Happy New Year from R.U.S.

Happy 2019 from Robotics Under the Stole! Best wishes for new discoveries and great innovation in the coming year - and remember to share what you know with someone who is learning! Thanks to all of you for sharing what you know with me!

Merry Christmas from R.U.S.!

My S3 Christmas Hack 2018 - Jingle Bell Santa on an S3 - The BlocklyProp Code is #73306.

Merry Christmas from Robotics Under the Stole!

Hope you find something robotic under your tree!

What I Do

What I do when I'm not building robots. Although... when I build robots, prayer is often involved! This is also the reason why my blog is called Robotics Under the Stole.

Note: The selfie above was taken before service on Christmas Eve 2108

In response to Parallax's wonderful Happy Holidays message via Kate... See here.

I offer the following...

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, & Happy New Year!

 from...

and...

More Christmas Spirit from Carol Lynn Hazlett

My dear friend from Seatle, Carol Lynn Hazlett, shared this bit of Robotic Christmas Cheer.

Happy Holidays from Parallax

Parallax sent out this wonderful gif greeting for the holidays. What a great company and kind group of folks. Thanks all!

Introducing MiniRHex

MiniRHex is an open source, miniature scale hexapod based on the design of RHex from some of the smart folks at RoboMechanics Lab at Carnegie Mellon University. Notable features include a laser-cut frame and 3D printed legs for low-cost construction and an intuitive software package that allows for highly-customizable control over the robot’s behavior. MiniRHex is designed to be an educational and outreach tool to allow students to experiment with a fully functional walking robot at a much lower cost. The low price tag lets research groups maintain a fleet of machines, allowing each student more hands-on interaction with the hardware. Possible educational principles include gait design and optimization, leg design and control, and mobile robot sensor incorporation.

Want to build your own MiniRHex? Check out our website for more information: https://robomechanics.github.io/MiniR...

Great coverage at IEEE Spectrum here.

Another great video here - be sure to watch the outtakes at the end! 

Wouldn't it be fun to build this?

Edit: Great info on the work of the RoboMechanics Lab in this video.

Fun via erco!

Per my previous post, here - the following goodies recently arrived. My pal, Eric (erco), sent me a Logo Mug from invenTOY.

My red sea robotics' stickers arrived from stickermule - this was via a tip from erco - an introductory price of 10 custom stickers for a $1. Cool!

Fun stuff!

Sparky

Saw this on sale at Wal-mart today.

Why is the cool stuff always for kids?

You can see it here at Walmart.com

I might fit...

R.U.S. Meme

More information about "R.U.S." can be found by clicking here.

Update: Looking at the old post linked above, I decided to create another meme that reflects the "R.U.R." and Robotics Under the Stole, "RUS" favicon connection. I think it turned out really well.

Here is one more meme...

Hour of Code & C.S. Education Week Open House at Parallax

I am not so naive as to imagine that this doesn't generate business for Parallax, but I am also not so cynical that I can't see that this is clearly a labor of love for Parallax and all their employees. They clearly enjoy education and demonstrate that love and commitment constantly. The joy is palpable!

Enjoy these photos from their Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/ParallaxInc

Tank on the Moon

Found this tonight by accident. Tank on the Moon was available for a time on Amazon Prime Video. This is the description from IMDb:

Tank On The Moon - 52 minutes - 2008
Subtitles and Closed Captions

During the 1960s, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a feverish competition: which of the two Cold War empires would be the first to set foot on the Moon? We know who won this race, but less about a secret chapter: the Soviets may not have sent a man to the Moon, but they successfully guided two small robots by remote control from the Earth. For sixteen months between 1970 and 1973, these "Lunookhods" traveled more than thirty miles over the Moon's surface! "Tank on the Moon" tells the incredible story of these vehicles designed in the utmost secrecy by Soviet laboratories--one of the greatest technological achievements in the history of the USSR. These pioneering robots were back in the news in 1986, when a newer model was sent to clean up the radioactive debris in the rubble of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. In the 1990s, American scientists were finally able to meet their Russian counterparts, and drew on the Soviets' research to design and construct their Martian Rovers. With the declassification of the former USSR space archives, along with recollections by several of the key participants in the Lunokhod program, the true story of the Russian lunar robots, which remained secret for more than two decades, can finally be told!

Here is a snippet I found on YouTube.

Stickers from Sticker Mule

Eric (erco) of the previous post tipped me to hot promotional deal from Sticker Mule - Ten (10), 3" X 3" sticker for $1. Had to try it. Here is the proof. If these are good, I will order more - lots more.

Robert the Robot via erco the Toy-man

Thanks to my pal, Eric Ostendorff, aka "erco" for posting this on his Facebook page. Thirty-five years ago, Eric reported for his first day of a 30-year career at Mattel. Eric and some of his buddies continue their design journey at Inventoy.

erco is one of my robotics's hero and has a wonderful collection of real and toy robots. Like me, Eric loves all things robotic!

Happy Thanksgiving from R.U.S.!

My friend, Carol Lynn Hazlett, posted these photos, and wonderful video of her "Thanksgiving Dancer" - a Robotic Turkey with the comment, "the perfect turkey, six drumsticks!" Got to get a 3D printer!

Happy Thanksgiving from Robotics Under the Stole and as Carol says, "keep a close eye on your Turkeys!"

P.S. Special prayers for Carol.

R.I.P. HAL: Douglas Rain, Voice Of Computer In '2001,' Dies At 90

Sad follow up to some previous posts...

Douglas Rain, a Shakespeare actor who provided the eerie, calmly homicidal voice of HAL in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, has died at the age of 90. See NPR's report here.

Mechanical Seven Segment Display

Published on YouTube by "The Q" on October 25, 2018 (shared by Martin_H on the Parallax Forums). The Q says,

How to Make Mechanical 7 Segment Display from Cardboard 

In today's video I want to show you 7 segment display with unique machenism that is our own invention. There are 7 circles inside. Each circle has it's own trigger that read circle program and responds for opening/closing specific segment. Full assembly instructions are includede in the video!  

Materials you need: cardbaord, paper, rubber bands, springs and popsicle sticks. Enjoy :)

This is well done...

Robotic Ornaments

Hallmark Robotics’ Christmas Ornaments- 2018

And then, the scariest thing on the Christmas tree this year at Hal-Mark - Yikes!

For a little history on this - see this earlier post.

FLiP for SumoBots

Ken Gracey at Parallax recently posted, 

"Parallax's customers have been asking for a Propeller Multicore version of the SumoBot. We plan on using the same chassis design with a new board on top, with the FLiP Multicore Module. This will be entirely programmable in BlocklyProp. The robots will be sold in pairs, of course. Once we get these prototype PCBs built we'll share some features, get your feedback, and move a step closer to production."

Great news! The original SumoBot set is a classic.

UPDATE! - Ken posted a great new video on the Blockly for Microcontrollers Facebook Page. This bot looks great.

Roboticist Jun-Ho Oh and HUBO

From IEEE Spectrum Video Friday - Jacob Templin from Quartz put together this great video interview with the always entertaining Jun-Ho Oh at KAIST. Robotics pioneer believes machines will make us happier. I love his attitude! He says, "robotics is 99% failure and 1% success!"

E(ngineers) Too?

National Academies Report Says Sexual Harassment Is a Threat to Engineering - see the full story at IEEE Spectrum - https://spectrum.ieee.org/at-work/tech-careers/national-academies-report-says-sexual-harassment-is-a-threat-to-engineering

The article by C.D. Mote Jr., Sheila E. Widnall and Ed Lazowska, begins with this...

"The engineering community has been working for decades to increase the representation of women in universities and in the profession, but progress has been slow. In the United States, just 21 percent of engineering bachelor’s degrees go to women, and only 11 percent of practicing engineers are women. While the problem is complex, we must recognize that one significant factor is sexual harassment, which creates hostile education and work environments and pushes women out of the field."

C.D. Mote Jr. is president of the National Academy of Engineering. Sheila E. Widnall, Institute Professor and professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, and Ed Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, are two of the authors of the National Academies report Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Happy Halloween from R.U.S.

Most of you know that I grew up in the heyday of Sci-Fi and Horror Films and the very beginning of the space program. So, I've always loved space exploration, robotics, and monster movies! 

Not long ago, I posted a photo of me from Christmas of 1967 (9 years old) with the Zeroid - Zerak robot. The photo came in the form of the screen capture from an 8mm home movie from that year! That post is here.

A few years later in 1971, my sister, her best friend, and I made this silent short film on the same 8mm camera. 

Happy Halloween from Robotics Under the Stole!

Leatherman Tread

Leatherman Tread - Nerd wear! Expensive, but geek-tastic! See it here on Amazon.

Robotic Raven

One smart cookie and an awesome example of women in robotics! Maryland student’s research advances pioneering micro air vehicle - read the whole story here at IEEE Spectrum.

UpTown Spot

Incredible! Thanks to my pal Carol Lynn Hazkett for sharing this on Facebook.

Atlas is Amazing!

The latest from BostonDynamics. Atlas does parkour.  The control software uses the whole body including legs, arms and torso, to marshal the energy and strength for jumping over the log and leaping up the steps without breaking its pace.  (Step height 40 cm.)  Atlas uses computer vision to locate itself with respect to visible markers on the approach to hit the terrain accurately.  For more information visit www.BostonDynamics.com.

Microsoft Announces Experimental Release of ROS for Windows 10

Microsoft Announces Experimental Release of ROS for Windows 10: Microsoft takes a step back into robotics by bringing the Robot Operating System to Windows. Read all about it at IEEE Spectrum in this article by Evan Ackerman.

Parallax ActivityBot 360 WiFi Drive with Badge WX

Parallax Badge WX (host) drives and controls the ActivityBot 360 with WiFi Module WX (client) using WiFi. Right now this is coded in Propeller C, but hopefully soon in BlocklyProp! Thanks for the tips, Andy Lindsay!

Parallax Propeller 2 - Unboxing and First Tests

Congratulations to all at Parallax on the Propeller 2 Chip! Parallax live-streamed the unboxing, the first mounting of the chip on (Peter Jakacki's) P2D2 board (by hand and then on the Pick and Place), and it's first successful programming (including generating  Square and SINE waves). 

Parallax fans and family watched from around the world, commented, rejoiced, and gave thanks. Thanks, Parallax Team, Chip Gracey, and Ken Gracey for letting us watch the P2 come to life! 

Happy Fall

My friends at Parallax posted this message and photo, "Happy Fall—from our Parallax family to yours!" You'll fall for this little Bot - Parallax's Activity Bot 360 -https://www.parallax.com/product/32600

"Old" is New

Saw this great image on a T-Shirt that Eric (erco) was wearing in a photo posted below. Eric is with the late, Gordon McComb. I'd love a long sleeve T of this classic tin toy robot image - Note: Actually, this is new art made to look like classic art by artist, John W. Golden - you can see more of his work here - Golden's tagline is "VINTAGE TECHNIQUES MADE MODERN" Warning - you can get lost looking for hours!

Voyager 1 and 2 Status Update - 2018-2019

Incredible! This video updates the Voyager 1 and 2's instrument status,  communication status, tells how we know Voyager 1 is in Interstellar Space, and where the Voyagers are headed now. Absolutely amazing. FASCINATING!

Gordon McComb, Father of Hobby Robotics, Has Passed Away

From Makezine.com on Sepetember 14, 2018. Click here.

It is with a heavy heart that we here at Make: announce the passing of hobby robotics pioneer, Gordon McComb. He died on Monday, Sept 10th, apparently of a heart attack. Gordon was a great friend to Make: and to makers and robotics hobbyists from around the world.

Gordon McComb wrote more than 65 books and thousands of magazine articles--more than a million copies of his books are in print, in more than a dozen languages. He's has been called "The Godfather of hobby robotics" by MAKE Magazine.

Gordon’s Robot Builder’s Bonanza, first published in 1987, was a key piece of the beginning of hobby robotics. I have the third and fourth editions and the first and second editions are on their way.

Gordon was a friendly and active member of the Parallax Forums. We corresponded a good bit and Gordon was a kind, gentle, encouraging and helpful voice. He was an enthusiast, and an excellent teacher and guide.

Gordon's Robot Builder’s Bonanza, Fifth Edition is available for pre-order now on Amazon.com and due to be released on December 14 of this year. I've already ordered mine. Gordon will be greatly missed.

One of my treasured memories of Gordon will always be the bit of Parallax Forum correspondence... You can click the images to enlarge them or read them (and see the video) on the Forums here. There is nothing like getting a pat on the back from one of your heroes!

UPDATE: Gordon's website is here - http://www.robotoid.com and here is a great photo of Gordon with friends Jon (left) and Eric (erco - right) - talking robots - as you can see. This was shared by Eric on his Facebook page.

Another great photo of Gordon and Eric was "discovered" in the Parallax Forums here - https://forums.parallax.com/discussion/comment/1312282/#Comment_1312282

Propeller Try-It Kit Unboxing and Making a Musical Instrument Without Code

DavyBot at YouTube made a wonderful video using the Propeller FLiP Try-It Kit to build a musical instrument. He says using BlocklyProp is like programming a multicore microcontroller without writing a single line of code. Thanks to Ken Gracey for sharing this!

IEEE Spectrum's Robots.ieee.org

Update - I recently posted a story about IEEE Spectrum's new Online Robotic's Catalog - see the R.U.S. post here.  In that post, I expressed my disappointment that they had not included any of Parallax's robots. So, I reached out to them via email as they suggested in "Calling All Robots,"  and I copied Ken Gracey, the CEO at Parallax, Inc. The article says...

So we ask again: What is your favorite robot? Go to the site and check out the robots we already have. Send us your suggestions of new robots to add by emailing hellorobots@ieee.org.

Today, I got this kind and understanding response from Erico Guizzo at IEEE Spectrum!

Dear Whit, glad to hear you like the site, and we're grateful for your suggestions.

In fact, we know Parallax quite well -- we see lots of roboticists using their products, and we ourselves used one of their wheel+motor kits for a telepresence robot project we did here at IEEE Spectrum (I'm currently recycling that robot into a go-kart for my daughters :)

So reaching out to the company was on our to-do list -- thanks for making the connection!

@Ken, I'm going to email you separately and copy our photo director so we can work on gathering images. 

Thanks all!

Best,
Erico

Erico Guizzo
Senior Editor
IEEE Spectrum

So, be sure to visit the world’s largest, coolest robotics catalog from IEEE Spectrum at Robots.ieee.org If you see something they missed, send them an email. 

As this proves, they really mean what they say! That is good news for students, teachers, and roboticists everywhere.

The Forgotten History of the 800 Year-Old Robot

This very interesting article by Olivia Tambini is taken from TechRadar at this link - https://www.techradar.com/news/the-forgotten-history-of-the-800-year-old-robot

There’s Nothing New about Robotics

From the Maschinenmensch (link added by R.U.S.) in Fritz Lang’s Metropolis to C3P0, the Terminator, and Wall-E, fictional robots have delighted, horrified, and fascinated humans for more than a century, cropping up in everything from 19th-century literature to the horror B-movies of the 1950s.

Robots began to enter the Western world’s collective consciousness as a result of the mechanization of manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution, as people looked to machines to take on the menial work of their ancestors. 

Based on the Czech ‘robota’, meaning servitude, the word ‘robot’ was first used by Czech writer Karel Capek in his 1921 play R.U.R (Rossum’s Universal Robots), with autonomous and semi-autonomous machines referred to as ‘automata’ up until this point. 

Calling All Robots

IEEE Spectrum is building the world’s largest, coolest robotics catalog. The beta site is at Robots.ieee.org You can read all about it here. It is a very interesting article by Erico Guizzo and Randi Klett.

This will be a great resource for students, and robotics' enthusiasts around the world. The article states...

We want more kids to dream of becoming roboticists and technologists, or at least be sufficiently familiar with the details of the technology to make informed, thoughtful, and ethical decisions in the future. So we need to make real robots just as inspiring as their fictional counterparts, and here at Spectrum, we have a plan to do just that.

Over the past year, we’ve been creating a massive portal for everything robotics, built around a fun and unique dynamic catalog. You can see it right now at Robots.ieee.org. There you’ll find a vast zoo of humanoids, drones, exoskeletons, quadrupeds, and other kinds of automatons, each with its own profile, with photos, videos, curious facts, and technical specifications. (We’re currently in beta, preparing for a full launch next month.)

My only concern is that there was not a single Parallax-made robot on their list. NONE. Not even the venerable BoeBot or original blue Scribbler! Parallax has sold over half a million BoeBots alone! One-time students, who are now the engineers designing the world's most advanced robots, cut their teeth on Parallax's educational robots and learned from Parallax's Stamps In Class materials.

Needless to say, this blogger and Parallax user has submitted a request in the form of a detailed list with links so that this oversight can be addressed.

We will see if IEEE Spectrum is serious about a careful cataloging of robotics history and their call for submissions to this project. I hope they are because this is an exciting and much-needed resource and can be a powerful tool in raising up the next generation of roboticists.