Is Robobuilder for me?

[UncleBob]

Dear Pedro and all the rest of the robobuilder owners

I amhoming in onto the transparent robobuilder as the bioloid premium edition seems to scare my wife a lot!

I have two questions :

1) Can the robot walk and dance out of the box or do I need to spend several weeks programmining it ? I hate to program in C. Or can I just download stuff from the website and make it dance instantly?

2) I like the posture builder from Bioliod, I pick this up from the Crabfu review. Robobuilder seems to have something similar but I rarely see any vid or review on it. Does it work ?

Please let me know as I am finalizing my decision.

Lastly what other additional stuff should I buy ?

[PedroR]

Hi Unclebob

1)
The Robot already comes with a standard set of moves out of the Box.
The Christmas Edition of the 5720T (transparent) here http://robosavvy.com/store/product_info ... cts_id/508 additionally includes a dance of Jingle Bells pre programmed and ready to play out of the box.

A number of additional motion files are available for download on our forum as well as the Robobuilder website.
Robobuilder actually has the unique feature of having a Motion Sharing service where users can share motion files (although the English version of this service doesn't have as many motions as the Koren version....)

2)
Robobuilder also has a program to create new Motions called MotionBuilder (the manual for Motion Builder can be consulted on the product page above, under the "Documenation" section).
This program is not as good as the one from the Bioloid but it is capable of creating new motions for the robot. (the one from Bioloid is likely one of the best among all Humanoids we have on Robosavvy)
MotionBuilder also supports "catch and play" which is a functionality that significantly facilitates the creation of new motions.

The creation of new Motions is something that is done in a graphical interface. No C programming required for that

If you go with Robobuilder you will also have a wide range of options to program behaviors on the Robot that take advantage of the sensors included.

Finally with regards to accessories I would definitelly reccomend these:
1) Robobuilder Bluetooth Module http://robosavvy.com/store/product_info ... cts_id/517
This enables wireless programming of the robot as well as wireless interaction with the computer when programming with MS Robotics Development Studio and Visual Studio .Net

2) If you're looking for improved reliability, I would recommend this http://robosavvy.com/store/product_info ... cts_id/609
(although not mandatory if you make careful use of your robot).


In the future you may also want to consider getting the Hip Pivot Kit http://robosavvy.com/store/product_info ... cts_id/538 although with this kit most of the sample motions available on the internet do not work and need to be customized.

Regards
Pedro

[UncleBob]

Dear Pedro

Thank you for your kind reply! Not that money is a real serious issue but my wife wants to kill me today. Her iphone or my old iphone is login to my email account and she see the price of the Bioloid Premium went balistic. I previous told her it cost $200

I tell her today I didn't like by showing her the Lego MindStorm and Robobuilder.
Kondo is definitely out of the question. I won't get away with a Bioliod Premium either. So it will be either the Robobuilder, 2006 version Bioliod or the Robonova1. Robobuilder is on sale from RoboSavvy and I might want to grab it.

My only concern is, with the lack of sensor like the Bioliod Builder I might not be able to do certain things in the future. Will I regret it? I bought an Esky-King 2 RC heli years ago and then finally bought the TREX-450. I regret wasting money on the TREX.

Pedro - I understand the stock 5702-T comes with distance sensor and accelarometer. Is that all I need to make it stand on one hand ? or will I need add a whole lot of other gadget.

Lastly I email SunnyKim from RoboBuilder. I am very happy he replies me this morning. It gives me more confident to buy the RoboBuilder.

[PedroR]

Hi

The one Arm Handstand for Robobuilder actually does not rely on any servos.
It was created using MotionBuilder only and all you need is a standard Robobuilder kit. No need for additional gadgets.


In terms of sensors for Robobuilder, I can say it includes plenty for you to have fun with: Distance Sensor, 3 axis Acceleration Sensor and Sound Sensor.

The difference to Bioloid PREMIUM is that it has 3 Distance Sensors (instead of 1) and it has a 2 axis gyro (instead of a 3 axis accelerometer in Robobuilder).

Between the 2006 Bioloid and Robobuilder, if you're going for hobby, my personal choice would be Robobuilder.

With regards to the versions on sale, I have to say that the cheapest versions that were on sale, part of the Christmas CRAZE campaigns, have now sold out for both the 5710K and 5720T.
The ones we have now in stock are the regular Christmas Editions which have the normal price but come with extra sensors, available here
http://robosavvy.com/store/advanced_sea ... obobuilder

Regards
Pedro

[UncleBob]

Christmas Sales over !!!

Oh No

[PedroR]

they are not actually over.

It's just that, as advertised, sales were limited to existing stock and stock has been selling out over time...

We are still running some specials on other items (including the KHR 2HV but I believe you are not interested in that particular one...)

In any case, the 5710K and 5720T are still great value for money.
Both of them are cheaper than any Bioloid.

Regards
Pedro

[UncleBob]

I wonder if a 16 servo humanoid can do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62AwBqof ... L&index=32

or maybe add two more for the wrist.

[PedroR]

well i find this quite hard to do...

From what I've read it is estimated that the human body has over 100 Degrees of Freedom and this precision exercise probably uses most of them.

Emulating this video with a 16 servo or even 20 servo humanoid may be quite a challenge.