RoboSavvy Forum

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-13T21:14:13+01:00

Hi,
I just got my book "build your own humanoid robots" a few minets ago I have not look at it yet thow!!!!!!!!
I have to go read now!!!!!!!!!

bye
--srobot

Statistics: Posted by srobot — Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:14 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-13T00:49:33+01:00

NullARC wrote:
Once you have purchased a controller, how then do you program each servo position for whatever motion you are attempting?

You don't program the servo controller itself; it just responds to commands by immediately doing whatever you've told it (i.e., to go to a certain position at a certain speed).

Those commands come from some other device, that you have to program with motion sequences (or whatever other approach to movement you want to take). Pick your favorite controller for that — it could be a BASIC stamp, or an ARM board, or a Zigbee connection to a desktop PC, or whatever. (Or, like in my 4S-1 robot, you have your controller connected to a desktop or laptop computer with a USB cable.)

NullARC wrote:
This is the biggest part that I think I would have trouble with.
I have the least experience in programming of all of the skills you would need to complete the project.

Then I agree, writing your own sequencing software is likely to be a challenge. You should therefore consider choosing something that has software already available for it, like the SSC-32 (there's a Windows app for that that can spit out BASIC code) or the Bioloid controller.

Best,
— Joe

Statistics: Posted by Joe — Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:49 am

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-12T23:22:47+01:00

Once you have purchased a controller, how then do you program each servo position for whatever motion you are attempting? For instance simply walking, or say standing up. When you have a pre-designed kit, you are given a programming environment, many times a GUI. Obviously you would have to program in whichever programming language your controller understands.

This is the biggest part that I think I would have trouble with.
I have the least experience in programming of all of the skills you would need to complete the project.

Statistics: Posted by NullARC — Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:22 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-12T21:58:39+01:00

Personally, I don't see much point in building my own servo controller. I can control 8 servos for $20 (using Pololu's micro serial servo controller) or 32 servos for $40 (using Lynxmotions SSC-32). That's a couple bucks per servo — a lot less than you're going to spend on the servos themselves, to say nothing of the brackets.

I do see some value in making your own brackets and other parts, at least in some cases. Sometimes what you really need isn't available, or sometimes it is but it's too expensive. Still, starting with Lynxmotion or Bioloid and adding your own parts on an as-needed basis isn't a bad way to go. (That's what I did on my 4-servo biped, for example.

HTH,
— Joe

Statistics: Posted by Joe — Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:58 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-11T23:27:39+01:00

Hi
I jest remembered some thing about robot controler boards,
in the Robot magazine summer 2006 Harry Mueller had an
article about his six-servo biped and sayed that he made the controler
boad that it used! And the design came from Karl Williams book:
"Build Your Own Humanoid Robots : 6 Amazing and Affordable Projects"
from "McGraw-Hill"! I got this book a few days ago off Amazon and
have not reseved it yet (hope it comes soon). I down't now if this helps
because it can only run 6 servos and 1 sensor and is programed in
"C". Also you might try looking at different robo-one builders sites for
a controler board design.

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Own-Humanoid-Robots/dp/0071422749/sr=1-1/qid=1165873539/ref=sr_1_1/104-9495313-0193554?ie=UTF8&s=books The book on bipeds

http://www.robo-one.com Use the excite translater. You can
serch robo-one teams here!

hope it helps!

--srobot

Statistics: Posted by srobot — Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:27 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-11T23:20:47+01:00

Why not just design and make your own parts? That is what I am doing and it is working out well Plus you can get the nice look and grade aluminum for every bracket if you take the time. I posted earlier a rough idea of how to make brackets... but I suppose I can whip a tutorial for a low cost way of doing it... Christmas is coming up and my schedule will clear up a bit. I will try to make some time for a detailed tut for users who want to try it out.

-PM me if you want some quick ideas or designs before then.

Hive

Statistics: Posted by hivemind — Mon Dec 11, 2006 11:20 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-11T22:22:10+01:00

Yeah, Lynx Motion would be an obvious choice, I agree. My only hang up is that, as many people have stated, LM seems to be a bit pricey for what you get. Also I think the pieces end up kind of "clunky" looking. But hey, when they're the only game in town, you really can't complain I guess.

I generally have pretty "grand" expectations for what I want my creations to look and perform like. (ok, you might say unrealistic expectations ) But a guy has to dream right??

Statistics: Posted by NullARC — Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:22 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-12T22:05:01+01:00

Hi
For the bracets you could buy them from Lynx motion (http://www.lynxmotion.com) and for the controler maybe you could
use a reddy made one. I'll keep an eye open for more.

--srobot

Statistics: Posted by srobot — Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:59 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-11T15:09:29+01:00

Ok, got it. I understand the mistake.

I'll make sure that any reference I make from now on includes credit.

NOW, enough of this junk, lets get back to robotics!

Statistics: Posted by NullARC — Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:09 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-11T09:45:25+01:00

Marc,

Cool it. I'm not upset.

If you had asked I would have given permission, or if you had used the image and included a credit link I never would have said anything about it. I just thought it was pretty lame to include the photo without any credit in a post requesting help.

Statistics: Posted by tempusmaster — Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:45 am

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-10T21:46:37+01:00

I would SERIOUSLY like to FORMALLY apologize to Mr. Lem Fugitt (tempusmaster) for the infringement on his article and use of images from the article "ROBO-ONE 10 – A Gallery of Humanoid Robot Competition in Japan" from the website for ROBOT Magazine published by Maplegate Media Group. http://botmag.com/index.shtml

It is a very interesting article and can be found here:
http://botmag.com/articles/robo_one_ten.shtml

Please understand that my use of the photo was not intended to be offensive in any way! And was solely used as a reference to a question about the workings of a certain robot. I did not notice that Mr. Fugitt, author of the Robot Magazine article, and the screen name "tempusmaster", were the same person. I have edited the post and removed the offending image.

I hope that I can still be a respected member of the Robosavvy Forum community. I truly appreciate and value the time, expertise and information so generously shared here on this forum.

- Marc Dicintio

Statistics: Posted by NullARC — Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:46 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-10T17:44:03+01:00

NullARC wrote:
I assumed that if an image was posted on the WWW and had no copyright protection (i.e. you simply can't right click and save.) that using an image for reference to a question would be ok

Errr, taking this off topic totally, but a piece of work created privately and originally has automatic copyright protection by law, copyright notice or not. Copyright protection is a term of law, not a means of prevention of copying the work (by saving an image, photocopying an original manuscript, sampling a recorded track, etc). For instance, is property in your house fair game and legal to take if it isn't nailed/chained/screwed down?! Of course not, and the same applies to copyrighted work - it does not need to be secured to be protected by law.

In most public forums, it is generally polite and acceptable to give a credit to the copyright creator if you reference an image, an essay, etc. If you are not passing it off as your own work and are referencing it, you fall more into the 'fair use' category, or do not incur the ire of a copyright owner who may have a legit. beef.

Statistics: Posted by beermat — Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:44 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-10T16:47:49+01:00

The more robot porn the better

bren

Statistics: Posted by Robo1 — Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:47 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-10T16:39:32+01:00

tempusmaster wrote:
It may have been Robots Dreams, but it's more likely that it was lifted from the Robot Magazine article that I did for them.

Anyway, it's not a big issue. It just seemed rather odd in a post that was asking for help.

I'm very sorry if this is an unacceptable practice. I assumed that if an image was posted on the WWW and had no copyright protection (i.e. you simply can't right click and save.) that using an image for reference to a question would be ok. I would certainly understand if I was using it to sell something. That would not be acceptable.

Just let me know what is acceptable on this forum and I'll comply!
I certainly do not want to offend you, you are the one of the few people to answer my crazy questions!

Statistics: Posted by NullARC — Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:39 pm

Help with Biped Design and Implementation... Need Advice...

2006-12-10T15:47:41+01:00

NullARC wrote:
tempusmaster wrote:Nice photo.

oops! I can't remember exactly where that pic came from, but chances are very good that it was swiped from Robots-Dreams. Have I mentioned what a great site it is??!! You should all go check it out!

There, I hope I've covered my copyright infringement...

It may have been Robots Dreams, but it's more likely that it was lifted from the Robot Magazine article that I did for them.

Anyway, it's not a big issue. It just seemed rather odd in a post that was asking for help.

tempusmaster wrote:
The Takara-Tomy robot is different from EMMA. Their projected sales price in Japan is around $350 as an off the shelf product.

Ok, I get it... I misunderstood one of your replies again. I'm gettin' too good at that! Is there anywhere I can find info on the Takara-Tomy robot?

The first two links in this Robots Dreams search should give you enough information.

Statistics: Posted by tempusmaster — Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:47 pm