Robonova-1 - Think it's the robot for me -sanity check

[cdraptor]

Well I will start of with I am a robot newbie. I have been searching around the internet and what I am thinking I want to get is the Robonova-1. My background is programming so I'm more interested in coding routines than I am at customizing, not that I don't have plans to get into that. I am planning to get the "Ready to Walk" version. I also do 3D modeling and animation and I like the posing features with Robonova, reminds me from what I read of setting up keyframes. I'll be digging into Roboscript/RoboBasic, etc.

I do have an eventual goal of customizing and it sounds as though Hitec and is bringing out additional components such as gyro, sonar, IR, etc, etc. With the existing Robonova-1 and the addition of maybe Matt's Grippers does that leave much on the control board to add sensors? I think if I really get into this I may end up getting a Robonova Kit. I'm not bad at tweaking with electronics, haven't done anything with servos and not going to be able to do some crazy custom fabrication of panels, etc.

Another thought I had was to start more simply and get the Bioloid kit, start small. But to be honest I want to do play with a Robot first, before I do any building or customizing. So even the Ready To Walk Robonova-1 is not much more than the Bioloid kit and the Bioloid looks somewhat cheap and limited.

I am somewhat nervous about the modification and maintenance of the Robonova and my ability to tweak it or fix it. So I am curious to hear from the experts (like bauermech, tempusmaster and DirtyRobo) and those new and less engineering background oriented that have had luck building and working with the Robonova. Seems like there is alot of help and support via this form for Robonova, it's by far the most active of the forums.

Thanks for all replies. I am very close to just ordering it. Some good feedback may push me over the edge.

[DirtyRoboto]

I came to Humanoid robotics and thus the Robonova for two reasons. Firstly I want to compete in Robo-one Japan (high hopes I know) and secondly I want to study how robots and humans can live together.

I went for the RN1 as it seemed to have the best all round package and I really wanted to build my robot for a good reason. When you build the bot yourself, you get to know all of the bot head to toe and it gives you the confidence to modify it in the future.

I built mine in just over 6 hours with only one error, a busted servo (not my fault) and spent a good few weeks playing with the basic template and some new poses.

The RN1 is an VANILLA platform. Yes it can do moves, but that is it!
The only thing it can see is the remote and thats it until you add stuff like gyros and sensors. It has no hands as standard or Hitec hands offered.
You buy the robot and it is up too you to make it into what you want.

This is most definitely an upper intermidiate platform. It will offer you enough challenge to take you into a specialised area if you can learn with it, but it may also make you feel daunted when you get stuck with a problem that makes you have to design new parts or code around robobasic.

So far I have bought 4 new sevos (hands and replacments), sonar, gyro and some brackets.

I must say that it has enriched my life in a great way. I have learned many things in the field of robotics that connects with my other fields of interest.

The Robonova is a good solid package for start in bi-pedel robotics. It does however require a great deal of input from the owner to make it a special robot.

Marcus.

[JavaRN]

You asked for the opinion of an expert which you got from DirtyRoboto and another from a newbie - and here it is:

I got Robonova two weeks ago, my field of expertise is programming not electronics (I know nothing about electonics!) and I wasn't sure whether to get a redy-made one or to assemble it myself. Finally I decided to get the one to assemble not because it was cheaper but because I read in this forum that assemble the robot is fun and they were not wrong - I really enjoyed it, it took me almost nine hours - most of which checking and recheking my connections - it is very difficult to make mistakes in assembling the robot, but you have to be aware of mistakes in the manual which are all covered in this forum. If I had to reassemble another robot I would do it again it is fun.

I already replaced the robot's head with a wireless camera that I bought from e-bay for a very cheap price - £28 and is JMF compatible so that I can capture and pictures directly from the camera using Java and I am waiting for the bluetooth module so that I start communicating in two-way fashion with the robot.

Hope this helps.

[chocobot]

my new RN-1 is waiting for me till i get home from work...i also ordered the RTW version too.....kinda crazy eh?

[cdraptor]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm pretty set now on ordering a ReadToWalk version. I realize there is not much more than coding the poses and stuff until you add sensors, etc to do more interesting things. Most likely what I will do is get the ReadyToWalk and do some of the Robobasic coding. If I really get into it the next step would be to buy a kit and build, then that would be the one I would try to do modifications to. I am also thinking about getting the bioloid kit as well, that may be what I get before another Robonova to build.

One of the things I would like to try is to integrate my Z800 HMD visor with the Robonova, replacing the head with a vidcam on servo and hopefully find some way to use the headtracking. Now I realize that is some significant work and would require me tweaking the Robonova a good bit.

One question for DirtyRoboto - have you checked out Microsoft Robot Studio. I'm going to look into it more but what I gathered from initial glance is that code would be loaded and run on the Robot, then MRS you can send commands with code - so you need to be hardwired or via some wireless (bluetooth module). You don't really send new code to execute autonomously. I know it's setup to work with Lego Mindstorm and VEX, BoeBot and some others, I am hoping with the popularity of the Robonova we can do some things there, which would make my objective of integrating the Z800 HMD and possibly some VR Gloves an easier reality.

Again I would like to thank everyone and I am looking forward to getting involved with Robotics

[DirtyRoboto]

I have had no luck with MRS. I did try setting it up but got nowhere fast, sorry.
BTW, I am no expert.