Cover.qxd 4/9/2008 5:29 PM Page 1 V o l. 6 N o . 5 S E R V O M A G A Z IN E R 2 D 2 B U IL D E R S C L U B • S E R V O B U D D Y • iR O B O T L O O J • R Full Page.qxd 3/5/2008 4:10 PM Page 2 Let your geek shine. Meet Leah Buechley, developer of LilyPad—a sew-able microcontroller—and fellow geek. Leah used SparkFun products and services while she developed her LilyPad prototype. The tools are out there, from LEDs to conductive thread, tutorials to affordable PCB fabrication, and of course Leah’s LilyPad. Find the resources you need to let your geek shine too. »Sharing Ingenuity SPARKFUN.COM ©2008 SparkFun Electronics, Inc. All rights reserved. Full Page.qxd 3/5/2008 4:19 PM Page 3 HHHHiiiitttteeeecccc GGGGooooeeeessss TTTThhhheeee DDDDiiiissssttttaaaannnncccceeee!!!! Don’t let your robot take a fall, make sure it can go the distance by using one of Hitec’s high powered robotics servos. From the spport level HSR-8498HB to the stumppp pppullinggg torqqque of the Titanium ggeared HSR-5990TG,, HHiitteecc hhaass aa sseerrvvoo fffooorrr yyyooouuurrr rrrooobbboootttiiicccsss ppprroojjeeccttt.. (cid:43)(cid:54)(cid:53)(cid:16)(cid:27)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:27)(cid:43)(cid:37) (cid:43)(cid:54)(cid:53)(cid:16)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:27)(cid:54)(cid:42) (cid:43)(cid:54)(cid:53)(cid:16)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:27)(cid:27)(cid:19)(cid:54)(cid:42) (cid:43)(cid:54)(cid:53)(cid:16)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:28)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:55)(cid:42) (cid:43)(cid:54)(cid:53)(cid:16)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:21)(cid:24)(cid:38)(cid:53) (cid:43)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:43)(cid:76)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:38)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:38)(cid:38)(cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:48)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:74)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:55)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:84)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:3) (cid:49)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:3) (cid:46)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85) (cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85) (cid:54)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85) (cid:55)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:76)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:85) (cid:38)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:88)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:53)(cid:82)(cid:87)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81) Model Gear Type Torque(oz) Speed(sec) Bearing Dimensions Weight Protocol 6V / 7.4V 6V / 7.4V L” x W” x H” (oz) HSR-8498HB........Karbonite..........103 / na...........0.20 / na..........Dual BB........1.57 x .78 x 1.45........1.75 ......*HMI/PWN HSR-5498SG............Steel.............153 / 188.........0.22 / 0.19........Dual BB........1.57 x .78 x 1.45........2.10.......*HMI/PWN HSR-5980SG............Steel.............333 / 417.........0.17 / 0.14.........Dual BB........1.57 x .78 x 1.45........2.36......*HMI/PWN HSR-5990TG..........Titanium..........333 / 417.........0.17 / 0.14.........Dual BB........1.57 x .78 x 1.45........2.39......*HMI/PWN HSR-1425CR.............Nylon..............na / 57..............16 rpm...........Dual BB........1.59 x .77 x 1.44.........1.6............PWM *HMI Is Hitec’s Multi Protocol Interface which allows the programming of our servos via a PC using the optional irnotbeorftaiccse skeitr v(Posa rut sNinog. 7th8e2 0H6F) PP-W20M f iiesl dth per ostgarnadmamrde rR (/PCa rptr oNtoo.c 4o4l 4a3n0d) .allows the programming of the JOIN US AT AUnpirvile 2rs5i-t2y7 o, f2 P0h0o8enix Stadium Glendale Arizona Visit EFExpo.com For Details 12115 Paine Street . Poway CA 92064 . 858-748-6948 CChheecckk oouutt tthhee RRoobbooNNoovvaa--11 aanndd aallll tthhee ootthheerr HHiitteecc RRoobboottiiccss pprroodduuccttss aatt www.hitecroboticwsw.cwom.h i<tehctrtopb:/o/wticwsw.c.ohmitecrobotics.com> TOC May08.qxd 4/9/2008 10:23 PM Page 4 Columns PAGE 73 08 Robytes by Jeff Eckert Stimulating Robot Tidbits 10 GeerHead by David Geer The Northern Bites RoboCup Team 14 Ask Mr. Roboto by Dennis Clark Your Problems Solved Here 68 Different Bits by Heather Dewey-Hagborg Artificial Life — Part 2: Genetic Algorithms: Hello World 73 Twin Tweaks by Bryce and Evan Woolley Geekings from France — the POB bot Departments 84 Robotics Resources by Gordon McComb Robot Builder’s Bookshelf Redux 06 Mind/Iron 92 Appetizer 17 Robo-Links by Robin Lemieux 18 New Products Building Character through ... Robot Building! 80 Robotics Showcase 94 Then and Now by Tom Carroll 82 Events Calendar Robot Muscles — Electric Motors 89 SERVO Webstore 97 Advertiser’s Index This Month In THE COMBAT ZONE ... Features 20 Vapor Bot Build Events 22 Results and Upcoming Competitions 23 EVENT REPORT: WAR in Seattle Robot Profile 25 Sewer Snake PAGE 10 4 SERVO 05.2008 TOC May08.qxd 4/9/2008 2:59 PM Page 5 05.2008 VOL. 6 NO. 5 Features & Projects PAGE 28 28 Tear Down: The iRobot Looj by Bryan Bergeron Get inside the latest offering from iRobot and explore its potential as a robotics platform. 32 The Servo Buddy by Jim Stewart An introduction to servo motor construction and operation, and a description of an inexpensive circuit to control a servo without a microcontroller. 36 Designing and Building a Robot From Scratch PAGE 36 by Brian Benson Part 3 covers common tools and techniques that will make the actual build process easier. 42 The R2 Builders Club by K. Stiles Howard In a galaxy right here at home, a unique community of roboteers build R2-D2 replicas not just for fun, but for very worthy causes. 50 Managing Your Mobile Monkey by Fred Eady Discover how to add 2GB of direct access storage to your robot with just a PIC and a micro-SD memory card. 58 Reviving an Androbot BOB by Robert Doerr Extra sensors, original sensors, wireless operation, autonomy, and programming ... whew! SERVO Magazine (ISSN 1546-0592/CDN Pub Agree#40702530) is published monthly for $24.95 per year by T & L Publications,Inc.,430 Princeland Court,Corona, CA 92879.PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CORONA,CA AND AT ADDITION- AL ENTRY MAILING OFFICES.POSTMASTER:Send address changes to SERVO PAGE 32 Magazine,P.O.Box 15277,North Hollywood,CA 91615or Station A,P.O.Box 54,Windsor ON N9A 6J5;[email protected] 5 SERVO 05.2008 Mind-Iron May08.qxd 4/9/2008 12:54 PM Page 6 Published Monthly By T & L Publications,Inc. 430 Princeland Court Corona,CA 92879-1300 (951) 371-8497 FAX (951) 371-3052 Webstore Only 1-800-783-4624 www.servomagazine.com Mind / Iron Subscriptions Toll Free 1-877-525-2539 Outside US 1-818-487-4545 P.O.Box 15277 by Bryan Bergeron,Editor (cid:140) North Hollywood,CA 91615 PUBLISHER Tough Enough of the environment and still be Larry Lemieux [email protected] capable of carrying out a military Although not always labeled as mission. Fortunately, as with many ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ such, a lot of the articles featured in military advances in robotics, VP OF SALES/MARKETING SERVO address the issue of fragility. methods of hardening have Robin Lemieux [email protected] For one robot to battle another percolated through to the consumer head-on, or to compete in an arena market. EDITOR where jarring contact is inevitable, it The iRobot Looj (torn down Bryan Bergeron [email protected] must be hardened against both the in this issue) illustrates how an environment and attack from inexpensive consumer robot can be CONTRIBUTING EDITORS opposing robots. Weapon-wielding useful by virtue of its ability to Jeff Eckert Tom Carroll battle bots are the best example of perform in a hostile environment. Gordon McComb David Geer Dennis Clark R.StevenRainwater the advantage of being tougher than The Looj features water-tight seams, Fred Eady Kevin Berry the competition and, to a lesser structural integrity that allows it to Brian Benson Robert Doerr extent, the environment. However, if survive a fall from a dozen feet onto Kate Howard Jim Stewart you take a champion battle bot out a grassy surface, and power that Charles Guan Rob Farrow Bryce Woolley Evan Woolley of a clean arena and run it outside in approaches that of a battle bot. Even Heather Dewey-Hagborg the rain, the water will likely destroy so, it’s light enough to be clipped to the electronics and mud clog the a utility belt. CIRCULATION DIRECTOR drive mechanism long before the The typical environmental Tracy Kerley [email protected] opposing battle bot has a chance to challenges faced by designers of land a blow. service robots can be just as MARKETING COORDINATOR I’m not suggesting that the threatening as a rain gutter. WEBSTORE Brian Kirkpatrick robotics community should focus on Prototype robots designed to rescue [email protected] creating Terminator robots. However, soldiers from the battlefield must be if we’re going to create truly useful able to handle a significant, WEB CONTENT service robots that can cook, clean, unbalanced load while remaining Michael Kaudze [email protected] carry, and look after us in our old impervious to mud and debris. age, then we need to move past Similarly, assistant robots for home PRODUCTION/GRAPHICS fragile robots to more sturdy designs. and hospital use must be able to Shannon Lemieux Most of my robots — whether from operate when contaminated with Joe Keungmanivong a kit or designed from scratch — body fluids and, more significantly, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT couldn’t survive a fall from a tabletop withstand the rigors of Debbie Stauffacher or an accidental dowsing with a cup decontamination. Unlike a surgical Copyright 2008 by of coffee. My relationship with these instrument that can be autoclaved, T & L Publications,Inc. robots is as their caretaker. I can’t nurse proxy robots must be able to All Rights Reserved yet imagine being taken care of by withstand frequent spray-downs with All advertising is subject to publisher’s approval. a robot. antiseptics. We are not responsible for mistakes,misprints, or typographical errors. SERVO Magazine Hardening a robot against the As illustrated by the prototypes assumes no responsibility for the availability or environment and other robots or of service robots used to retrieve condition of advertised items or for the honesty even ill-meaning humans is no mean wounded soldiers from the battlefield of the advertiser.The publisher makes no claims task. Companies like iRobot spend or to help patients in and out of bed, for the legality of any item advertised in SERVO. This is the sole responsibility of the advertiser. millions on R&D to harden their service robots must have sufficient Advertisers and their agencies agree to robots against the heat and humidity environmental resistance while posing indemnify and protect the publisher from any and all claims, action, or expense arising from advertising placed in SERVO. Please send all editorial correspondence, UPS, overnight mail, Mind/Iron Continued and artwork to: 430 Princeland Court, 6 Corona,CA 92879. SERVO 05.2008 Mind-Iron May08.qxd 4/9/2008 2:24 PM Page 7 Robot Psychologist: minimal threat to humans. A robot capable of A New Era in Mental Health Services scooping up a soldier from a field like a forklift poses obvious threats to the downed soldier. Without Two clinical psychologists associated with the Institute for Eclectic considerable thought to scooping mechanism design, Psychology in Holland (Jaap Hollander and Jeffrey Wijnberg) have the scoops could further injure the soldier. developed the first robot psychologist, named “MindMentor.” Similarly, an elderly patient could be bruised or MindMentor is an online computer program that helps people solve seriously harmed by either a hard exoskeleton or problems and achieve goals. It has the unique quality (as compared exposed rotating parts. Some designers have with other online psychological help systems) of requiring no live human intervention and being completely automated. Said Hollander in addressed the issue of potential human injury by a recent interview: “What made this whole endeavor exciting was that encasing their creations in a thick skin of foam. we suddenly saw a possibility to create an unlimited amount of However, doing so introduces issues of reduced psychological help.” cooling efficiency, increased bulk, increased Some psychologists have responded positively to their robot resistance to movement, and additional challenges of colleague. Said David Van Nuys, Ph.D. (Emeritus Professor of disinfecting the surface. Psychology Sonoma State University): “At the end of the hour-long session, I have to say my outlook and spirits were lifted considerably. So, as you work to advance the state of robotics It was smart, supportive, fun, and funny, and helped me to focus in through higher-order AI functions such as navigation on the central issue. I find the blend of artificial intelligence, NLP, and and auto-calibration of sensors, it’s critical not to lose other goal-directed therapeutic techniques effective.” sight of environmental threats. If your goal is to How effective is the robot psychologist? Hollander, interviewed develop robots that physically interact with humans, by a Dutch radio program, explained: “We did some research into the consider how you would harden the robot against effectiveness of this system in 2006. We had a much more primitive the environment while presenting an interface that version then, and with that we performed a test-run with 1,600 clients from all over the world. Our data show that MindMentor was won’t tear or bruise fragile skin and muscles. able to solve the problems for 47% in just one session. When people If you think about it, human anatomy presents a were asked afterwards to what extent they had solved the problem perfect archetype for a service robot — a tough, with the help of the robot psychologist, 100% meaning totally solved weight bearing, and protective endoskeleton encased and 0% meaning absolutely no change, the average result was 47%. in a soft, protective skin that can interface with We believe that this is a success percentage that any real-life humans without causing them harm. Perhaps the psychologist would be satisfied with, especially given the fact that Terminator model isn’t far off after all. SV this was after just one session.” Check out MindMentor for yourself at www.mindmentor.com. 7 SERVO 05.2008 Robytes.qxd 4/3/2008 4:08 PM Page 8 Robytes by Jeff Eckert Chatty Cathy Reincarnated learning phrases like “robot puts stick speed automated screening robots to on cube.” Prof. Dautenhahn noted, analyze suspected toxic compounds “iCub will take us a “using cells and isolated molecular stage forward in devel- targets instead of laboratory animals. oping robots as social This new, transagency collaboration companions. We have is anticipated to generate data more studied issues such as relevant to humans; expand the num- how robots should ber of chemicals that are tested; and look and how close reduce the time, money, and number people will want them of animals involved in testing.” to approach and now, Full implementation is probably within a year, we will years away, so you won’t run into have the first humanoid many lab rats in the unemployment robot capable to devel- line any time soon. But when the oping language skills.” proper procedures have been validated The next challenge will and put in place, it should be possible be to make it shut up to test thousands to hundreds of Classic Chatty Cathy (photo courtesy of www. and go to bed. thousands of chemicals per day to joyndolls.com) vs.iCub (photo courtesy of RobotCub). assess their possible toxic effects. More info is available from the The concept of a mechanical Robots to Replace Animals National Human Genome Research talking adolescent isn’t exactly new, Institute (www.genome.gov). with the terminally cute Chatty Cathy A new chemical safety test dating back to 1960. But while Cathy program was recently announced — at her peak —could only speak 18 by the National Institutes of Health Automated Octopus Balls phrases, the iCub, designed by the (NIH, www.nih.gov) and the RobotCub Consortium (www.robot Environmental Protection Agency Proving again that industrial cub.org), may soon be generating (EPA, www.epa.gov). It aims to robots can be programmed for more complex conversations on its own. employ robots to reduce researchers’ creative activities than welding An international group, led by reliance on animal testing and automobile fenders, a recent exhibition the University of Plymouth (www.ply improve the overall process. The at the Osaka Museum of Creative mouth.ac.uk), began its Integration collaborative effort will use the NIH Industries revealed a Toyo Riki (www. and Transfer of Action and Language Chemical Genomics Center’s high- toyoriki.co.jp) robot that was set up Knowledge in Robots (ITALK) program on March 1. ITALK seeks to teach iCub to speak by employing the same methods parents use on their children (presumably skipping over “goo goo” and “dah dah”). The training will include “experiments in human and robot language interaction to enable the robot to converse with humans.” According to Profs. Chrystopher Nehaniv and Kerstin Dautenhahn of the University of Hertfordshire, typical experiments will include such activities as inserting variously shaped objects into corresponding holes, stacking wooden blocks, and aligning cups. iCub will then be asked to This robot from Switzerland’s Stäubli Group is part of an name the objects and actions, thus NIH/EPA program to improve toxicity testing. 8 SERVO 05.2008 Robytes.qxd 4/3/2008 4:09 PM Page 9 Robytes dreams and programming a robotto reenact them. The disappointing thing is that, of course, it doesn’t actually do that. But it does log a sleeping subject’s eye position and translates that into the bot’s head movement; if your eyes move to the left, so does the robot head, and so on. It also uses brainwave activity as detect- ed by an EEG readout, assigning preprogrammed behaviors to a set of recognized brainwave Photo courtesy of R.Terrill. patterns. Sleep Waking is meant to be viewed primarily as a ability to address undesirable visitors metaphorical vision of the future, so in an authoritative voice. You can see it is pretty much art for art’s sake. The A robotic chef prepares a seafood treat.Photo courtesy of Oriental him in action at www.youtube.com/ robot’s movements have even been set Physical Machine Industry Co.,Ltd. watch?v=y4mRJY6NEwI. to music by San Francisco’s spaced-out According to Beacon operator Ade Lun Sec (www.adelunsec.net). to grill octopus balls (insert your own Lydia Meredith, the whole square is However, the creators managed to joke here). The exact ingredients were “enveloped with homeless people and get partial funding from Union College not revealed, but the bot does follow drug dealers, defecating, urinating, and the Albany Regional Sleep “a strict recipe for making the delicacy, prostituting — the whole nine yards.” Disorder Center, so someone crafting each octopus ball individually And a nearby playground is habitually apparently believes that it has some from scratch.” It also flips each piece littered with used syringes and practical potential. You can view a while it’s grilling, then sticks it on a condoms. While most of the locals performance at www.youtube.com bamboo skewer, puts it on a plate, have nothing but praise for Bum Bot, /v/1RkM1Bt2b3k&. SV dribbles some sauce on it and, finally, a representative of the Atlanta police shakes on some spices. Soon to be has warned Terrill that he “would be available at Long John Tentacle’s. committing an assault if he intention- ally sprays water on someone when in control of the robot.” As they say, Bot Bugs Bums you just can’t please everyone. But if you’re in town, say “hi” to the Bummer On a different level of the and try O’Terrill’s award-winning fish comestibles business is “Bum Bot,” and chips. At only $11.99 for a 10-oz created to drive trespassers away haddock filet, hand-cut chips, and from a section of Atlanta that includes homemade slaw, you won’t get O’Terrill’s Irish pub (www.oterrills.com) hosed — at least while you’re inside. and the Beacon of Light Daycare Center. Pub owner Rufus Terrill created the mechanism from a three-wheeled Automaton of Your Dreams scooter and a barbecue smoker, equipping him with a spotlight, IR Fernando Orellana and Brendan camera, PA system, and water cannon, Burns, a Ph.D. roboticist, have created the latter of which is capable of hos- “Sleep Waking” (that’s Waking, not ing down urban outdoorsmen from a Walking), as an experiment in linking Brainwave-inspired robot in flying stance.Photo courtesy of distance of 20 ft. The 400-lb Bum Bot REM sleep to robot behaviors. The fernandoorellana.com. is operated by remote control, and a interesting thing is that it was inspired walkie-talkie provides him with the by the concept of tapping into your 9 SERVO 05.2008 Geerhead.qxd 4/3/2008 4:03 PM Page 10 by David Geer Contact the author at [email protected] The Northern Bites RoboCup Team RoboCup was born to call attention to artificial intelligence and intelligent robot research, according to RoboCup.org. The subsequent contests and competitions challenge roboticists from various colleges and universities around the world to build the best AI robots and prove their achievements by winning all-robot soccer meets. Playing soccer (football outside control. In 2007, teams of hacked come from Bowdoin College. the US) requires robots to Sony Aibo robot dogs competed in The Northern Bites team uses demonstrate many of the the Four-Legged League of RoboCup “SVN” as their version control emerging technological capabilities for the championship prize. The software, and “Trac” as their overall that AI must rely on. According to overall winner was the Northern Bites project manager, according to RoboCup.org, these include team- team from Bowdoin College. Professor Chown. While the Northern work, certain real-time intellectual Bites programmers could also properties, and advanced motion The Northern Bites have used existing development environments like Tekotsu, they Parents weekend at Bowdoin College; The Northern Bites team decided to write the rest of their tools families gathered to watch a uses a total of 12 ERS-7 Aibos, and software for the Aibos from Northern Bites Soccer match. including four from each of the scratch. “We’re computer scientists! models a, b, and c, according to We can write our own tools. Now, Professor Eric Chown, the team we have a whole suite of tools (that advisor at Bowdoin College. we are currently integrating into one While the RoboCup rules system called ‘the tool’),” says Chown. strictly prohibit physical modifica- While the Northern Bites team tions to the robots, the Aibo’s and competing RoboCup teams use necks are not strong enough for Aibos as they come — with their own the soccer competitions. When a operating system software — this has German team discovered a way been an obstacle rather than an aid. to make the necks tougher and Sony created the Aibos as toys and more resilient, RoboCup decided with limited functionality, not as to permit all teams to make the full-on Soccer athletes. Each team has same physical improvements in had to adapt the existing software by the robots. adding code and other programming Except for these minor to make them Soccer-ready. physical adjustments, each team’s main objective is to program the Fetching Aibo’s robots so they can play soccer. Memory Stick is The best programming for the Tedious task should naturally lead a team to become the ultimate champs in the Soccer competition. In 2007, One of the limitations of the Aibo the best programming would software involves the robot’s physical 10 SERVO 05.2008
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