Support Stand

[TexasDave]

I am having trouble fumbling with my Robonova in one hand, mouse in the other, and needing a third hand to work the keyboard while programming. I want to build or buy a support stand that can hold my Robonova while I work at the PC. I was hoping other users could share pictures of how they solve this problem.

Ideally, I need something that is stable and sturdy enough to hold the Robonova during some of the more violent, sudden movements. Also, it should not interfere with the arms or legs to allow a full range of movement. Lastly, it would be nice to use the support stand as a charging station, and hold the connector to the PC, too.

Anyone have a good solution to this?

[Orac]

What I did for my Manoi was v simple, I suspended a horizontal stick above the robot which could swing in an arc large enough to follow it around my desk.

Onto the stick I put a ring that could slide along the shaft.

Attached to the ring is some fishing line that heads down to an easy release clip which attaches to the robot.

The robot can now move around freely and execute all my moves but if it falls, the line arrests the fall and suspends it a couple of inches from the desk.

Works very well..... just don't try cartwheels

[Mitchell]

i made 2 little hooks that go through those slots on my robonovas shoulders, and tied him to a bar that goes across the top of my desk... he swings pretty good with sudden movements but i dont think anything will break, and he cant fall over

[TexasDave]

I finally settled on a design for my Robonova stand. The robot hangs from metal eye-bolts which are attached to a wooden 2x2 frame. I use twist-ties to hang the robot from the eye-bolts.

The robot can do all of the pre-programmed moves without any arms or legs hitting the stand, including the side cartwheel moves. It is sturdy enough to handle all the robot's moves. It is now easy to charge the batteries or connect to the PC.



If people are interested, I can post more pictures after I have painted the stand.

[DirtyRoboto]

I stay away from stands when coding moves as it removes the way the RN balances in certain poses and I need to feel this with my own hands.
I use the method of locking off servos into the master pose and then unlocking single or small groups of servos for manual adjustment.
All of the moves of mine you have seen were created like this. It might be that my workspace is better suited to this!

I would love to make and post a video of how I do it but I am very busy at the present with other life things. If you saw what I do you would get it straight away.

[TexasDave]

Here is the finished product.

[Droid Works]

Very cool, looks great too.

[bbrainmonkey]

Just a quick question about the servos. How much do they move when hanging like that?

[TexasDave]

Servos have full range of motion. The twist ties are attached to the shoulder frame, not any servo bracket. The robot can perform all of the pre-programmed motions without the arms or legs hitting an obstruction. Photo below includes action poses during Bird Flap, Headstand, Sideways Cartwheel, and a close up of the clearance on arm movements.

[bbrainmonkey]

Wow, nice job. What moves are you planning to make with it?