Performing Robots

With the advance in technology, robotics is steadily developing, and the range of applications in which robotics is implemented is also expanding.

In terms of production lines and factories industrial robots have become a common investment, car manufacturing lines, food processing factories, and even your nearest coca cola factory!

But what about entertainment, what about using robots to put on a performance? Well there are already a few robots out there which are used for entertainment purposes (and also research at the same time).

The most well known of all is ASIMO the Honda robot, which is far more than just an entertainment robot, ASIMO is equip with acceleration and gyroscopic sensors, six axis foot sensors.

He is capable of walking, running and even climbing stairs, and in terms of communication ASIMO utilizes his vision system for facial and gesture recognition, he is capable of wireless communication, and interfacing with ASIMO is improved through comprehension of voice commands which can be mapped to each individual voice!

With such incredible technological capabilities, this robot can be utilized for intractable and creative applications, one of which is entertainment.



Considering there is such an incredible market for music and live performances, perhaps some artists could implement the use of robots for dance or even a robotic instrument playing member!



Or perhaps robots conducting an orchestra:





Hopefully with the advance in technology, and robotics, we can see more of robotics in the performing arts arena!

Using Modern Technology for Robotics the iPhone

Check out the application of the iPhone in robotics, just goes to show how existing technology can be cleverly manipulated for new applications


Lego Mindstorm NXT application, using the iPhone Safari and the mindstorm light sensor!




iPhone controlled dog feeder!



click below and check it out:
Performing Robots

Computer Vision and it's application in Robotics

• Introductory Computer Vision tutorial series

A great introduction to the concept of computer vision and how it can be applied to robotics, I would recommend this for computer vision beginner beginners.

• OpenCV (open Computer Vision) tutorial (An understanding of the C programming language is essential)
  

An open source computer vision library originally developed by Intel, with a wide variety of applications,

Application areas include (and many more):

2D and 3D feature toolkits
Face Recognition
Gesture Recognition
Mobile Robotics
Motion Understanding
Object Identification
Stereopsis Stereo vision: depth perception from 2 cameras
Motion Tracking

more information? go to OpenCV Wiki

Download OpenCV

Great book on OpenCV

European Union expresses “deep concern” over seven Baha'i prisoners

GENEVA — The European Union yesterday issued a statement expressing its “deep concern” over Iran’s plans to bring seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders to trial for espionage and other charges soon. The Baha’i International Community has called for their immediate release, maintaining their innocence and characterizing the regime’s claims as an “escalation of its systematic crackdown on the Baha’is.”

Read complete story: http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/699

Poll: When will humanoid ROBOTS become a common household Item!

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Servo motors - Learn what they are, how to use them for your robot and hobby activities (AVR code source included)

• Introduction to Servos

Yet another well written tutorial on what servos are, what is inside a servo, the wiring of a servo, the different types of servos and other information related to them.

• Newbie's Guide to AVR Timers (An understanding of timers is essential to the implementation of Servo motor control using microprocessors)

A well written tutorial by Dean Camera on the structure and the use of the timer feature on AVR microprocessors, It can assist in understanding the timer details included in your AVR microprocessor datasheet.

• Newbie's Guide to AVR PWM

The principle of PWM covered (by: Dean Camera) quiet well, the tutorial is not quiet complete in terms of code, however I am sure it will be complete with time, if it is please let me know (roboticsbm@gmail.com)

Robotics Tutorials!

This is a list of tutorials on building various robots, feel free to use other posted tutorials to help you understand and build your robots!


The Famous $50 Robot

A very well detailed tutorial on how to build a photovore robot, from society of robots. It includes the aim of the project/tutorial, the complete parts list, detailed step by step tutorial of the mechanical, electronic, programing components, and also extensions which you might like to make to your robot.

USART - serial communication (Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter)

• Introduction to microcontroller USART

A very nice and simple explenation of what USART is and how it can be utilized with microcontrollers for robotics projects.

• AVR USART implementation in C code

Again a very nice and simple explanation of the implementation UART functionality to your robotics project

• Using the USART with AVR-GCC
  

This is a great tutorial on USART - serial communication for AVR microprocessors, contains well explained code and other users feedback. It is from the AVR Freaks website.

• Using the USART - Interrupt driven serial comms

This page is an extension on the above tutorial, it covers interrupts