Apr 08, 2006
Attendance: 25
Class:
Jim Ubersetzig - Hierarchical Behavior:
Jim presented a multilayered architecture that has been used for several years and is still in use. The top layer is a goal selector, and the lower layers consist of a goal-expectation-perception architecture where goals consist of subgoals or a sequential list of tasks needed to accomplish the goal. The goal's tasks are sequentially executed, and each depends upon the expectation (sensors should read) matching the perception (sensors do read). A mismatch is propigated up to the goal selector, whereas success simply selects the next task in the current layer's goal.
Business (12:30):
1- Planned Classes:
May : Soldering (Tim Lewis)
June: H-Bridges (Alex Brown)
July: Mechical Drive (Jess)
August: DARPA Grand Challenge (Martin)
2- Paperwork sent off for incorporation. In the future, the $12 membership fee will be tax deductible.
3- Planned Robot of Month
May : Derek Jones
June : Jeff Dunker
July : Tim
4- Jeff Dunker attended the Orange County IEEE Robotics. IEEE will have funds for training for schools (FIRST) but they would like (3rd Wednesday meeting) people willing to train.
5- Be thinking of ideas for how to use the money.
6- New Handy Board coming out.
7- Auction Ralph's robot parts.
HC11 - $16 (Tim Lewis)
HC256 - Steve Vorres $185
8- Passed new club Resolution: if anyone wants to auction off hardware, they can bring in and the club get 10%
9- Any oneone interested in hacking a Roomba can see RoombaDevTools.com.
[Business closed: 1:07]
Mini Sumo Contest
4 contestants:
Gary Smith - 2 victories [wheels fall off sometimes]
Jeff Smith - 0 victories [only 247 g. low weight]
John Davis - 2 victories
Jeff Dunker - 2 victories
final 3 way competion with Jeff Dunker victor.
Presentations: (start 1:50)
1. Tim Lewis (10 min) - demonstrated animatronic mechanism for a popup halloween head.
2. Scott Mummert (25 min.)
Demonstrated Timmy - Leaf family robot with Scorbot chasis.
Differentiating features:
mini ITX motherboard - 1 G Ram
Wireless microphone
has VNC - Virtual Network Computing (like remote desktop need internet connection) [free VNC www.RealVNC.com]
Demonstrated voice recognition working (pretty reliable) with motion commands forward, time, and best of all-his name "Timmmmy!"
3. Thomas and Ken (15 min).
Demonstrated 6' 4" realistic lost in space robot look-alike...very impressive Goal to have a leaf like architecture, but currently mostly empty.
Current Functionality:
* top dome lights flash and rotate.
* neon chest lights flash in chest when voice speaks.
4. Michael Nichols and Samuel Yang (15 min.)
Presented robot that had won first place in contest for timed picking up most ping pong balls. It uses basic stamp II and OOPIC-R processor and has a good mechanical design. See Parallex Forum projects. [I can't find the web page]
5. Jim Ubersetzig (20 min)
Ideas for robot Kits for building building a robot for less than $100.
Using:
$16 2 screwdriver kits @$8 ea you get:
2 Gear motors
2 battery holders + batteries
2 spray can caps.
$5 Dual H-bridge.
$35 Basic stamp I
Need design board for basic stamp or BS-II upgrade.
$25 for line following algorithm
$2 drawer handle for casters.
6. James Welton (5 min.)
Demonstrated a Fischer robot construction Kits. There are many other available and some can get quite complex and impressive (http://www.fischertechnik.com/).
7. Bruce (5 min.)
Displayed an RC controlled underwater shark.