My first Mech project

[sniperscope]

Well after drooling that beauty of a robot named Hagetaka, followed by Giger, I have decided to try and build my own version of a Mech. The following are tasks in progress/completed:

Note: The robot should be completed by the end of the year.

1- Purchased a Roboard as the main controller for the mech. Done

2- Installed Window XP on the Roboard (what a bitch but done). Saved a couple bucks by using company equipment with permission for the install.

2- Taking a video course on C++. At least 3-5 lessons a week. In progress

3- Researched within the forum for the best websites to purchase materials I will need. Ordered some torso mounting plates at a good price. I side stepped the custom ordering to save a few bucks. Done

4- Bioloid servos. I have several sets, more than enough for servo supply. Done

5- I will need to change the baud rate on the AX12's. It does not appear to be too difficult to do. Incomplete.

6- I will need to further understand how to program the send/recd data packets to the servos I have been reading about in the forum using com 4. (work in progress).

7- I will be changing the power supply for the servos going with the lighter battery packs based upon forum info. (Research completed).

8- I am missing pieces of information on what exactly to order from Airsoft (weapon systems).

What to order?

Have not been able to find subject matter on how to program these systems in order to understand how they work.

9- Not started on sensors yet. Sound, Cam, IR. etc. I want the Mech to avoid objects along with some type hostile response to fast moving objects. Research not started yet.

10- Using automotive spray paint that bonds to plastic, I finished painting my parts black, they came out great. Done

11- Investigating to see if it's doable to have an outer shell (Total mech look) for my project. If I do my intention is to have worn beat up look, dents/chipped paint/rust etc. If not will stick with black.

12- Have completed first version of a gripper using high density carbon fiber. This material is so strong it's unbelievable and worked great and is very light.

13- For his second arm I will be designing a modular gripper that could be swapped out based upon the task required. I'm lucky I work at a company that has lots of factory equipment to make robot parts.

14- Have to research for a look and feel to place the RoBoard. Thinking about some type of custom enclosure that is easily detectable for maintenance. I built one demo case already just to get an idea of size and requirements. It worked fine but still requires some design changes and work.

Will post pictures when I have something good to show to the group.

Regards to all

[Sigma X]

A fellow mech warrior good luck to you and I hope to see those pics soon

[PedroR]

Hi sniperscope

Good to know about your project

With regards to sensors/cam/sound my recommendation is this:

- Use a USB webcam on the Roboard and use some Open source vision library.
I recommend this http://opencv.willowgarage.com/wiki/#We ... sOpenCV.3F . Form the website these are the supported capabilities "Object Identification, Segmentation and Recognition; Face Recognition; Gesture Recognition; Motion Tracking, Ego Motion, Motion Understanding; Structure From Motion (SFM); Stereo and Multi-Camera Calibration and Depth Computation; Mobile Robotics."

- For sensors I would get a set of Sharp IR distance sensors.
I would maybe assemble them on top of a servo so you can "scan" the area left to right or top to bottom and avoid blind spots as much as possible.

- For sound, since the Roboard has sound output and sound input, I think you can get a simple speaker and an omnidirectional microphone.
Back in the late 90's Microsoft Research was giving away some speech recognition libraries but I believe those are not available anymore.
It was quite simple to add some code there to have the computer recognize and react to simple one-word or two-word commands.

Running vision + speech recognition in real time may be a bit too much of a stretch for the Roboard but running them in turns may work.
I would leave Speech recognition at the end of the priority list though and invest in the vision library

If you run into any roboard issue when assembling everything, please post on our Roboard forum as well, because the Roboard engineers keep monitoring the forum and you'll certainly get good info there as well.

Regards
Pedro

[l3v3rz]

Well my Robobuilder is getting ready to defend itself !

http://www.robosavvy.com/Builders/l3v3rz/GUN-DOWN.jpg
http://www.robosavvy.com/Builders/l3v3rz/GUN-UP.jpg

fastest gun anyone ?

[sniperscope]

Very cool, just missing a gangster lean lean.

[servomotor]

well done.

How about the result now?

[l3v3rz]

here we go :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08GI_d-cK88

Mounting proved more difficult - had to build a firm mount so that as the trigger is pulled the gun stays still.

Also have webcam sighted over gun (see left shoulder).