DanceBot Article

Hanno

DanceBot is a balancing robot that can dance. It's powered by the Parallax Propeller, ViewPort, a gyro and an accelerometer. Here's a newspaper article about it.

www.stuff.co.nz/4430008a28.html

I'll start selling them in May...
Hanno
mydancebot.com

Harley

Cool article, Hanno.

What 'tool(s)' were used besides ViewPort to develop DanceBot?




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Harley Shanko

hippy

Nice complementary article.

"He wanted to create a two-wheeled upright robot that could ... perhaps climb stairs"

Is that possible ?

simonl

@hippy: I had the same thought - maybe if the wheels were really big?!

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Cheers,

Simon

---

www.norfolkhelicopterclub.co.uk
You'll always have as many take-offs as landings, the trick is to be sure you can take-off again ;-)
BTW: I type as I'm thinking, so please don't take any offense at my writing style

Hanno

Harley-
I used the ViewPort "Logic Analyzer" mode to optimize IO communications with all the sensors: compass, gyro, accelerometer, encoder, ultrasound, h-bridge driver and video input. I used ViewPort's "Digital Storage Oscilloscope" mode to track variables over time and change parameters while the prototype was balancing. Lastly, I use the "Fuzzy Logic" mode to tune the fuzzy logic parameters.
Besides my trusty multi-meter I didn't use any stand-alone scopes or analyzers.
I wrote some simulation programs in .Net to get a handle on the physics.

Simon/Hippy,
Getting up stairs is slightly easier for a dynamically balanced robot. It does require large wheels, knobby tires, or even a "helping hand". It's not a short term priority, but I am thinking about it.
Hanno

Shane De Catania

So Hanno, where are the "Exciting DanceBot Videos"? I want to be excited!

Hanno

Shane,
Sorry about that. A video was taken as part of the article. It's only just made it's way to the web. Here it is:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/videoplayer/123721a21415.html

I've also updated my website with the link.
Hanno