Penguin Tech Issue 3

Humanoido

PENGUIN TECH Magazine Issue 3
The first independent electronic magazine about Penguin
Robots, Basic Stamp microcontrollers, sensors, hobby
projects, PBASIC programs, and amazing things!



For more information: http://www.robotinfo.net/penguin/

Post Edited (humanoido) : 10/25/2008 7:22:01 PM GMT

erco

Another WOW, Humanoido! Useful info, very nicely presented. Three issues and you're gaining momentum! Some people might start slowing down after one or two issues, when the novelty wears off and it starts to seem like work, but you continue to raise your own bar. Timely info, too! I'm sure there will be many Bat Penguins in time for Halloween. Well done and thank you for your hard work & dedication. I just can't wait for Rudolph the Red LED Penguin in December!

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
·"If you build it, they will come."

Ken Gracey

Holy penguins. This is amazing, Humanoido! We'll have an internal meeting at Parallax Monday about the Penguin PCB revisions. It's time we get that in order per suggestions of the Penguin Robot Society!

Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.

Mikerocontroller

· Another great issue!· Thank-you humanoido.· Looking forward to #4!

Humanoido

Thank you sincerely for all the great replies.
Penguin Tech 4 is well underway and will
include some really fantastic projects. We're
going to answer all your questions about using
the 7-segment display, and offer programs for
study, showing several ways to program. Display
is a hot topic, and we have the ultimate in this
technology, literally stuck on Penguin.

Erco, be very careful what you ask for.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=764212
it.youtube.com/watch?v=2zDg6NfXpUo
There's a youtube movie, and a full writeup
in Penguin Tech, about Rudolph the Red LED
Penguin. What have you started? [noparse]:)[/noparse]

humanoido

Humanoido

Penguin Tech Magazine #4 Previews (Part 1)
As you know, I always give out some preview information regarding the new Penguin Tech issue (#4) just before it's posted, and post this information at the thread of the current issue (#3). Here's some preview and additional behind-the-scenes info.

Christmas Issue
PT4 is the "Christmas issue" with some gifts for everyone, in terms of articles and programs. Thanks goes out to Erco for the idea to created a "Red LED Rudolph" Penguin Robot. We couldn't resist in making him a little Santa-ish. The big deal here is the circuit is a big red blinking nose light dimmer, with ONE part! - a JUMBO LED. To get around NOT using a dropping resistor, you'll have to read the article and see how it was accomplished. New code is included.

Size Increase Challenges
This issue was challenging due to an increase in physical size (2Mb), which made the conversion program to PDF file format obsolete. It took time to review 12 new programs and find one to handle up to 20Mb without introducing artifacts. Next up, the fills failed at the larger file size. To correct this, PT got a new face-lift with some new colors that bypass fill parameters. It works like a charm!

Additional Proofing
PT is receiving more proofreading too, serving up a higher quality publication.

File Compression
Also studied was the degree of compression, as I believe files of massive MB size simply don't reach as many people who may have slower internet access, and, people and places that host/archive these files through their generosity would obviously appreciate smaller file sizes. Therefore, with compression, the new PT4 has gone from over 2Mb down to only 600K. By comparison, PT3 was compressed down to 479, PT2 was 526, and PT1 was 308.

Penguin Tech Magazine Improvements
The increase in file size is due to improvements to pack in more information. This includes more text, tighter fonts, more diagrams, more articles, a layout redesign to open up more page space, more color, and more photos at good resolution.

Penguin Tech Magazine Future
These four issues of Penguin Tech Magazine conclude the first year of publishing in 2008. A review will take place to consider continuing in 2009.

Stay tuned for more previews in the next post.

humanoido

Links
PT1 http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=747812
PT2 http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=751970
PT3 http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=760066

Humanoido

Real Penguins fly through the water with amazing grace.
They also take huge flying leaps through the air. But
what can our Penguin Robot do? You'll need to read all
the Penguin Tech Magazines to find out. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Issue #1 through #4
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=747812
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=751970
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=760066
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=770232

Penguin Tech Magazines are also posted here at the
Penguin web site, home of the Penguin Robot Society.
www.robotinfo.net/penguin/

humanoido