#robotics Logs

Apr 07 2019

09:07 PM BillyZane: hello
09:12 PM BillyZane: I am interested in robotics and I want to be able to do the following: 1) design robots for automation of physical tasks and to replace human labor (outside of my own personal needs), 2) be able to get hired in the field by a company, 3) be able to design , 3) replace human labor for my own personal needs
09:14 PM BillyZane: I don't really plan to be a computer scientist, so I don't feel the need to study computer vision or AI in detail
09:15 PM BillyZane: but I was thinking I should be able to use the frameworks and tools that are available
09:16 PM BillyZane: one of the types of tasks I want to do is build a robot that can take a rose and trim the thorns off
09:16 PM BillyZane: or a robot that can dice tomatoes or onions
09:16 PM BillyZane: justanotheruser, hey man
09:17 PM BillyZane: justanotheruser, didn't know you were in to robots, can i pick your brain
09:17 PM justanotheruser: I'm far from an authority on robotics. I'm a noobie
09:18 PM BillyZane: it's alright, i'm even more so
09:18 PM BillyZane: but it's something that's been bugging me
09:19 PM BillyZane: so i figure i should study and try to build something
09:19 PM BillyZane: i'm willing to dump like a few hundred bucks on it
09:19 PM BillyZane: and like... 15-20 hours a week for the rest of this year
09:22 PM ace4016: strategic plan: pick a single thing to do -> learn to do that thing -> repeat. overarching theme: start with the simplest and most crucial thing you want robot to do (like move)
09:22 PM ace4016: it's a scaleable strategic plan too :D
09:23 PM ace4016: works in all phases of experience
09:24 PM Tom_L: why are they always so willing to throw money at the problem?
09:25 PM Tom_L: get a job in japan or disney mechatronics lab
09:29 PM BillyZane: ace4016, i see
09:29 PM BillyZane: ace4016, makes sense, so i can do that with project ideas
09:30 PM BillyZane: ace4016, but as far as learning how to make a robot move, i was wondering what software frameworks would you recommend
09:30 PM BillyZane: ROS looks like it would be a good start
09:39 PM Wayfarer: why is a robot to chop a tomato, more useful than a vegetable slicer?
09:40 PM Wayfarer: could you simply put a motor on a vegetable slicer, and have a chute that drops tomatoes on it?
09:40 PM Wayfarer: is this, simple machine, 'a kind of robot'?
09:41 PM Wayfarer: could you build a simple linear actuator, or an offset flywheel, or wheel and spur, to move a vegetable slicer back and forth?
09:46 PM Wayfarer: @ BillyZane
09:47 PM BillyZane: Wayfarer, yeah i see what you mean
09:47 PM BillyZane: Wayfarer, that the humanoid shape is not always the solution
09:48 PM Wayfarer: not even humanoid shape, dont confuse 'robot' with 'android'
09:48 PM Wayfarer: a roomba is a robot
09:49 PM Wayfarer: so, what Im really saying, is dont overcomplicate your ideas
09:49 PM Wayfarer: and
09:49 PM Wayfarer: consider the simplest solution, and do that
09:50 PM Wayfarer: though, I could see, in a large cafeteria, say for a big big school, an 'automated vegetable slicer' could be convenient, and possibly safer
09:50 PM Wayfarer: lots of people cut themselves on those, so if I can just put a bag of tomatoes or potatoes or zuccini in a hopper and sliced vegetables come out
09:52 PM Wayfarer: that is a good thing, but I think making (though you didnt say this, Ill extrapolate) a gripper that picks up a tomato and a knife holding armature, is a good problem for college students to design;not as practical, as a hopper, chute, blade and linear actuator pusher
09:52 PM Wayfarer: right?
09:52 PM Wayfarer: consider, the complexities, of a vending machine
09:53 PM Tom_L: rightly designed chutes would orient the vegtables, no real need for an arm and gripper
09:53 PM Wayfarer: even the bill slot, to read bills, has motors, an electric eye, pattern recognition circuitry, selectors, actuators, motors, a coin counter ciurcuit for change, a digital display and input panel
09:54 PM Wayfarer: a simlpe vending machine, is just a big, bulky robot, that doesnt walk around
09:54 PM Wayfarer: so, food for thought
09:54 PM * Wayfarer presses F18 and D07
09:55 PM Wayfarer: have a cookie.
09:57 PM Wayfarer: now. could soeone here, with a higher level understanding than I, explain the difference between a 'robot' and a 'machine' or 'somewhat automated device'?
10:03 PM rue_shop1: hi
10:03 PM rue_shop1: Wayfarer,
10:04 PM rue_shop1: by my definition of robot, a vcr is a robot
10:04 PM Wayfarer: so. there you are. a vending machine and vcr, are 'robots'
10:05 PM rue_shop1: by my definition, yes
10:05 PM BillyZane: i'm not bothered by naming conventions
10:06 PM BillyZane: i am, however, more interested in what software vending machines are using
10:06 PM BillyZane: it's possible to write everything from scratch
10:07 PM BillyZane: but is ROS very dominant?
10:07 PM BillyZane: boston dynamics is doing some interesting stuff, i heard they were going to make a robotics platform, where low level services would be provided for 'app developers'
10:08 PM Wayfarer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot
10:08 PM Wayfarer: actually a lot of information there, if nothing else, the first part
10:09 PM Wayfarer: robot: from the czech word :robota meaning 'forced labor'
10:38 PM BillyZane: what an asshole