Robotics

Making a robot can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s the perfect combination of creativity, engineering and problem solving. However, if you’re just getting started in robotics, it can also be overwhelming. To make things easier for those who are just starting out, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help makers bring robots to life! From the basics of assembling your robot to software implementation, these pointers will give you everything you need to get started on your robotic adventure!

New ASIMO humanoid robot…

New ASIMO humanoid robot…

AsimoThe new ASIMO is closer to the robots that eventually revolt in all the science fiction movies “Honda Motor debuted a new ASIMO humanoid robot which features the ability to pursue key tasks in a real-life environment such as an office and an advanced level of physical capabilities. Compared to the previous model, the new ASIMO achieves the enhanced ability to act in sync with people – for example, walking with a person while holding hands. A new function to carry objects using a cart was also added.” Pictures and videos on the site. Thanks Justin! Link.

Build-It-Yourself toys, robots, puppets and contraptions…

Build-It-Yourself toys, robots, puppets and contraptions…

Index-Photo-Kids1Old Professor Bear writes “This place is 2 blocks from my home. I pass by it every so often, but at night when it’s closed. But it looks like it would be of much Maker interest. Building Junior Makers, or something like that … Anyway, FWIW, have a look – Build-It-Yourself has developed a creative robotics program in collaboration with MIT that inspires, engages and guides kids to build in a unique global laboratory of the future. Build-It-Yourself seeks corporate partners who can bring our program to 20 million+ kids in the after-school market.” Link.

Gocco Yeti Ornaments

Gocco Yeti Ornaments

Yetixmas
Nothing says Christmas like a Yeti ornament. Craftlog posted up her tips on using Print Gocco to create her abominable creature. Make one yourself or if you are up for a swap, she’ll make you one for something else in return. Also big news here, you might want to stock up on the cool printing machines as Gocco’s are being discontinued from the manufacturer. Link.

The aiBAR, an automated robotic bartender

The aiBAR, an automated robotic bartender

AibarG4’s Attack of the Show had the folks from the aiBAR on – they will be in our new Makers book we’re about to announce soon – “Nate Strech, Joel Wollborg, and Torrey Baumstark have an unhealthy obsession with drinking that has resulted in the creation of the aiBAR, an automated robotic bartender. It’s not yet available commercially, but we think their idea has definite profit potential.” [via] Link.

IR control from USB?

IR control from USB?

Picture 002Gene is looking for a scriptable USB-IR controller – “So far I have not been able to find such an animal. I bought the first generation of Robosapian. The robot from wowwe toys. It comes with a real crazy remote control. You have to press many keys in certain combinations to make the robot do anything. If I could program a dynamic IR device with the codes and then create scripts.. It would be possible for me to make my robot do all kinds of neat things. Also I am into doing time lapse videos. That is where you setup a camera and let it run for about an hour.. I throw the video into my computer and use the editing software to speed things up. That is fine.. But I have an Olympus 8mp digital SLR camera. It also has an IR control out. A programmable IR device as I described above would really help me out with my camera. I could setup a high resolution picture every 15 seconds using a laptop on location replacing the IR controller. This would produce a very high quality time lapse once I put it in my editing software.” I think the USB-UIRT might be a good start, any other suggestions for Gene? Link.

Beck video with Sony QRIOs now live…

Qrio
Mocapitator let us know that the new Beck video we mentioned, starring the Sony QRIO robots is now live on the Beck site. I just watched it and I think the QRIOs are a lot more interesting than their role in the video. I worked on a few Sony projects in the past in Japan and China, some with the QRIOs and they’re creepy-cool. If you’ve seen the QRIOs in action, then this video might not seem that interesting, it’s pretty much their dance routine when they’re out in public – but still fun to watch. Link.

Sony’s QRIO robots to dance in Beck video

Sony’s QRIO robots to dance in Beck video

Qrio“There’s a reason Beck has been so hush-hush about the video for his new single, “Hell Yes.” Actually, there are four reasons. They’re called QRIOs, so-called “dream robots” developed by Sony Japan as high-tech playthings for children. QRIO can carry on conversations, adapt to a multitude of environments and — most importantly — mimic human movements, including complex dance routines. Currently, there are only four working QRIOs in the world. And all of them appear in the “Hell Yes” video.” [via] Link.