What am I doing?

What on earth could I be making with this stuff? :)

First test run of R2-D2

We got the base frame setup with the Parallax 12v motor and wheel kit, HB-25s, a Propellor Proto board, and an R/C receiver. The legs are not very sturdy yet, so we could only run it very slowly (about 5-10% of max speed).

New Robot Project!

A friend of mine at work has had an R2-D2 full sized robot that he has been working on for years. He's got the frame and a bunch of parts including a nice dome. However he's not really a programmer or electronics type, more of a mechanical and artist type. So we decided to work together to finally complete R2-D2. I'll be working on the electronics together with him, and doing all the programming. Here's a couple pictures of the "prototype phase" where it's got temporary wood feet and most of the outer "skin" is not in place.

The main body is made mostly of wood, the legs are aluminum, and there is a metal pipe going through the middle connecting the two side legs together. There are a whole bunch more parts that will eventually go onto this frame and make it look like the real deal, but those are in boxes waiting until we get all the mechanical and electrical stuff worked out.

The center leg has a mechanism to allow it to be retracted up into the body using a power window motor. However, that is not functional yet, so it's just locked in place. Long term we want to make it so that it can transition from 3 foot mode to two foot mode and back, but that will require a lot of work and before then we want to get it driving around in 3 foot mode, and get the dome working (able to rotate around and with all the lights/displays).

Below is a close up of one of the prototype feet showing the motor and wheels.

We're using a Parallax 12v motor kit with a different tire mounted to the hub along with a Parallax HB-25 motor controller. This is the same drive mechanism I have on my Wood Platform Robot (mentioned in my blog a while ago). We're also using an omni wheel (the same one that's on the Stingray robot) to stabilize the foot and allow for a differential drive system. We'll be running power and signal wires up through the legs into the main body where we'll have some 12v SLA batteries, and a Propeller Proto board that I am putting together with connections to an R/C receiver. This will let us drive it around easily while we work out any issues/details with the feet and drive wheels.

Random stuff from the last few months.

So, first off, I moved and expanded my workbench. As you can see here, it's already covered with stuff. I really need to finish sorting out my tools and parts so this is less messy and easier to work on.

Next up, I went to UPEW (Unofficial Propeller Expo West) at Parallax's offices in Rocklin, CA. I got to see lots of cool stuff like the gas powered bot on the left.

I, also, met and talked with Chip Gracey. He invented the Propeller chip that I use in a couple of my bots, and he's busy working on the next version that is being called Propeller 2 or TurboProp for now. It was really awesome to sit down and talk with him about the stuff he is doing and all sorts of things.

I Also met and talked with several other really cool people at UPEW, like Ken Gracey (he "runs" Parallax and is a really nice and generous guy. He also designed the wood platform bot.), Jeff Ledger (who is the primary organizer of the UPEs), Beau Schwabe (who does IC layout, and took the time to explain some of that to me at 2am), Peter (pjv, he shared some really neat scheduler code for running multiple "threads/tasks" in one cog on a Propeller) and others. I hope I get to see you all again next year.

This is the new addition to my robot collection. It's called a Penguin Robot, because it looks and walks kindof like one.

Most recently, I visited my Mom and friends for my birthday last week. This is mom's cute dog "Diva".