Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Augmented (hyper)Reality: Domestic Robocop

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

Wish you were here.

Rupert Murdoch versus the Google

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Rupert Murdoch just doesn’t get it. He will loose lots & lots of money. Which is a good thing. The world will be a better place once he’s out of the game.

Not what I had in mind…

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

… but, yes, the robots are coming!

Gömböc

Friday, June 19th, 2009

A Gömböc is a mono-monostatic body, invented by Dr. Gabor Domokos. It looks a bit like an indian star tortoise.
indian_star_tortoise

If you like, you can listen to Dr. Gabor Domokos explain all about it.
If you wish to have one of your own, you can buy one here.

The paper that started it all used to be available here. Unfortunately, it is not freely accessible anymore – but you can still buy it.

Online manufacturing

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Rapid manufacturing is becoming more & more real.

Here are a few sites I like:

Ponoko’s great, but they only do flat surfaces. Shapeways can do any shape, as long as it’s small enough and laser-printer plastic, but they’re expensive. E-machineshop can build everything you can imagine, but they only make sense money-wise if you need large quantities, and their software can’t import files if they’re complex enough to be interesting. I like them all a lot but I don’t know which ones I am going to use.

Rodney Brooks: Remaking Manufacturing With Robotics

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Rodney Brooks

Tortoise

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

tortoise

tortoise2

Drafts of the body for my robot (work in progress…)

Nao’s going Beta

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

naobetatest

I received an e-mail today from Aldebaran Robotics:

Be part of the robotic adventure by being one of the first beta-tester individuals in the world.
Hello,

Aldebaran Robotics is proud to announce you the launch of the beta-test of Nao. Our aim is to analyze how Nao-interested people like you would interact with it so we can keep on developing the best personal humanoid robot you have ever seen.

As a beta-tester, you will really be at core of Nao’s adventure. Your experience, your feedbacks, your suggestions and your requests will be the inputs enabling us to improve Nao. We will build a special and close relationship with every beta-tester : you will be invited to exclusive events ; you will be the firtst to know the latest developments on Nao ; you will have access to a dedicated forum to share with us and the other beta-testers ; you will be involved in challenges (not only for advanced programmers) and show us your creativity and skills. You will help us make Nao!

Now, here are the details of the beta-test:
- it is open for individual customers living in France or UK only
- it is priced at 4800€, all taxes included
- for the price, you’ll get 2 NAOs: a first one to be beta-tested and, as a gift for your participation and help, a second one as soon as we release the product to the general public
- the Nao’s version to be beta-tested is called “V3+” – this is the most advanced Nao we have ever designed
- the package also includes all necessary documentation and software, including ChoregrapheC.
- moreover, if we feel an upgrade of your beta-tested Nao is necessary, we will do it and won’t charge you for this.

Applications for the beta-test are open until June, 9th and we intend to ship the first Naos to our beta-testers at mid-June. Note that only a restricted number of applicants will eventually be selected for the beta-test.

To apply for this beta-test program, please fill and send us back the application form available here to [..].

If you have any question, remark or enquiry, let us know !

Welcome in the world of Nao.
Bruno Maisonnier
Founder and CEO of Aldebaran Robotics

Robot OS

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Finally settled on Windows Server 2008 for my robot. Windows Server 2008. Standard. Core. x86.
Server Core Installation Option Getting Started Guide

LiPo’s are dangerous

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

I want to use LiPo’s – and I do know they are dangerous. For those who don’t, here’s a long list of LiPo explosions.

Manifesto

Saturday, May 9th, 2009
  • Robots are the next big thing.
  • Robots are fun.
  • Robots are our friends.
  • Everybody should have their own, personal, robot.
  • We learn by doing.
  • We build our own robots.
  • We share what we know.

My own, personal, Robot

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Robots are going to be the next “Big Thing” and I want my own, personal, Robot. So I’m going to build it myself. I can do the math and the software, and I know a few things about electronics. What I don’t know, I’ll learn on the way. I hope.

Servo this or servo that?

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

I quite like the Dynamixels by Robotis for my project.

CrustCrawler’s got theAX-12+, RX-28, RX-64, and EX-106 on stock. I’ve seen them on other online shops as well. However, CrustCrawler’s got lot’s of helpful information there, like manuals links to APIs, etc.

Robots Australia

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Great stuff from down under!

http://robotsaustralia.googlepages.com/
http://robotsaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/robotsaus

This guy’s got a big head start on me! Or gal. Doesn’t say. I’m going to go with guy. I really like that “PEDRO” quadruped robot he’s building. I’m definitely going to keep an eye on robotsaustralia. I’ve already learned a few things.