMT 10
Your url is broken!!! URL fixed now, sorry. I have been using my home router for testing latest router firmware, and forgot to reset the Port Forwarding back to my web server. A disadvantage of owning a product which I'm employed to do tech support for ;-)
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Aug 22, 2006 23:38:37 GMT 10
Well, on Saturday my first robot drove around my living room ! I know it's only a small bot, but a milestone for me. I have made a sort-of-blog, including pictures of my CDbot at burch.wattle.id.au/family/2006/robotics.htm#CDbotYes, it's really basic ... a Basic Stamp 2e on Parallax "Board of Education", mounted on an old CD with 2 modified servoes held on by masking tape. But it works ... at least until the servo mountings get too wobbly ;-)
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Aug 3, 2006 12:13:12 GMT 10
My first thought about the machine demo was its similarity to a Cash Register receipt printer (without the printing, of course.
Fax machine might be a better idea - especially one of the roll paper ones since it already has the cutter built-in !
I presume the foils are metal foil (like used in the kitchen). How thick are the foils, and can regular scisors be used to cut them ?
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Jul 23, 2006 13:07:07 GMT 10
Hi Dingo and Bones,
I don't think I had seen PICAXE when I bought the BOE kit, and I recall finding a link (to a UK website) and being put by the lack of tutorial or roadmap for new users.
I've been programming in dialects of BASIC for too many years, but have done a little C and Java. Enough to be favouring Java for future development, especially if/when I get into vision ;-)
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Jul 11, 2006 21:26:43 GMT 10
I have seen several posters comment that they have no electronics background.
I have programming experience but know nothing about electronics (except which end of a soldering iron to hold), so I decided to start small and learn the basics - but with an eye to future expansion and reusability (mainly because of severely limited budget).
My decision was to start with a Basic Stamp 2 and Board of Education kit. This is designed to teach electronics to primary and high school students, and there are several expansion kits including the BoE-Bot kit to make it a mobile robot.
So far, I am happy with this decision, and would recommend it to others. Of course I accept that I haven't tried any other kits or approaches, so am not able to compare. Maybe others would like to comment based on their own learning experiences.
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Aug 3, 2006 10:57:10 GMT 10
Thanks Bones, I'll look that book up ! Bender, I haven't used Python, so I won't comment on it. If you don't have any programming background then I would recommend starting with a fairly simple project or two - such as the various kitsets available. These will come with their own programming language and development environment. While these kits are great to get people started, they processors they use don't have a huge amount of memory or speed, so if you are interested in doing something fairly complex, you will eventually need a more 'professional' setup including high-level programming tools. This is where the choice of hardware can determine programming language (or vice versa), and having access to code which others have already built up can be a tremendous advantage. For example, I'm looking at machine vision (see www.roborealm.com/machine_vision.php for a quick overview), and so I'm currently researching what free code libraries are already available, since there is no way I could hope to start from scratch. My own programming background is in BASIC (including VB and ASP) with some Java - but there aint much already available for VB. Also, that would require building a Windows PC into my robot, which might not be practical. If you are asking about Python because you are familiar with it, then google for 'python robot' and variations. But as Bones says, most of the available software seems to be in C because it allows excelent control of hardware and produces efficient machine code ... but that doesn't mean you have to use it. Cheers,
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Jul 25, 2006 15:51:43 GMT 10
Yes, Java is similar syntax to C - but for me the benefit is that Java does more run-time error checking. Wiith C it is possible for an errant program to overwrite your OS because the programmer made a mistake with pointers ! I have looked at the book on java robots and it looks powerfull. Machine recognition, voice recognition. etc all built in. and will work on any machine. Which book is that ? There are so many crap books on the market these days, and most are over-rated by the publishers, making it difficult to find the good ones.
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Jul 24, 2006 23:32:03 GMT 10
I agree that a Software section would be appropriate ... after all robotics is a combination of electronics and mechanics, but your robot wouldn't do squat without programming (software).
I personally would like to know more about: - Robot OSes - incluning linux and the new "Microsoft Robotics Studio" (http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/) - Programming robots in Java, including available libraries - tools and libraries concerned with vision
Cheers, Don Burch
|
|
|
Post by donburch on May 12, 2007 22:20:35 GMT 10
Love to join a robotics club So would I ! Unfortunately the only known active local club is in Brisvegas So tell us, what are your interests ? Any preferred hardware platform ? and do you like scorpions ?
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Aug 25, 2006 22:12:56 GMT 10
Me, I clicked "other" ;-)
I've been a PC enthusiast for nigh on 30 years, but mostly in commercial programming, and assembling half a dozen PCs over the years.
I guess what pushed me into it are the articles about robots on "Beyond Tomorrow" and the like. I especially remember one used by a medical specialist to do hospital rounds from his office with having to commute every day. Really it was just a LCD monitor and speakers for talking to the patients, webcam and microphone to see/hear the patients, a wireless card and PC, a frame to hold it all ... and a couple of remote controlled motors and sensors to drive it all round with. Total cost "only" $100K. Well I know the cost of the computer components, and somebody has done very well out of making that particular 'robot'.
And I've been looking for a new challenge or hobby. Why not learn some mechanics and electronics, add to my programming, and see what comes of it ? Maybe a new career direction ? Maybe just some fun until a better idea comes along.
Well, that's why I got started. What about you ?
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Aug 25, 2006 21:57:10 GMT 10
When did you first get interested in Robotics ?
Was it a robotics club at primary/secondary/uni ? Maybe a robotics course as part of your degree ? Or maybe they didn't have robotics courses when you did your degree ? Maybe your child got into robotics, and you are sharing their hobby ?
I'm sure everyone has a story to tell, and I for one would love to hear it ...
|
|
|
Post by donburch on Aug 25, 2006 20:13:25 GMT 10
I'm planning a few polls as a simple survey of who we are.
This first one is to confirm my guess that most members here are fairly recently ex university...
|
|