Meeting Minutes November 12th, 2016
Hello robotics enthusiasts! Stop by and see our robots every month. We meet at California State University, Long Beach every second Saturday of the month. See About Us for directions. See Meeting Reports for detailed monthly meeting reports with photos, videos and files. RSSC was at the Southern California MakerCon 2016 at the Pomona Fairgrounds See photos from the event: http://www.rssc.org/socalmakercon2016.html RSSC was at the San Diego Maker Faire 2016. See photos from the event: http://www.rssc.org/sdmakerfaire2016.html Schedule 10:00-11:00 leafproject.org Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group - Dr. Bruce discusses AI topics (Neato Robotics Lidar, Python, SLAM, navigation) 11:00-12:00 Animatronics and Cabling by industry expert Tim Lewis. See how you can add some special effects and animatronics to your robots 12:00-12:30 Break for Lunch (bring a snack) 12:30-12:45 Business Meeting Join our mailing list to be up to date on our discussions: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RSSC-list/info 1:00 - Two monthly contest this time: 1. Walking Robots - robot that walks straight for 10ft and returns to the start position wins. Fastest and closest to the starting point wins. Four legged robots are allowed. 2. Get me a drink from the refrigerator Contest: (we want to give you time to prepare for this contest so here are the rules) http://robothon.org/rules-pop-can-challage/ After looking at the SRS rules, maybe we emphasize that "some" or "all" of the tasks can be performed to allow as many RSSC members to participate in the November contest. You can bring your own refrigerator or like it that you create. Below are photos of the cardboard refrigerator specifications for those who wish to use that cardboard model for the November contest. It's door-magnet-force is the bare minimum to keep the door closed. Of course everyone can bring their own refrigerator, soda can, or props etc. Rules: 1. Recognize the command to get soda can from refrigerator 2. Go to the refrigerator ( or into a second room to find refrigerator, if contestant wishes) 3. Open the refrigerator door 4. Get the soda can 6. Close the door 7. Robot brings soda can to either the starting line or to a human. Contest area will be in the right-front corner of the classroom, so that there is enough viewing area. Suggest the refrigerator to be placed anywhere in the front of the classroom or adjacent room, away from the walls, so distance sensors can be used. 2:00 - Show-N-Tell - show-off your robots! You never know what people will bring to show off! I'm looking forward to a great meeting - see you there.... Dr. Bruce- President Need something from the old website? You can find lots of articles and previous events at RSSC Old Site Copy |
RSSC at the San Diego Maker Faire 2016.
See report and photos here: http://www.rssc.org/sdmakerfaire2016.html 
2016 RSSC Event Participation:
SoCal Maker Convention in Pomona, Saturday November 5th. Get tickets at http://socalmakercon.com http://www.rssc.org/socalmakercon2016.html San Diego Makers Faire Oct. 1 & 2, 2016 http://sandiego.makerfaire.com/ See our report: http://www.rssc.org/sdmakerfaire2016.html National Robotics Week! April 2-10, 2016 http://www.nationalroboticsweek.org/ |
If you do not bring your own refrigerator, RSSC will have one. Is made out of wood with the specs shown below.
Handle is made of Aluminum-- note that an interchangeable red or orange handle can be substituted on either refrigerator to be used for the contest. Removable shelf for 6" or 12" height from bottom of refrigerator, is available. Refrigerator can be turned upside-down for left sided access. If refrigerator is used in the upside-down position (as I will be doing), bottom shelf will not be available without mounting brackets, but most people most likely won't use the shelf, since it is a tough obstacle for adjusting arm height.
Handle is made of Aluminum-- note that an interchangeable red or orange handle can be substituted on either refrigerator to be used for the contest. Removable shelf for 6" or 12" height from bottom of refrigerator, is available. Refrigerator can be turned upside-down for left sided access. If refrigerator is used in the upside-down position (as I will be doing), bottom shelf will not be available without mounting brackets, but most people most likely won't use the shelf, since it is a tough obstacle for adjusting arm height.
2016 Scheduled Events
Classes:
- June: Bob Barboza class/discussion on Arduino Satellite Project
- July: 3D printing InMoov robots class by Alan, Thomas and Walter
- Aug: InMoov, ROS and xBox Kinect integration
- Sept: Materials by Eric W.
- October: Animatronics/Robots for Halloween by industry expert Tim Lewis
- Nov:Animatronics/Robots for Halloween by industry expert Tim Lewis
- Dec: No Class (Pizza Party!)
Contests:
- July: Outdoor Robotics Contest
- September : Biped Robot Competition - robot walks ten feet in one direction, turns around and comes back to it original starting area. Fastest and more accurate to the final destination wins.
- November: Get me a soda/drink from the refrigerator contest
- December: Talent Contest and Pizza Party
Classes:
- June: Bob Barboza class/discussion on Arduino Satellite Project
- July: 3D printing InMoov robots class by Alan, Thomas and Walter
- Aug: InMoov, ROS and xBox Kinect integration
- Sept: Materials by Eric W.
- October: Animatronics/Robots for Halloween by industry expert Tim Lewis
- Nov:Animatronics/Robots for Halloween by industry expert Tim Lewis
- Dec: No Class (Pizza Party!)
Contests:
- July: Outdoor Robotics Contest
- September : Biped Robot Competition - robot walks ten feet in one direction, turns around and comes back to it original starting area. Fastest and more accurate to the final destination wins.
- November: Get me a soda/drink from the refrigerator contest
- December: Talent Contest and Pizza Party
10:00-11:00 leafproject.org Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group - Dr. Bruce discusses AI topics (Neato Robotics Lidar, Python, SLAM, navigation)
Lidar Sensor https://www.getsurreal.com/product/xv-lidar-controller-v1-2?v=47e5dceea252
The XV Lidar is a 360 degree 2D laser scanner that’s been removed from a used Neato XV Series Robotic Vacuum
Enclosure https://www.getsurreal.com/product/xv-lidar-sensor-enclosure-package?v=47e5dceea252
Dr. Bruce talked about his robot that uses a Zagros Robotics base http://www.zagrosrobotics.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=521
Also, he uses a lidar sensor from Neato vacuum robot hacked to work with Arduino. He uses an Arduino for motor controlling and remote control via a joystick (joypad).
Motor controller: https://www.pololu.com/category/124/roboclaw-motor-controllers
Bruce spoke about following the thesis Navigation with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping by Mikael Berg. You can download below.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66rKR5-uYZ4
More info: http://wiki.ros.org/hector_slamwiki.ros.org/hector_slam
Info on Go programming language as it is referenced in the thesis below: https://golang.org/
Lidar Sensor https://www.getsurreal.com/product/xv-lidar-controller-v1-2?v=47e5dceea252
The XV Lidar is a 360 degree 2D laser scanner that’s been removed from a used Neato XV Series Robotic Vacuum
Enclosure https://www.getsurreal.com/product/xv-lidar-sensor-enclosure-package?v=47e5dceea252
Dr. Bruce talked about his robot that uses a Zagros Robotics base http://www.zagrosrobotics.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=521
Also, he uses a lidar sensor from Neato vacuum robot hacked to work with Arduino. He uses an Arduino for motor controlling and remote control via a joystick (joypad).
Motor controller: https://www.pololu.com/category/124/roboclaw-motor-controllers
Bruce spoke about following the thesis Navigation with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping by Mikael Berg. You can download below.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66rKR5-uYZ4
More info: http://wiki.ros.org/hector_slamwiki.ros.org/hector_slam
Info on Go programming language as it is referenced in the thesis below: https://golang.org/
11:00-12:00 Animatronics and Cabling by industry expert Tim Lewis. See how you can add some special effects and animatronics to your robots
12:05-12:40 Break for Lunch (bring a snack)
12:41 Business Meeting
- Budget is ~$1000 after pending $225 on promotional stickers
- Dr. Bruce talked about all of the requests we get from the Internet to sponsor clubs, events and project. We are open to it and we invite the owners of these clubs and project to come and present their request. So far no one has shown up to the meetings.
- Les spoke about the autonomous boat project. He has been working with kids on this project and they are almost done with it. They will provide a update soon. Software and GPS is being tested now. Motor control is being figured out now.
- Walter, Alan, Mark, Bob. and Bob B. talked about how the SoCal MakerCon went. We had a great time, distributed over 500 stickers and business cards. See report under event reports.
- Bob Barboza asked to create 3D printed badges, looking for people who want to present at a show and tell in the city of Long Beach. New officers to decide on this next year.
- Dr. Bruce announced pizza party and robot talent contest (no 11am lecture scheduled for this month)
- Budget is ~$1000 after pending $225 on promotional stickers
- Dr. Bruce talked about all of the requests we get from the Internet to sponsor clubs, events and project. We are open to it and we invite the owners of these clubs and project to come and present their request. So far no one has shown up to the meetings.
- Les spoke about the autonomous boat project. He has been working with kids on this project and they are almost done with it. They will provide a update soon. Software and GPS is being tested now. Motor control is being figured out now.
- Walter, Alan, Mark, Bob. and Bob B. talked about how the SoCal MakerCon went. We had a great time, distributed over 500 stickers and business cards. See report under event reports.
- Bob Barboza asked to create 3D printed badges, looking for people who want to present at a show and tell in the city of Long Beach. New officers to decide on this next year.
- Dr. Bruce announced pizza party and robot talent contest (no 11am lecture scheduled for this month)
1:10 Robot Get Me a Drink Contest
We had a great amount of competitors for this contest. One of the competitors successfully completed the contest!
The winner was Bob Huss with Link 2 - congratulations to Bob Huss!
Videos are in order from first to last place.
We had a great amount of competitors for this contest. One of the competitors successfully completed the contest!
The winner was Bob Huss with Link 2 - congratulations to Bob Huss!
Videos are in order from first to last place.
Contest Results
Winner Robot Link 2 by Bob Huss
Betty Squared by Thomas M.
Bob 1 by Jason Smith
Grey by Alan Timm
Total Disappointment by Sergei
Fester by Gary
2:24 Show - N - Tell
Bob Huss discussed a Vex high school robotics competition and showed some photos of an event he attended
Sergei speaks about his experience building a robot arm "total disappointment"
Sergei uses Arduino Unos, Mini, PID (spent lots of time setting parameters here) and h-bridges
Lessons learned: the architecture is very reliable and and can be duplicated. Should use stronger motors.
Sergei uses Arduino Unos, Mini, PID (spent lots of time setting parameters here) and h-bridges
Lessons learned: the architecture is very reliable and and can be duplicated. Should use stronger motors.
