RoboSavvy Forum

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-03-01T01:31:35+01:00

engineer - AD 0 and 4 are used by the gyro, AD 2 is for one axis of the accelerometer, 3 and 5 are for the sharp distance sensor and 6 is for low voltage. I'm left with AD 1 open, and I'm thinking of using that for the speech module to detect whether it is busy speaking or not. After that, I'm done!

I have no problems with PWM 0, 1 or 2 for the eyes, not sure why you feel it doesn't work for you?

And I had no parts left over after re-assembly Gyros can't go above the shoulders because the speakers are there. Speech chip cannot go in the center cavity because of the head servo, but it does fit in front of the shoulder servo. I'm tempted to go for the IMU used by hive in his latest and greatest creation and locate it in the head, so gyro and accelerometer would be in the head....but that might be too high a location for a gyro relative to the COG? Not sure. My only other option for increasing space is to go for Lipos in the feet and use his butt cavity

Statistics: Posted by beermat — Thu Mar 01, 2007 1:31 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-28T17:24:58+01:00

I cant get buddyboard in chest area, battery seems to take up too much space dang it

Statistics: Posted by crmfghtr — Wed Feb 28, 2007 5:24 pm

speech hack

2007-02-15T05:56:43+01:00

yeah, like maybe he'd send me the head

Statistics: Posted by engineer — Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:56 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-15T05:46:05+01:00

i wonder if beermat will have some parts left over when its all put back together....

Statistics: Posted by Humanoido — Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:46 am

speech hack

2007-02-15T05:34:49+01:00

beermat!that guy is getting crammed, have you thought of depinning the board and direct soldering the wiring like you have to,to get the gyros above the shoulders?
What are you running in AD(0) and when I use PWM(0),(1) I don't get an output.

Statistics: Posted by engineer — Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:34 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-15T02:43:30+01:00

So, I found space for the audio chip - between the front chest plate and shoulder servo. The main problem is that a lot of dismantling is required to get to that spot, and because the chip needs to be removed and plugged into the programmer to add new samples, it would be mighty inconvenient to say the least! Extending the pin outs of the chip to a connector available inside the back cover meant I could plug in a 'daughter' board with control circuitry for the audio chip into this, or remove that and easily plug a home made cable between the connector and the programmer, and voila! A hidden location for the chip, but convenient access to the programmer.

Some additional advise for anyone thinking of this mod: Quadrovox have a new chip - QV606 - available, for the exact same price as the one mentioned in the original hack magazine (QV306), but with a much greater memory capacity and a much higher supported sample rate (14 minutes @ 20kbps vs 4 minutes at 4kbps), as well as stereo output. Whilst you can't order the product directly online as yet, it is available and when I exchanged email with their support, they recommended me using the online ordering to order a 306 but in the 'note to vendor' section, say it was for a 606. They have no 306s left, so theres no danger of them shipping the wrong one. I'd email their helpful support guys first, if you are thinking of this hack.

Here are some pics of the various stages, if they are of help to anyone:

Front chest connector for the chip, and extension wires:

Chip in place:

Rear connector:

Rear connector in place. Can plug daughterboard with control circuitry or cable to programmer in here:

Crappy DIY daughterboard:

Daughterboard in place, and appropriate speaker / power / ETX connections made:

Statistics: Posted by beermat — Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:43 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-13T07:09:41+01:00

OUCH!!! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ... that's gotta hurt!!!! :wink:
Beermat, it's a great picture and thanks for sharing it. It shows your advanced level of achievement required for this mod. That's the reason I bought the kit version, for moments that look like that, so I'd remember how to put it back together again. Seems I've had a habit of taking things apart, then not getting them back together again. Later in life I could get them back together but had parts left over!

Tinman1, your vacuform project sounds very useful, and look forward to seeing some new version backpacks and slightly larger head versions. It would be great to keep the same robonova head design (and body guard too) but just enlarge it a little so as not to significantly change the appearance. It would really look cool like the pexiglas that comes in smoked black.
Humanoido

Statistics: Posted by Humanoido — Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:09 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-10T18:01:22+01:00

LOL, Hey beermat, I think my RN-1 spends 80% of his time in this condition!
I like humanoido's little backpack. I've almost gotten my vacuum forming table set up. When I do it looks like a custom made back board cover is a good 1st project.
There is a real need for more space for "goodies" on the Rn's back. I think I'll start there and maybe work on a head with slightly larger dimensions for stuff in it to be mounted.
Tinman

Statistics: Posted by tinman1 — Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:01 pm

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-10T16:17:16+01:00

Well, I've noticed there is space between the front plate and the shoulder servos to locate the chip. Only problem is that the chip is then pretty inaccessible when it needs to be removed for programming new sounds, as quite a bit of dismantling will be required to get it out. Toying with extending the wiring through/around the case and exposing a 16 pin connector on his back. I can then rig up a cable to connect between that and the programmer, and also plug the daughter board for the RN control into it.

I love it when hacks are in the phase below. I hope it doesn't hurt:

Statistics: Posted by beermat — Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:17 pm

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-09T07:24:39+01:00

RN BACKPACK EXPERIMENT #1
Ok, reporting on the findings of the first experiment. A heavy plastic backpack was attached to RN. In the final position, the top edge of the pack was mounted flush with the top of RNs back. This worked the best, even though other placements were tried. The added dimensions are optimized at 3.5"W x 2"H X 1"D. In this configuration, it's easy to access the on/off switch.

All stock RN functions were successful using the IR remote remocon. It was noted that some performances were better with the backpack, such as turning and walking. A few other motion routines involving backwards balance could use a little tweak on the zero position to make the move masterful. This was due to some added weight on the back, and was easily compensated.

The feet contacted the backpack momentarily during the headstand, but no ill effects were noted. The backpack took some heavy pounding during acrobatics when RNs back slammed on the floor. At one time, during tumbling, the backpack flew off when it was wacked on the hard ceramic tile floor and had to be reattached - firmly attaching the pack in four places is recommended. This experiment used only temp double stick tape in two places at the top of the pack.

In conclusion, a backpack can be added to Robonova and all functions are retained, including Kung Fu, acrobatics, exercise, and stock motions. Some motions improve and others will need a tweak, depending on the amount of weight added inside the pack. The Matrix move is also successful. The added dimensions will hold many lightweight upgrades inside the 7 cubic inches space when overall weight is kept minimal.

The backpack is convenient - it's easy to add on in a few minutes, and the cover removes in a few seconds, quickly gaining access to the electronics inside. There's no need to disassemble RN to reach the internal body. There's no need to relocate batteries, servos, the head, or other parts. Wire leads from the backpact to the MR-C3024 controller are minimal length and conveniently located. The experiment was a great success! I'm looking forward to customizing my RN using this approach.

I hope this is helpful for others in expanding their RN.

Humanoido

Statistics: Posted by Humanoido — Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:24 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-09T06:26:14+01:00

What I learned from the first experiment is that an expansion housing depends upon three main factors: 1) Weight 2) Placement 3) Size. It also can be determined by Robonova function. For example, if one is willing to give up some acrobatics, then adding expansion, weight, new enclosures, is more easy.

I made the smallest of modifications and RN started falling over, and couldn't do the acrobatics. Since then, I've backed off a bit, and contemplated each add-on, and the effects. Here's a collage of the backpack.

Right now, I want my stock RN doing stock things. But in the future, I plan to heavily modify it for purposes other than demo, Kung Fu, exercise, and acrobatics. Though, if you think about it those functions are very impressive!

Humanoido

Statistics: Posted by Humanoido — Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:26 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-09T03:00:35+01:00

Sure! I think myself and many others would be interested to hear your findings on here, even if they end up fruitless - someone elses bad lesson learned is the best one to learn yourself

Statistics: Posted by beermat — Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:00 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-08T07:57:56+01:00

I've been looking at that too, a kind of case that can be attached and wouldn't interfere with Robonova stock functions. I've been working on something like that, and have several very small off-the-shelf enclosures that look like they might work. I got these from the electronic parts store and they're little equipment cabinets that are rectangular in shape. These easily attach with double side tape for temp experimenting. I'm currently in the testing phase, to see the available degree of space surrounging the RN body, as it goes through motion routines. Considering that you have so many wonderful things inside the stock head, and don't want to change it, an option like a tiny cabinet may be workable. Let me know what you think.
Humanoido

Statistics: Posted by Humanoido — Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:57 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-07T04:45:06+01:00

Thanks for the suggestion....but my head (or ratherm, my RNs head!) contains the accelerometer, twin multicolor LEDs and the remote receiver. Because it is all about personality, and the eyes / moving head add so much to that and I want to add to it with audio, would hate to take away. I wonder, though, if I could make a case to contain current head equipment and the servo without it looking oversized and interfering with cartwheels, etc. That'd work. Will ponder.

The stuff does fit nicely in the battery cavity, though, with room to spare for other circuitry I've been struggling to locate (such as a speed controller for the arm saw mod I've yet to finish)....

Statistics: Posted by beermat — Wed Feb 07, 2007 4:45 am

Anybody else gonna do the Robot Magazine hack?

2007-02-07T04:14:37+01:00

Beermat, may I suggest moving the head servo to the top and then there will be space for the Quadravox boards. You can invert the servo, connecting the horn to the frame, so the entire moving servo becomes a head. You can see what this looks like at VJ DeLeon's web site:
http://www.theoddrobot.com/
Look down to "Friday, April 28, 2006
project: hi-tec robonova-1 kit
replacing the head
Hope this gives you some useful ideas.
Humanoido

Statistics: Posted by Humanoido — Wed Feb 07, 2007 4:14 am