Sunday, May 31, 2009

Other People - Voyager

Here is just another neat robot I found on YouTube:

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Clgfive - BlueTooth RC Programming

Hey everyone! I've been programming my JoyStiq project for a few days now, and I've been having trouble with the stuff that really matters- the communications. If you have or can find a program for any joystick remote controllers out there, please post a comment with a link below. It's all up to you!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Other - Anouncement

If you live in the US you know it is Memorial Day Weekend. I just want to let everyone know we won't be posting this weekend, but on Tuesday we will start up full force again, posting everyday like we had been.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Opinion - Instructions

If you're like me, you probably got your first LEGO set at the age of about five and spend days trying to figure out how it goes together. By seven you started to get the hang of things, and by eight a hundred dollar set was a hundred minute job. What do all three stages have in common? Instructions. When you buy a LEGO kit you usually want to follow the instructions and build whatever it is you bought. And that's fine; its fun, and it comes out looking great. What I can't stand (that's not the phrase, more like "dislike") is people (Bryce, just to name one) who build NXT projects from other people's instructions. To me, that's not satisfying. Robotics and engineering are about designing your own models, not copying other peoples models centimeter by centimeter. Now, I'm not saying copying ideas is wrong, quite the contrary, actually. Copying ideas is what keeps people going, it helps people succeed. I just think that copying a model exactly as it was is wrong, especially if you try to take credit for it. Post a comment below with your thoughts on the topic. Remember, there is open posting, so anyone can post a comment!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Bryce - Hit and Run

Hey Guys,
This is my first program that I have made using RobotC programing! It is called hit and run. The object? Simple. Run foreword, hit an object, and then run back. Check out the video! I am currently working on a challenge that came with RobotC, coming soon.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Clgfive - Future Project

While I continue to work on the Joystiq programming, I thought of a new idea for the future: a motorcycle! I've seen motorcycles made with LEGO before, but they all double up on the wheels so that they can stand up. Mine will be simple; two skinny wheels with a bunch of gearing and two motors powering the wheels. It will rely on pure speed and balance to keep itself up. Below is a picture of the "exoskeleton", that is, without motors and sensors and what not. Stay tuned!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Bryce - Robot C!

Hey Guys,
I have just started attempting to program in Robot C! I am currently building Tribot, so that I can test robot C. More news coming soon!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Bryce - Gearbot Final Build!

Hey Guys, I have "finished" Gearbot. It's official. I'm still working out some kinks in the steering, but all in all, it's a good robot. The gears work well, and I used TM4040's steering mechanism for the front end steering. Meanwhile, TM4040 is making another bot! It works very well, and I'm not sure what exactly it is, but its cool. I'll have a pic in a day or two.

Clgfive & Bryce - FLL Update

Hey everyone! With summer right around the corner, expect to start seeing more and more FLL posts. Our team will be buying the FLL Smart Moves kit when it comes out so we can start building in the fall, and we are starting to work out the legistics now. We are trying to decide on names, groups, organization, and loads of other stuff to get ready for the season, but it is coming up. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Bryce - What Next?

Hey Guys,
I am just wondering, what do you all think I should build next? I always make the decision, now its up to you! Post a comment depending on what you think! (Possibly something hard, that's going to take me a while)

A humanoid?


A random build that has no point?

Monday, May 4, 2009

Clgfive - JOYstiQ Update 1

Today I have made up my mind, and after trying a few things I am just going to use Tribot as my test vehicle for JOYstiQ. That way I can post all the project info and stuff without having to worry about another build. Should be done soon, and I will keep you updated!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Bryce - Gearbot!

Hey Guys!
Sorry for not posting, I will be posting every day or two from now on, but anyway, I am almost finished with Gearbot, and that video of Treadbot is taking forever to finish edditing! Coming soon. Anyway, check out this video of Gearbot, I have since then added the 2nd drive motor and more gears, and am now working on the steering, I am going to use somthing like the Self Parking Car Steering.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Clgfive - JOYstiQ Preview

Hey everyone! Today I bring you the finished joystick remote control project I like to call JOYstiQ. It offers one "action" controller, one directional controller, and one speed controller. The video below is a Blogger exclusive, meaning I won't post it to YouTube, only my loyal readers can watch it. Soon I will have a demo car built so I can post the "official" demonstration video, but for now here is the controller called JOYstiQ (Like the name? Post a comment below!)