Corkscrew drive propels robot across tough terrain – Slow, but interesting

DARPA Concludes Nano Air Vehicle Program – Watch the video.  ‘nuff said.

Robotic seagull takes flight in Europe – Watch the video.  This blows away the nano air vehicle.

How do you store your LEGO parts?

What more can I say… watch it. Gives you a little bit of insight on the Watson project, and what it accomplished.

For more details… IBM Watson. Some excellent videos explaining more of the processes behind Watson, troubles it had, etc.

Many of those videos are excellent. However, this one here (How Watson Works), really shows some of the difficulties of understanding human language from a computers perspective.

I’m a programmer by trade (mostly in the .NET languages) and the NXT-G graphical interface has always bugged me.  For me, it’s very foreign, since I’m used to a text based programming language.

My other choice that I looked at was leJOS.  But I’m not much of a Java guy… so I went the C route.

First impressions?  I’m liking it.

The IDE is pretty nice.   Has some decent features and works well.  Not as robust as Visual Studio .NET 2010, but that’s asking a bit much, right?

I like the debugging interaction.  I can step through my code as it runs.  Check variables, etc.  And, I can do this with Bluetooth or USB.

I plan on buying the full version soon, since my 30 days has about 2 weeks left.

Another nice feature, is that the firmware is similar in functionality on the Brick.  That means my son can run the applications already on the brick, and not have to worry about learning a new system.

Right now, I’m still learning… and looking for some good RobotC tutorials.  Haven’t found many yet.  Maybe I’ll have to start posting some samples.

OK. It’s Christmas time… and that means… time for making a list right?

I have two Christmas requests this year.

1) An Amazon Kindle DX.

2) Amazon Gift Certificates. Any amount… $5 is great…

3) A LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547) (ok, so I can’t count)

So… what’s on YOUR wishlist?

Brick Bender has put together a short version of some writing styles.  Here is a couple quotes, and then the link to the full article:

-LEGO is always singular and should be used as a modifier/adjective; ie. LEGO bricks, LEGO elements, or LEGO parts.

-They are not blocks, they are bricks.

Brick Bender – An unofficial style guide

Why?  Because they had to create quality tutorials in order to qualify for the prizes.  And you and I get to read and use those tutorials.

You can see the projects and winners here on the Tutorial Contest Winners Announced! page.

Here is a list of the tutorials produced by the Top 3 winners:

• So You Want To Build A Robot?
• An Introduction to Interrupts
• Choosing Sensors for Your Robot
• Materials for your Robot
• Introduction to Encoders
• Power Supply Basics
• XBEE Basics
• AVR Basics
• An Introduction to Mapping and Localization
• Controlling AX-12 Servos
• Following a Wall
• Obstacle Avoidance in the Real World
• Where Am I? Place Recognition Using Omni-directional Images and Color Histograms
• Cheap Battery Monitor Using Resistive Voltage Divider
• Prototyping a PCB with Desoldering Braid
• Get position feedback from a standard hobby servo
• Project documentation for the hobbyist

But what about local stuff?  Events you can go spend a day and half a tank of gas to visit?

There is a robotics group in Maine.  It is called: Maine Robotics.  It’s a non-profit organization run by Tom Bickford.   To quote their website:

Bringing Science and Technology to Maine Schools and Children
Since 2000 Maine has been using robotics to educate children from the 3rd grade up through high school.  Robotics is a multi-disciplinary topic that touches on engineering, basic science, computers, programming, mathematics, problem solving, and project design and management.

Maine Robotics happens to be located about 20 miles from me.  I’ve helped judge and referee the FLL competitions.  And I’m planning on attending the Southern Maine Track Meet on May 2nd.

Here is a list of their upcoming events sponsored by Maine Robotics:

Maine Robot Track Meet
    Southern Maine Track Meet
    May 2nd, 2009
    Auburn Middle School

    Northern Maine Track Meet
    May 9th, 2009
    Maine Maritime Academy, Castine

Summer Robotics Camps
    From July 6th to August 14th (weeks)
    Bangor, Orono, Portland, Gorham, Readfield, Ellsworth, and check for
    additional weeks.  Ages 9-15.

For more information on the camp, check out the Maine Robotics 2009 Camp website.

Do you know of any local robotics groups?  If so, please leave a link in the comments.  I’ll try to compile a list of them.

UPDATE:  Thanks to the folks over at The NXT Step, here are some more local robotics events.

• New York City / New Jersey area:  NYC/NJ FIRST
• Chicago area: ChiBots
• North Carolina: RoboCup Jr and JETS – Junior Engineering and Technical Society
• And in Montreal Quebec: Zone01

Toys R Us is having a new sale (same link as before, but new pricing).  You can Buy 1, Get 2nd Half Price.  So, it works out to $217 for each Mindstorms kit.  Not quite as good as their original sale, but still cheaper than most places.  (Reminder courtesy of Fay Rhodes at The NXT Step).

Old Deal:

ThinkingBricks.com left me a note the other day.  It’s something I noticed myself, but forgot to pass along.

Right now, Toys R’ Us is having another of it’s “Buy 2, get 3rd Free” sales on LEGO kits.  In the past, they have excluded the NXT systems.

Not this time!

You can get three NXT Robotics Kits for the price of two.  That works out to about $194 per kit, which is a pretty good deal.  And, you can order these online and still get the 2-for-1 deal!

Oh yeah.  One more thing.  Toys R Us is currently offering free shipping on the NXT MINDSTORMS kits too.

You can find the kits here online, or visit your local Toys R Us!

Please Note: This Toys R Us sale is no longer active… I’d suggest visiting Amazon for the best prices on the LEGO NXT kits right now.

Here is a YouTube video of the Nunchuk in action…

And the full forum writeup is here: solved: direct connect Wii Nunchuk over I2C with NXT

If you read to the end, there is an alternate method you can use to connect the Nunchuk to the NXT that doesn’t require any hacking of the Wii Nunchuk itself.

Unfortunately, Jack has one problem.  He is missing his remote.  This means, I can’t control Jack’s behavior. :(

I’m considering making Jack a project.  Seeing if I can convert him to be NXT powered.  I think it’s doable.  But I’ll need to break out my handy multi-meter and start digging into the electronics.

The battery will not hold a charge anymore, so I’ll need a replacement.  I have some spare RC batteries, but they are 9.6 volt vs. the 6 volt that the Omnibot 2000 uses. I need to see if Jack can handle the higher voltage, or if I have to step it down.

I’m going to try and use the existing motors, and tie in my own sensors and lights.  I’ll replace the eye lights with LED’s.  Maybe tri-color to make a cool visual effect.

If you have any information on the Omnibot 2000, especially concerning schematics or hacks for the Omnibot 2000, please let me know.  Jack and I would be most grateful!

I’ll keep full documentation of my project, and post everything I find, including progress.  I’ll warn you now… this may be slow.  This is the first time I’ve tackled a project like this, so it will be a big learning experience for me.