Jobos Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 A group of helpers wants to build a robot for the school and they have asked for my help. To be honest when I first heard of this I thought the robot would be a walking model but no, nothing like that, and I'm not sure how to describe what the school will get so here's what info I've got so far. Apologies for not sending this info through sooner, been absolutely hectic as usual! As concisely as possible here are a list of features the staff wanted to see included in the robot teaching tool we are looking to build: Microphone Noise sensitive - releases an audio alert when noise levels increase Speech Pod - instant record and play back Wing mirrors Furry Dice Led display - recurring text that can be changed Use in role play Instruction video Digital photo frame Automatic pencil sharpener Cupboards/secret drawers Compartments - to put certificates in Web-cam installed to record the class so teachers can play it back to them Plug in earphones Incorporating the 5 senses Sound box Ability to dress the robot up Recycling bin Move arms up and down Eyes or mouth or both light up Removable face features Theme tune Ability to play CD & DVD Shadow Screen Speakers Asks how you are? Technology that allows the robot to mimic the children's words The general idea is that the robot becomes an adaptable teaching resource, able to be used to introduce a topic, or to add a spark to an otherwise dull topic. We want the robot to be as user friendly as possible, so are trying to fulfil most of these requirements through individual pieces of kit, rather than relying on everything being a piece of software on the pc. I’ve highlighted the bits that I think would need to be either part of the PC or would need to run through the PC. We looked at this PC at PC world, mainly due to price, spec, and ease of access to front usb ports etc... We imagine that the tower will be built into the body of the robot, low down due to weight, and with ventilation built in to the robots body. There was also mention of digiblue cameras, but I have had these Flip Video Recorders recommended to me before as a much better and easier to use option. I’d like to start ordering things in the next few days as we want to begin building the robot on Monday 8th Feb. Any feedback you can give me in the next couple of days would be much appreciated, I’m sure you’ll have tonnes of ideas of how to make some of the teacher’s suggestions work, and hopefully be able to advise me of whether or not the PC will stand up to what we want it to do. Apologies for the short notice, but any help will be very much appreciated. Where do I start
Soulfish Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Honda Worldwide | ASIMO . Not sure they'd like the bill however
pete Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 A group of helpers wants to build a robot for the school and they have asked for my help. To be honest when I first heard of this I thought the robot would be a walking model but no, nothing like that, and I'm not sure how to describe what the school will get so here's what info I've got so far. Where do I start Spec the following: "Must have tusks, a fear of rodents and magnolia casework" You're dealing with something designed by a committee of hairy-toothed idiots who were rejected from robot wars. I'd just hide from them - this can't end well. More helpful link: White Box Robotics - Home Page
LosOjos Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Better wrap yourself in tin foil and start practicing the robot I think mate... 1
ButterflyMoon Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Doesn't say anywhere there that it makes tea!!!! Personally I would hide till it is all over.
dhicks Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Microphone Noise sensitive - releases an audio alert when noise levels increase Speech Pod - instant record and play back Wing mirrors Furry Dice Led display - recurring text that can be changed Use in role play Instruction video Digital photo frame Automatic pencil sharpener Cupboards/secret drawers Compartments - to put certificates in Web-cam installed to record the class so teachers can play it back to them Plug in earphones Incorporating the 5 senses Sound box Ability to dress the robot up Recycling bin Move arms up and down Eyes or mouth or both light up Removable face features Theme tune Ability to play CD & DVD Shadow Screen Speakers Asks how you are? Technology that allows the robot to mimic the children's words Cool! Damn, that sounds like fun. Has this thing got to actually be independantly mobile (does it have to navigate around corridors, up/down stairs?) or can it simply be wheeled to a static location? -- David Hicks
Ric_ Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Simplest way to start is Mindstorms to get the basics together... http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/default.aspx Then you can use the awesome TETRIX that Domino and I spotted on the RM stand at BETT (imagine Mechano on steroids mixed with computery stuff!)... Lego Education - Loading... You could easily build something from that TETRIX which could carry a small PC and operate relays for big enough motors to move about all that stuff you want to carry. The biggest problem would be finding a suitable controller that can easily be programmed/re-programmed to do what you want.
Jobos Posted February 4, 2010 Author Posted February 4, 2010 Cool! Damn, that sounds like fun. Has this thing got to actually be independantly mobile (does it have to navigate around corridors, up/down stairs?) or can it simply be wheeled to a static location? -- David Hicks I think it will be on wheels and made of paper mache and tin foil . Reading through specs again I'm sure this list was thought up while in the pub! I'll post some pictures if this thing ever gets built.
nicholab Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 Robotics Institute of America (RIA) uses a broader definition: a robot is a "re-programmable multi-functional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through variable programmed motions for the performance of a variety of tasks." wekipedia I would build a SCARA robot. I have used this robot [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kOkQNDyFJk]YouTube- Robot -LSBU[/ame]
Jobos Posted February 4, 2010 Author Posted February 4, 2010 I would build a SCARA robot. I have used this robot I forgot to say... this robot is for a primary school!
tech_guy Posted February 4, 2010 Posted February 4, 2010 I'd start with an old dishwasher and some flashing leds and go on from there...
SYNACK Posted February 5, 2010 Posted February 5, 2010 To Do List: 1 Build autonomys self aware robot 2 solve wold hunger 3 buy milk Seriously though whoever wrote that list must have a large disconnect from reality or a fundemental lack of knowlage in the field. I would suggest that they get a Lego mindstorms NXT kit an tie it in with this Microsoft Robotics to give them an idea or more sensibly run in the opposite direction as fast as possible. With that kind of requirements list and complte lack of planning this will not end remotely successfully.
dhicks Posted February 5, 2010 Posted February 5, 2010 I think it will be on wheels and made of paper mache and tin foil Right, so just to avoid confusion then: I don't think we're talking about a "robot" here, as in an autonomous, self-guiding device, I think we're talking about something that can be wheeled in to place, plugged in, and used to introduce lessons / provide rewards / etc for a primary school class - the emphasis seems to be on getting it to do fun stuff, not state-of-the-art cybernetics. Think more like the kind of thing you see on trade stands at shows like BETT. Design-wise, you could maybe make the body able to be lifted with a sack-truck - even build the thing on a pallet-like base that you can just slide a sack-truck under and wheel off. I'd go for it being plugged in via a standard wall plug, too, then there's no need to worry about batteries and you can have a full tower PC, screen and projector inside if you want. Mindstorms robotics kit is nice, but isn't going to drive the kinds of motors that can move decent-sized arms and whatnot about. You might still be able to use Mindstorms kit but you'll probably have to connect the motors up via relays so you can use higher-powered ones. -- David Hicks
Jobos Posted February 16, 2010 Author Posted February 16, 2010 Seriously though whoever wrote that list must have a large disconnect from reality or a fundemental lack of knowlage in the field. Funny you should say that because the designers are a drama group . They have worked in schools for a number of years and last year they made a fake alien crash landing site and getting the kids to write stories about it. I had a chat with the designers and they agreed to remove a number of things the 'robot' could do, so now all they want is: record a pupil talking and play it back with the voice changed using some sort of speed/pitch changing software record video and sound from the webcam and be able to play it back
LosOjos Posted February 17, 2010 Posted February 17, 2010 Funny you should say that because the designers are a drama group . They have worked in schools for a number of years and last year they made a fake alien crash landing site and getting the kids to write stories about it. I had a chat with the designers and they agreed to remove a number of things the 'robot' could do, so now all they want is: record a pupil talking and play it back with the voice changed using some sort of speed/pitch changing software record video and sound from the webcam and be able to play it back Put a netbook inside a lego "robot" et voila!
SYNACK Posted February 17, 2010 Posted February 17, 2010 These may be of some use, their descriptions sound alright: wavMasher | Get wavMasher at SourceForge.net veejay | Get veejay at SourceForge.net
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