Researchers build flying robotic 'tree helicopter' (w/ Video) (PhysOrg.com) -- Many trees disperse their seeds by releasing "helicopters," those single-winged seeds that are also called "samaras." As these seeds fall to the ground, their wing causes them to swirl and spin in a process called autorotation, similar to man-made helicopters. In a new study, researchers have designed and built a mechanical samara whose dynamics are very similar to those of nature’s samaras. The researchers, Evan Ulrich, Darryll Pines, and Sean Humbert from the University of Maryland, have published their study on the robotic samaras in a recent issue of Bioinspiration & Biomimetics. “Full-scale helicopters have a high aerodynamic efficiency,” Ulrich, a PhD candidate, told PhysOrg.com. After further investigating the samara in order to better understand its flight dynamics, the researchers found that the winged seed is also one of nature’s most efficient fliers. In the future, Ulrich plans to start a company to license and develop the technology for commercialization.
How to create your own aerial map Some websites allow us to see the world from above at the click of a mouse. But should we allow corporations such as Google to have a monopoly on our view of the planet? A project in New Orleans is working to create an aerial view of the earth that is entirely constructed by the public. The Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (Plots) was set up in the wake of the BP oil spill in 2010. It began with a seven-strong community of scientists, designers and urban planners who got together to find a way to map the extent of the oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Plots developed affordable tools that could be used by anyone to take aerial pictures of their environment and community. Using cheap digital cameras, plastic bottles and bits of string the aerial cameras can be created for less than $200 (£120). "The entire kit is based on low-cost, do-it-yourself construction," says Shannon Dosemagen of Plots. Fish bone Opening up
The Best Sites To Learn About Robots | Larry Ferlazzo's ... I’ve found that students of all ages are interested in robots. Given that interest, I thought it would be a good idea to bring together a number of resources about them that are accessible to English Language Learners. They make for high interest reading material, and provide good images to write about, too. The videos provide good listening practice. Here are my choices for The Best Sites To Learn About Robots: The Boston Globe’s Big Picture has a nice series of photos of Robots. The Big Picture also has another series of similar images called More Robots. The Tech Museum has a nice group of robot-related activities. LIFE has a slideshow on Japanese Robotics. LIFE also has a slideshow of famous robots from television and the movies. Robots, Robots Everywhere is an online CBS News video on Japanese robots. Here’s another CBS News video — this one on soccer games between robotic dogs. Robots can help when disaster strikes, according to this video news report. A Home Robot A Robotics Competition
How to Make a Robot – Lesson 2: Choosing a Robotic Platform ... Following the first lesson, you now have a basic understanding of what a robot is and what current robots normally do. Now, it is time to decide on the type if robot you are going to build. A custom robot design often starts with a “vision” of what the robot will look like and what it will do. The types of robots possible are unlimited, though the more popular are: Land wheeled, tracked, and legged robotsAerial planes, helicopters, and blimpAquatic boats, submarines, and swimming robotsMisc. and mixed robotsStationary robot arms, and manipulators This lesson is intended to help you decide what type of robot to build to best suite your mission. Land Land-based robots, especially the wheeled ones, are the most popular mobile robots among beginners as they usually require the least investment while providing significant exposure to robotics. Wheeled Robots Four and six wheeled robots have the advantage of using multiple drive motors (one connected to each wheel) which reduces slip. Advantages
Introduction of limb-mechanism robot "ASTERISK" - Arai Laboratory - OSAKA University Introduction of limb-mechanism robot "ASTERISK" Insects have 6 legs which are generally used to walk with. In case of need, 2 of them can also be used as arms to pick objects. Therefore we call their legs, which can also be used as arms, ''limbs''. The concept of Limb Mechanism Robot is motivated from the concept of limbs. The mechanism enables the 2 following things. Efficient operation altering limbs properly for manipulation and navigation tasks according to the situations.Miniaturization of the component by integrating the two functions into one mechanism. We have developed a new Limb Mechanism Robot named "ASTERISK". Therefore, it is possible to move in every direction without alteration of posture, lift an object, and easily return to its standard position after falling up-side-down. ASTERISK has the following 6 kinds of sensors. Pressure sensors on the tips of all of the limbs, which can detect whether they are being pushed or pulled.Infrared sensors on the tips of 3 of the limbs.
| Cellbots: Using Cellphones as Robotic Control Platforms Hivemind's Robonova Turns Triple Flips (Video) - Robots Dreams About a week ago, "Thor" - the Robonova-1 robot modified by "Hivemind" - surprised us all by beautifully executing a full forward flip. Now Hivemind has Thor turning triple flips in a continuous series that's almost without hesitation. From the video below it really appears as if Hivemind has his robot in training for a real Robo-Olympics type gymnastics event. Keep in mind that Thor is not a stock, off-the-shelf, Robonova-1. At the same time, he has probably had to do considerable amount of reprogramming of the Robonova's stock motion sequences along with creating totally new moves like the amazing flip. Great stuff! Related links: Robosavvy Robot Forum You might also enjoy:
Robot Living Spectrum: Omniwheels Gaining Popularity in Robotics A recent workshop that involved some rapid development using RoboCup robots, a demonstration of KUKA's omniMove platform, and my previous posts on KUKA's youBot and the ETH Zurich's Rezero ballbot have gotten me interested in omniwheels. Omniwheels and their variations (also called omnidirectional wheels, Swedish wheels, Mecanum wheels, or Ilon wheels) are an ingenious invention that allows a platform to move in any direction while facing any other direction. Historically, omniwheels date back to a 1919 patent by J. Apart from the RoboCup setting, omniwheels are also used in omnidirectional conveyor systems, for example for handling packages. One such niche is moving very heavy or large goods such as large aircraft wings or the rotor blades of wind energy plants. Other niches are forklifts for aircraft carriers made by U.S. company Airtrax or some versions of Segway's RMP platform. Will omniwheels become the wheel choice for robotics, or will they remain a niche? More photos:
Vex Robotics Design System A robot that was made using the VEX system to compete in the 2007 FTC competition The VEX Robotics Design System is a robotic kit intended to introduce students as well as adults to the world of robotics. The VEX Robotics Design System is centered around the VEX Clawbot Kit which is sold in the Dual Control Starter Kit(sold for USD $499.99).[1] This kit comes with four electric motors, 4 wheels, gears, and structural parts.[2] Additional sensors (ultrasonic,[3] line tracking,[4] optical shaft encoders,[5] bumper switches,[6] limit switches,[7] light sensors[8] integrated motor encoder modules,[9] gyroscopes,[10] accelerometers,[11] and potentiometers [12] ), wheels ( regular,[13] omni-directional,[14] and mecanum[15]), tank treads,[16] motors,[17] servos,[18] gears,[19] chain and sprocket sets,[20] partner joysticks,[21] programming software (easyC, ROBOTC, MPLab),[22] extra metal,[23] pneumatics,[24] and rechargeable battery power packs[25] can all be purchased separately. VEX PRO[edit]
Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio (Microsoft RDS, MRDS) is a Windows-based environment for robot control and simulation. It is aimed at academic, hobbyist, and commercial developers and handles a wide variety of robot hardware. It requires the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. RDS is based on CCR (Concurrency and Coordination Runtime): a .NET-based concurrent library implementation for managing asynchronous parallel tasks. This technique involves using message-passing and a lightweight services-oriented runtime, DSS (Decentralized Software Services), which allows the orchestration of multiple services to achieve complex behaviors. Features include: a visual programming tool, Microsoft Visual Programming Language for creating and debugging robot applications, web-based and windows-based interfaces, 3D simulation (including hardware acceleration), easy access to a robot's sensors and actuators. Components[edit] Example of a Reference Platform Robot Tools[edit] Notable applications[edit]
iRobot Create This is an unmodified iRobot Create with Command Module (the small green attachment). The platform accepts virtually all accessories designed for iRobot's domestic robots and can also be programmed with the addition of iRobot's own Command Module (a microcontroller with a USB connector and four DE-9 expansion ports),[3] although it is no longer being sold. Controller[edit] Due to the limitations in storage space and processing power of the iRobot Command Module, many choose to utilize an external computer in controlling the Create robot. A number of robot interface server / simulators support the iRobot Create. The Microsoft Robotics Studio and the Webots simulation environment contain IRobot Create models.[5][6] Community[edit] A team of iRobot Create robots at the Human-Automation Systems Lab, Georgia Institute of Technology. iRobot with mounted camera and minicomputer Simulation of an iRobot Create in Webots The iRobot Create is popular in the robotic research and hobbyist community.