temi - Personal Robot

Wouldn't this be fun? Signed up to be an early adaptor... See - https://www.robotemi.com/#welcome

Hat tip to my pal, erco. He posted this on the Parallax Forums under the heading, "I Need a Man Bun!" My reply, "I don't have enough hair for a man bun, but I do have a home that would welcome a personal robot!"

Parallax Boe-Bot in The News Star

Monroe students, like this class at Wossman High School, are learning problem-solving skills with high-tech applications that will prepare them for high-paying jobs or college upon graduation. The curriculum was developed in partnership with CenturyLink and the Cyber Innovation Center. For the whole story, click here.

BlocklyProp

Parallax's adaptation of Google's Blockly, BlocklyProp, just keeps growing and improving. This graphical coding environment is powerful, amazingly flexible, and scales from the simple to advanced robotic applications seamlessly for the whole Parallax product line - including all their microcontroller and electronic's application tutorials. 

BlocklyProp can be used with Mac OS, Windows and Google Chrome. What's more, BlocklyProp generates Propeller C that can be accessed with Simple IDE - Parallax's open-source programming tool for Propeller C. Check it all out at learn.parallax.com. The tutorials and help files are incredible.

   

Team UnLimbited

Meet the guys working out of a backyard shed to give free 3D printed prosthetics to kids around the world. Hat tip to George Takei for posting this on Facebook and to my wife for messaging it to me!

Paraskavedekatriaphobia vs. Phileoroboticaparallaxiana

Boo! Friday Cheer on a spooky Friday the 13th.

Why is Friday the 13th unlucky? Considering Friday the 13th as unlucky dates back for hundreds of years, with the tradition said to have begun in the Middle Ages or even Biblical times. Some say the superstition arose from Jesus’ last supper, where is it thought there were 13 people present on the night before his death – which occurred on a Friday.

Thanks to a string of events that have occurred on this day, many feel it is jinxed and pay particular care to avoid catastrophe when it comes around. The fear is so widespread – an estimate suggests an extraordinary 17-21 million Americans are afraid of the day – that psychologists have even come up with a word for those who suffer from it: paraskavedekatriaphobia. (https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/2577935/friday-the-13th-bad-luck-superstition-next/)

  

To counter the unluckiness of the day, I offer you all the following newly coined word - by me!

Phileoroboticaparallaxiana

Etymology

Phil or Phileo - to love - may also be used as a prefix with a similar meaning. The prefix is derived from the Ancient Greek word philia (φιλία), "love, affection". Philadelphia, for example, meaningT the city of "brotherly love" from Greek φιλεω (phileo) "to love" and αδελφος (adelphos) "brother".

(phil- - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/-phil-)

Robotica - the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots - with the "a" suffix means - things associated with.

Parallaxiana - Parallax with the "ian" suffix meaning related to Parallax, Inc. It is further intensified with an additional suffix "a" - things associated with Parallax, Inc.

Now to use our new word in a sentence. Whit suffers from phileoroboticaparallaxiana!  (meaning the love of all things robotic from Parallax, Inc.) 

I guess that makes me lucky!

BlocklyProp

Read more here - https://www.parallax.com/education/teach/professional-development-courses/blocklyprop

Circuit Overlay Board from Parallax

Fantastic idea and product from Parallax. See it here and in the photos and video below.  Too inexpensive not to have a few spares around for quick use!

Driving via Remote Control

Driving Arlo with Sony Remote!

With BlocklyProp, driving with the Sony IR Remote is just as easy with Arlo as it is with the S3 or with an Activity Bot! Here is the BlocklyProp code link -http://blockly.parallax.com/blockly/my/projects.jsp#13037 This is based on the info in IR Remote Control Activity Bot with Blockly tutorial here -http://learn.parallax.com/…/ir-remote-control-activitybot-b… and is similar to the S3 tutorial for the Sony Remote. Fun, impressive and simple!

The IR Receiver on the Propeller Activity Board WX

Here are some videos demonstrating remote-controlled robots - It is an old idea, but is still used today! Arlo with a Sony remote from a few feet away.... 

Soviet Lunar Rover - Lunokhod from about 238,900 miles...

Same idea - different distances!

Arlo Build!

Parallax's most advanced robot platform is the Arlo Complete Robot System. These photos are good, but cannot do justice to how carefully engineered and well-made every component of this system is! This is why I am such a Parallax fan. As you might expect, the documentation and technical support are second to none. 

The online store says,

Meet the Arlo Complete!
The Arlo Complete Robot System is a great choice when you need to build a land-based robot platform that can support complex guided or autonomous missions.  No need to cobble together random parts—all of the mechanical and electronic components are included, as well as interconnecting wires, hardware, and even the 12 V batteries and charger. Although this kit is designed to use with the controller of your choice, we've added a free sample Propeller Activity Board WX and programming cable to make it truly complete.

Features

• Thick and sturdy HDPE top and bottom plates can be sawn or machined for easy customizationPrecision-machined aluminum motor mounts and wheels provide smooth, reliable operation
• 12 V motors, inflatable tires and wheel encoders provide fast yet precise travel indoors our outside on paved surfaces
• DHB-10 motor controller handles encoder input and accepts PWM and serial commands
• Power Distribution Board with multiple voltage output options support your custom add-ons
• Four Ping))) Ultrasonic Distance Sensors detect objects from every side

Here is what is in the box... (photo from Parallax)

Using the Propeller Activity Board WX, Arlo can be programmed in Spin, C, and now BlocklyProp! Readers here know of its ease and potential. Motors are controlled with the DHB-10 Dual H-Bridge 10 Amp Motor Controller (included in the kit).

Here are some photos of my Arlo build... Thanks to Parallax, the Parallax Team, and the Gracey brothers! This is an amazing and extremely high-quality robot and is limitless in its potential!

 

Let the programming fun begin!