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Is RN-1 good for a university lab?

Hitec robotics including ROBONOVA humanoid, HSR-8498HB servos, MR C-3024 Controllers and RoboBasic
8 postsPage 1 of 1
8 postsPage 1 of 1

Is RN-1 good for a university lab?

Post by Witek » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:59 pm

Post by Witek
Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:59 pm

Hi everyone

I was thinking of a RN for a university lab. It will be mainly used by students at robotics calss, however we are also having in mind some research, especially working in a team (we want to buy 4 robots). Therefore I need the robots that are able to:
- act autonomousely and execute a program using sensors, reacting to the environment (and communicate with each other if possible)
- be controlled wirelessly (Bluetooth? no Irda!) from a PC (with full access to all the sensor data)

Is RN a good robot for that purpose? I especially like this modification http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=378 (fitting a RN with a POD-eye vision system) and that was one of the reasons why I got interested in RN. I want a robot that feels and sees and can make use of it.

Thanks for your comments
Hi everyone

I was thinking of a RN for a university lab. It will be mainly used by students at robotics calss, however we are also having in mind some research, especially working in a team (we want to buy 4 robots). Therefore I need the robots that are able to:
- act autonomousely and execute a program using sensors, reacting to the environment (and communicate with each other if possible)
- be controlled wirelessly (Bluetooth? no Irda!) from a PC (with full access to all the sensor data)

Is RN a good robot for that purpose? I especially like this modification http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=378 (fitting a RN with a POD-eye vision system) and that was one of the reasons why I got interested in RN. I want a robot that feels and sees and can make use of it.

Thanks for your comments
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Post by Robo1 » Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:41 pm

Post by Robo1
Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:41 pm

Hello there

I work in the Bristol robotics lab and I would say that the Rn-1 isn't the best bot out there for your needs I would say that the Bioloid is much better. As the servo's are digital thus having a better ability to create you're own interface/brain.

Bren
Hello there

I work in the Bristol robotics lab and I would say that the Rn-1 isn't the best bot out there for your needs I would say that the Bioloid is much better. As the servo's are digital thus having a better ability to create you're own interface/brain.

Bren
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Post by Witek » Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:33 pm

Post by Witek
Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:33 pm

Am I missing something? I thought RN-1 also had digital servos...
Am I missing something? I thought RN-1 also had digital servos...
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Post by Robo1 » Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:58 pm

Post by Robo1
Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:58 pm

There not really digital. They still use PWM for communication this means that if you want to get data like there current position you have to send a speacial PWM. This means that the servo losses it's posiotn. Thus you can only really use this for the catch and play feature. Where as the robitics servos run on a proper bus and give you better info like current current position.

Bren
There not really digital. They still use PWM for communication this means that if you want to get data like there current position you have to send a speacial PWM. This means that the servo losses it's posiotn. Thus you can only really use this for the catch and play feature. Where as the robitics servos run on a proper bus and give you better info like current current position.

Bren
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Post by Witek » Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:26 pm

Post by Witek
Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:26 pm

Yeah, you're right. I have done some reading (going to sleep now, it's well past midnight here) and I think that Bioloid is a better choice. I'm planning my budget, and since all these advanced robots are priced more or less the same, I'll just reserve a 1000+ USD for one robot and make a final decision when I finally have the money (it might take a year! :( ). Thank you for your answer. I'll still dig around the forum to find out which robot suits my needs best.
Yeah, you're right. I have done some reading (going to sleep now, it's well past midnight here) and I think that Bioloid is a better choice. I'm planning my budget, and since all these advanced robots are priced more or less the same, I'll just reserve a 1000+ USD for one robot and make a final decision when I finally have the money (it might take a year! :( ). Thank you for your answer. I'll still dig around the forum to find out which robot suits my needs best.
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Post by DirtyRoboto » Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:44 pm

Post by DirtyRoboto
Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:44 pm

I am seeing many robot fights and custom designs while in Japan and it would seem that it is better to build a new robot from the ground up using existing controllers. I have not seen one standard off the shelf robot in competition.

The controller and servos are the main thing and you would look at a seperate board for the sensor suite. The sensors do not have to run off of the servo controller.

After seeing what these guys are getting up to, one of my robonovas is coming to pieces and being totally rebuilt. (after a few battles tho').


What you should understand from a sensor based AI type system is that most of that type of work can be done with wheeled and tracked robots. Humanoid robotics is a field of its own and lessons learned with cheaper wheeled systems can then be bought across avoiding excessive startup costs.

If you spend the $$ on a good sensor suite and place them on a cheap wheeled robot then you can do much of the work you want to do. A humanoid is like a pet and not just for christmas, it requires allot of time and effort or just remains the toy it was sold as.

Marc.
I am seeing many robot fights and custom designs while in Japan and it would seem that it is better to build a new robot from the ground up using existing controllers. I have not seen one standard off the shelf robot in competition.

The controller and servos are the main thing and you would look at a seperate board for the sensor suite. The sensors do not have to run off of the servo controller.

After seeing what these guys are getting up to, one of my robonovas is coming to pieces and being totally rebuilt. (after a few battles tho').


What you should understand from a sensor based AI type system is that most of that type of work can be done with wheeled and tracked robots. Humanoid robotics is a field of its own and lessons learned with cheaper wheeled systems can then be bought across avoiding excessive startup costs.

If you spend the $$ on a good sensor suite and place them on a cheap wheeled robot then you can do much of the work you want to do. A humanoid is like a pet and not just for christmas, it requires allot of time and effort or just remains the toy it was sold as.

Marc.
In servo's we trust!
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Post by Orac » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:44 pm

Post by Orac
Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:44 pm

Crazy man steal my robot, no give it back until I smile for camera.

Said he was going to make it dance.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95721430@N00/2449345342/


lol
Crazy man steal my robot, no give it back until I smile for camera.

Said he was going to make it dance.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/95721430@N00/2449345342/


lol
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Post by Humanoido » Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:55 pm

Post by Humanoido
Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:55 pm

You can do all those things with Robonova if upgrades are willing to be made. You can get some touch feedback using the stock servos as seen in some of the posts here. The AI will need to be added (this is a very large field of consideration), as well as the other sensors. IMO, RN is one of the best for this purpose. Plus this forum is an amazing wealth and source of details for accomplishing the goals you mentioned. This kind of support is extremely valuable.

humanoido
You can do all those things with Robonova if upgrades are willing to be made. You can get some touch feedback using the stock servos as seen in some of the posts here. The AI will need to be added (this is a very large field of consideration), as well as the other sensors. IMO, RN is one of the best for this purpose. Plus this forum is an amazing wealth and source of details for accomplishing the goals you mentioned. This kind of support is extremely valuable.

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