#robotics Logs

Dec 04 2011

00:00 r0b-_ 2 per mtoro
00:19 r0b-_ rue_house:
00:47 rue_house ok I finished my IntPile library
00:48 rue_house now I can return the compile results of the plc core
00:58 r0b-_ ok
00:59 r0b-_ http://pastebin.com/EhN9kacx thats the semi final version of the code
01:02 r0b-_ how does it look?\
01:09 rue_house falling asleep, mind if I look tommorow?
01:11 r0b-_ k
01:31 rue_bed do you know that there are special function calls to make pulses for controlling rc motors?
01:31 rue_bed and that they stop at 'centre'
01:31 rue_bed more and they go forward, less and they go reverse
01:31 rue_bed because you have the servo drivers you dont need to do real pwm
01:32 rue_bed you just send servo control pulses
01:32 r0b-_ the delaymilliseconds(1500) ?
01:33 r0b-_ i dont remember how to do it
01:37 rue_bed no
01:37 rue_bed there is a proper servo library, see if you can look it up
01:38 r0b-_ http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/ServoWriteMicroseconds
01:39 imf what is your primary hardware?? arduino?
01:39 r0b-_ yea
01:39 imf and it uses c++?? or was it python?
01:39 r0b-_ probably the wrong device for this stuff
01:39 r0b-_ Processing
01:40 r0b-_ similar to c++
01:40 imf i'minterested in building a robotic vacuum cleaners.. how would i go about doing it?? can you give some ideas?
01:46 r0b-_ im in the process myself sorta
01:47 r0b-_ but its just gonna be a rover
02:02 imf l
02:41 jschall I figured out that even on my e-flite apprentice (traditional-shaped RC airplane), i could get 9w of power out of covering the wing with thin solar panels, adding only 80g of weight (1/3rd of battery)
02:41 jschall i'm wondering what circuitry would be required to have the solar panels work with a lipo battery to help provide power to the motor/charge the battery.
02:42 jschall and if i had a flying wing it'd be an even better platform...
02:45 jschall hmm, i guess at 60ish watts that's only a 15% extension of flight time...
10:37 rue_bed I made some good progress on my plc engine last night
10:37 rue_bed got it to compile its paths
10:38 rue_bed now I just need to work on the ladder genorator
10:39 Tom_itx what's all this code for?
10:39 rue_bed the code I posted? no
10:40 Tom_itx the plc and ladder
10:40 Tom_itx logic
10:40 rue_bed the code I posted is to make software version numbers and automatically update them for you
10:40 rue_bed I'm writing a ladder logic plc
10:40 Tom_itx isn't that what git is for?
10:40 Tom_itx or svn
10:41 rue_bed the only plc software for linux seems to have to be programmed in vdhl
10:41 Tom_itx and it keeps your code nice n safe
10:41 rue_bed no, the code I posted creates the actual version sting IN the code
10:41 rue_bed I dont use version control software anyhow, too much overhead
10:42 Tom_itx me either
10:42 rue_bed but for all the programs I do put version numbers into, this can be used to automatically<--!! increment the number when you compile
10:42 Tom_itx what were your plans for the USB chip?
10:42 rue_bed so that you know that your not running the wrong version
10:43 Tom_itx mine would go past 100 quick
10:43 rue_bed I want to learn about the usb thing and make a usb to audio converter
10:43 Tom_itx you don't just edit the same files?
10:43 Tom_itx or do you back up every one
10:43 rue_bed this will do... 99999 versions
10:43 Tom_itx does dean have an audio example?
10:43 Tom_itx i think he does
10:44 rue_bed when I have a 'working' version I make a folder with a copy of all the files
10:44 rue_bed he does
10:44 rue_bed I want to mod it a bit
10:44 Tom_itx that's what it's for
10:44 rue_bed use a dac and add a few more channels
10:44 rue_bed yea, I still dont use it
10:44 Tom_itx all i use it for is the programmer
10:45 Tom_itx i haven't gotten into the rest of it much
10:45 rue_bed also cause its not stable, every 5 years the program used for software version control changes
10:45 rue_bed some of my libraries are like 18 years old
10:46 rue_bed I have a cvs repository somewhere on my main machine, hasn't been used in over 10 years
10:46 rue_bed if there were more than one person editing code on my projects, I'd needit
10:46 Tom_itx yeah that's where it's handy
10:47 Tom_itx it does give you a nice backup place
10:47 rue_bed but even then I dont believe in it, I believe in concurrent editing
10:49 Tom_itx i may need a project soon
10:50 Tom_itx is it gettin cold up there yet?
10:50 Tom_itx we're supposed to get a canadian blast here next week so i figured you already have
10:51 rue_bed 2c
10:51 Tom_itx how much glycol did you loose?
10:51 rue_bed there has been a steady loss somewhere, I dont think there is much of any left
10:52 rue_bed but it seems to gas off too
10:52 Tom_itx better fix it or you'll be replacing tubing
10:52 rue_bed I just need to make sure it dosn't get cold
10:52 Tom_itx that happend without notice last year
10:52 rue_bed I'm gonna set up a script to force on the circulators is the temp hits freezing
10:55 rue_bed there is a 13c convection current thru the boiler right now
10:55 rue_bed tank is at 41
10:56 rue_bed house loop is at 4c
10:56 rue_bed no outside temp at the moment
10:56 Tom_itx been runnin the furnace?
10:56 Tom_itx what about the woodburner you put in the shed?
10:56 rue_bed for a month, barely more than the pilot, cost me $80, its off now
10:56 Tom_itx what happened to it?
10:57 rue_bed the old boilers are disconnected, the woodstove and the verticle tube one
10:57 rue_bed solar panel is disconnected too
10:57 Tom_itx i figured it was
10:57 Tom_itx that had it's share of problems i think
11:00 rue_bed it was getting better
11:00 rue_bed it just needs to be about 16x larger
11:01 Tom_itx there used to be a big one on a house nearby here
11:01 Tom_itx couple years ago they finally removed it
11:01 Tom_itx there must be alot of maintenance on them
11:01 Tom_itx it covered most of one side of the roof
11:07 Skwint They are the current craze in the UK
11:07 Skwint loads of them going up all over
11:08 Tom_itx copper?
11:08 Skwint solar panels
11:08 Tom_itx rue's is a water pannel
11:09 Skwint ah, these are electricity
11:09 Tom_itx yeah i figured
11:09 Skwint some ridiculous deal the government is doing where you get paid for the electricty you generate even if you use it yourself
11:09 Skwint because THAT will sort the recession out!
11:10 Skwint I await with interest the first roof that needs to have a leak repaired underneath one
11:13 rue_bed hehe
11:25 Tom_itx if done right, the mounts would have boots aroud the legs like other pipes coming from a roof
11:25 rue_house getting it all off is still a choar
11:27 Tom_itx mounting high enough to let leaves and debri to go underneath and not get clogged up and rot the roof
11:28 Tom_itx it could be a 4 post mount with clevice pins on top and bottom to allow it to tilt from either the top or bottom
11:28 Tom_itx allowing access for maintenance
11:30 Tom_itx or wait for that thin solar stuff they will use as siding
11:33 Tom_itx rue_house you should still dig a cave
11:33 rue_house :)
11:33 Tom_itx put in half dozen light pipes
11:34 Tom_itx from what i saw of the ground you may need some dynamite
11:55 r0b-_ hey rue_house
12:03 rue_house hey
12:04 r0b-_ well
12:04 r0b-_ i dug out my motor shielf and was wondering if i could osme how remove the IC
12:09 rue_house you can just hotwire to it
12:24 Daani are there any specific PIC channels left?
12:26 rue_house #microcontrollers
12:28 Daani Thanks.
12:32 r0b-_ im kinda scared to solder
12:33 r0b-_ lol
12:34 r0b-_ i think i have a motor
12:51 r0b-_ FUCKING YEA!
12:59 r0b-_ hey rue_house
12:59 r0b-_ good news
13:10 b-_ has a 600mah motor dr
13:10 r0b-_ capable of driving 4 motors
13:10 r0b-_ 4x 600ma each
13:36 r0b-_ hi
13:37 Steffanx Lo
13:38 r0b-_ ugh
13:38 r0b-_ well i got my motor driver working
13:38 r0b-_ turns out it was a burned GND trace
13:38 Steffanx Fancy
13:38 r0b-_ now this guy is telling me if the GNDs dont match i can have problems WTF!
13:59 Squint I hear that - I have no idea why
14:00 r0b-_ heh i love this!
14:02 Squint just get a big lump of copper and solder all your GND's to it :p
14:04 r0b-_ :|
14:05 Squint http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_loop_%28electricity%29
14:06 Squint that appears to be an explanation of the problem - I might be wrong - I'm still learning
14:08 r0b-_ same
16:18 r0b-_ rue_house: you here/
17:07 r0b-_ phase 1 comoplete
17:35 r0b-_ ok got 2 motors
17:35 r0b-_ with like 2mm shafts
18:28 r0b-_ 3/64th inch
18:55 r0b-_ rue_house:
18:58 r0b-_ and these arent geared though :(
18:59 thylyn [19:01] <Skwint> thylyn, you could pay someone to paint a hexbug in a custom colour and charge you $288.01 for it?
18:59 thylyn [19:01] <Skwint> that meets every requirement you have mentioned so far :p
18:59 thylyn -__-
18:59 r0b-_ lol
19:02 r0b-_ nice
19:07 thylyn so if im going to build this myself
19:07 thylyn how much would it cost to have somehing which orients itself towards light?
19:08 zhanx couple of ldrs and code
19:08 zhanx not hard
19:08 Tom_itx http://tom-itx.dyndns.org:81/~webpage/lightseeker/lightseeker_index.php
19:09 r0b-_ heh
19:12 orlok thylyn: google photovore
19:12 thylyn what if it's eye is a webcam?
19:13 r0b-_ even harder :)
19:19 r0b-_ damn i need a way to mount wheels on this
19:25 rue_house you got motors, gearmotors?
19:25 rue_house if their not gearmotors you have to make a gearbox
19:25 rue_house and if their not servos you have to make or come up with motor drivers
19:26 rue_house r0b-_,
19:26 rue_house I have a howto on making gearboxes for them
19:26 rue_house !assist tutorials/mech
19:26 rue_house !assist tutorials/mech
19:26 r0b-_ these arent brushless
19:26 tobbor Possibly http://eds.dyndns.org/~ircjunk/tutorials/mech
19:26 rue_house right, you need gearboxes
19:26 rue_house to slow them down and give you usable torque
19:26 r0b-_ ok
19:27 rue_house http://eds.dyndns.org/~ircjunk/tutorials/mech/gearbox/gearbox.html
19:27 rue_house simply follow that howto
19:28 orlok Also, the bigger the wheels the more torque you will need
19:28 r0b-_ so i will need to get gears
19:28 r0b-_ where do you suggest i get them?
19:29 orlok old printeras
19:29 orlok or toys
19:29 thylyn what about legs instead of wheels?
19:29 orlok then you need geared motors anyway
19:29 orlok or some other sort of actuator
19:30 thylyn how does hexbug spider crab do?
19:30 r0b-_ well rue_house these motors have like 1.1mm shafts
19:36 r0b-_ 3/64th of an inch
19:38 r0b-_ i think i will use servos for easier use
19:38 orlok servos need modding to be cont. rotation
19:38 orlok r0b-_: look at discount hardware shop rechargable cordless drill things
19:39 orlok if you have a shop nearby that sells discount electrical goods or whatever
19:39 r0b-_ and find drill motors?
19:40 zhanx ok football is on!
19:40 r0b-_ seeya
19:42 orlok r0b-_: yeah.. but then you still need a driver for them
19:42 r0b-_ i have a driver for these motors
19:43 r0b-_ well it can handle upto .6A
19:43 r0b-_ per motor lol
19:43 r0b-_ for 4 motors
19:51 thylyn http://robotstate.wordpress.com/playing-with-robots/jousting-eggs-on-mousebots/
19:56 r0b-_ so orlok
20:05 r0b-_ heh i dont need powerful motors
20:17 r0b-_ hey tom,
20:18 r0b-_ hmmmm
20:18 b-_ has
20:20 rue_house servos
20:20 rue_house std size servo motors
20:20 rue_house modified for continious rotation
20:21 Tom_itx rue_house what'd we do in class?
20:37 r0b-_ so use servos instead rue_house /
20:47 r0b-_ wee woop!
20:56 r0b-_ well i guess i buy cont rotation servos
21:09 Tom_itx make em
21:16 r0b-_ i dont have servos
21:17 r0b-_ i can get small gear motors for 7$
21:17 r0b-_ but they are plastic geared
21:18 orlok that should be fine
21:19 r0b-_ well the weight should hopefully be under 2 pounds
21:19 r0b-_ 1 pound preffered
21:19 r0b-_ how much torque do i need?
21:29 r0b-_ like 2 pounds?
21:44 rue_house I dont need to use servos I can make geraboxes!
21:44 rue_house no
21:44 rue_house a standard srevo can push a robot of the size your making jsut fine
21:45 zhanx rue pm email pld
21:45 zhanx pls
22:04 r0b-_ rue_house: f pff :)
22:07 r0b-_ i could if i had the money
22:09 zhanx rue is cheap
22:33 r0b-_ heh
22:33 r0b-_ well im sure if i did some digging
22:51 r0b-_ hmmm
22:52 r0b-_ :)
22:53 r0b-_ hmmm
22:54 r0b-_ well rue
22:54 r0b-_ wanna know my plants for your robot
23:17 r0b-_ rue_house: /?