iSOBOT Catch & Play Function!!!

[Humanoido]

As a proud owner of a Robonova-1, this humanoid has become my defacto comparison for other humanoids. The software includes a very useful Catch & Play function, where the robot is positioned and that position is recorded by the software. We would be dreaming to think the lower cost i-SOBOT had a similar function - right??? Well, read on!

My interest in i-SOBOT began casual and learning more about the tiny but very powerful humanoid sparked my interest until I had to have one. It looks like most people are running i-SOBOT in RC - Remote Control mode, SA - Special Action mode, and less frequently VC- Voice Control mode. P - Program mode is typically used by more savvy users. But what exactly are the most special features of these functions? I decided to read the manual and do some experimenting with the commands and modes...

You can imagine my surprise, when reading all the manual details and trying out the various programming features, when I discovered i-SOBOT has a Catch & Play feature, very much like the more expensive Robonova humanoid! It's limited to arms, and runs in the RC - Remote Control mode. It works by recording the position of the arms (from the position you choose using the joystick) and then can lock the arms in that preferred position. This allows walking with a new specific posture/gait. Amazing!!!

(For more information, take a look at page 20 in the manual.)

humanoido

[Humanoido]

In addition to using the catch and play feature in i-SOBOT with the joystick, the remote control mode action commands that specially position the arms (for example, 1P for a left punch) can also be used. Just key in the sequence, press go, and when the posture is what you want, use the R button to select the arms and the L button to lock the position. (to deactivate, press the R button, then press the L button)

humanoido

[tom_chang79]

If only there were a catch&play function for the legs...

Nevertheless, that is some great info Humanoido, thanks!

[Humanoido]

Indeed, there is a Catch & Play function for the legs. It has one purpose - to set the number of walking steps. Here's how it works - in program mode, with an empty programming block, move the joystick for forward or backward and hold it in that position to capture the number of steps. Watch the display at this point and the number of steps will increase. Release the joystick at the number of desired steps and press the down cursor button to add to the sequence and move to the next block. When your program is complete, press GO and you'll see i-SOBOT walking the exact number of steps that was captured. It works for a maximum of 20 walking steps!

This type of Catch & Play function is not limited to only arms and legs. The head direction position can also be captured in 20-degree increments. Use the same technique with the right joystick, moving it left or right and watching the display for the head position degrees.

Leaning (forwards) is also a Catch & Play function with three possible increments. Use the right joystick, moved forward, and the display will show a graphic of i-SOBOT leaning forward showing the angle. Continue to hold the joystick to see all three angle possibilities. When a position is chose, touch the down button to store it. Use GO to play back the program.

In summary, the Catch & Play function works with arms, head, legs, and (torso leaning).

humanoido

[asbrandsson]

Hello,

I think that the i-sobot is a pretty good robot. It is a little fun and I think that it is engineered very well. Although I would like it to be more. I also like to look at moves for ideas on what I should be doing with my robonova.

Asbrandsson

[Humanoido]

That's true - it's really amazing all the moves stored in this little i-SOBOT, even more moves to compliment our Robonova, and other humanoids, and give us plenty of ideas for adding these new motions.

On thing I'm interested in seeing is more detailed descriptions of moves listed in the Action Table. It would make it easier to put together programming scripts and do various acting and tasks. For example, a description of the body, head, legs, and arms positions is better than just reading "Pose 1, 411A." Plus, we can now add in the Easter Egg moves descriptions as well. What do you think?

humanoido

[asbrandsson]

Hello,

I would like to see a way that you can hook it up to your pc and re-program it from the code that it has.

Asbrandsson

[Humanoido]

Apparently someone in Japan has looked at the flash ROMS in the first released i-SOBOT models and is studying some ideas for reprogramming, as reported at robots-dreams.

http://www.robots-dreams.com

For now, the closest you can get to programming by computer is with the Robodance software.

http://www.robodance.com/index.php

humanoido