@Beau: That post on Quadratic Bezier curves could be very useful for my current robot, as it could be directly applied to the steering. It took me a long time to write my current algorithm for steering based on the relative position of a hall effect joystick, and it still isn't as natural feeling as a Bezier curve would be, as the current algorithm follows a linear path. That time-of-flight laser also looks interesting. Thanks for the links.
BTW, if I have interpreted the meaning of a Bezier curve incorrectly, it is due to the fact that the term is familiar to me because it is used in 3D modeling, so I am picturing a physical path that is perhaps different from the mathematical term.
What I really need, due to the lack of distance given by a Nerf dart, is the Parallax laser range finder coupled with an algorithm to calculate the trajectory angle of the dart set by the angle of the gun, set by a servo.
Wow, multiple thread hijacks in process - with me leading the way:frown:
Back on track! I've gotten several PM's from you'all - and all are good ideas - run with them!
It looks like were gonna have about NINE or TEN Quadrover give-aways (those are the pre-crated ones)! We'll also have several that we can "part out" as lovely parting gifts too, if the need arises.
Wow, multiple thread hijacks in process - with me leading the way:frown:
Back on track! I've gotten several PM's from you'all - and all are good ideas - run with them!
It looks like were gonna have about NINE or TEN Quadrover give-aways (those are the pre-crated ones)! We'll also have several that we can "part out" as lovely parting gifts too, if the need arises.
The Central Selection Committee will also consider (really well done) App notes / How to's / What I did's - that haven't or won't be published through "normal channels". (This is a general response to a PM by one of you).
This applies especially to Propeller based projects, but BASIC Stamp applications are fair-game as well.
We will also consider "old stuff" (already published), but newer not-yet-released stuff is preferable (that's not to say that historical stuff can't win however).
I won't be entering this contest - not that I could win anyway - because well, two QuadRovers might just be overkill. I would like to know more about the parting out parts though.
Hey, you know I'm perfectly willing to publish, especially if I have a chance of getting something in return, so I'll publish a Hackaday article on my Propeller-powered Nerf gun shot-counter I made Monday night just to prove it!
(You guys probably thin I'm big into Nerf or something...)
We will also consider "old stuff" (already published), but newer not-yet-released stuff is preferable (that's not to say that historical stuff can't win however).
<pageant voice>
If I were to win a Quad Rover, I'd use it to keep me off the streets and tinkering in my basement. The benefit to humanity is obvious!
</pageant voice>
Due to some major new projects at work, I have been squashed for free time for about two weeks straight, but this contest is a serious motivator to create some free time. My scavenger hunt project that I shared at the last meetup is perfect for this and is about half done, so perfect timing.
Hey, you know I'm perfectly willing to publish, especially if I have a chance of getting something in return, so I'll publish a Hackaday article on my Propeller-powered Nerf gun shot-counter I made Monday night just to prove it!
(You guys probably thin I'm big into Nerf or something...)
No, we're just glad that you're not into paintball or airsoft.
Another twist - How about telling us how you'd use a Quadrover for maximum benefit to humanity - what would you do with it?
Well, it is getting cold out side and we have a TON of leaves in the yard. I'd much rather be able to head downstairs to the robot workshop so I can solder and build a larger robot army. I think the Quad Rover could get an attachment so IT can deal with gathering up the leaves and moving them to the street instead of ME having to do it.
That and perhaps an attachment to pull a small trailer so it could take out the trash....
a) If you're working (or can work with) a non-profit organization, you'll be a "preferred entry"! What we're really looking for is a way to spread this technology to those who can benefit through the education that it'll provide. If your non-profit suggestion is a winner, the non-profit will get the benefit of the technology (through your efforts of getting it running and "showing it off"), as well as educating a part of society that otherwise might find it difficult to have access to this type of technology. The institution benefits through your expertise as a mentor/educator, and you'll personally receive a $150 credit (good on any Parallax products) for your great character! Check to see if your organization qualifies here.
b) If you're a Grinch, and want to keep the Quadrover all for yourself, we'll have to issue you a "1099" for tax purposes because the value of a Quadrover is over the threshold for "non-reporting prizes".
We're hoping that this will open the floodgates a bit to benefit as many individuals/organizations as we (that's YOU and us) can.
a) If you're working (or can work with) a non-profit organization, you'll be a "preferred entry"! What we're really looking for is a way to spread this technology to those who can benefit through the education that it'll provide. If your non-profit suggestion is a winner, the non-profit will get the benefit of the technology (through your efforts of getting it running and "showing it off"), as well as educating a part of society that otherwise might find it difficult to have access to this type of technology. The institution benefits through your expertise as a mentor/educator, and you'll personally receive a $150 credit (good on any Parallax products) for your great character! Check to see if your organization qualifies here.
b) If you're a Grinch, and want to keep the Quadrover all for yourself, we'll have to issue you a "1099" for tax purposes because the value of a Quadrover is over the threshold for "non-reporting prizes".
We're hoping that this will open the floodgates a bit to benefit as many individuals/organizations as we (that's YOU and us) can.
Do universities count? For example, on the IRS website the entry that comes up is "Regents of the University of California at *****". I write my tuition checks to the regents, but I don't work with them...
@SRLM: I attend a local college (for my high school senior year), so if showing it off there counted, I'm in.
Wait, you attend the University of California? Nice! That's one of the best tech schools out there, nice job!
Unfortunatly, though, also one of the most funded. I doubt they don't have the finances to buy a robot of the magnitude of the Quadrover. Still, it's a chance that Parallax could pick that.
@Microcontrolled: Funded for professors, perhaps. But for undergraduate students? They have been increasing fees for as long as I have been here, and most professors have given up on making their students buy anything that costs more than $50.
@SRLM: Yikes.... $34,645 as of now, if you don't live in state. I imagine the professors are well funded!
I'll put in a vote for you to get a quadrover.
Matt, that is the most disappointing news all day.
Micro, really. Really?
What are you disappointed about? You can win two different ways:
a) as originally outlined...publish stuff yada, yada. The 1099 may or may not impact you - you'll have to decide that (sorry, we can't circumvent the law).
or... b) you can impact a large number of people by being a "Benefactor" - Microcontrolled - You've got so much knowledge about all this really cool technology...why keep it to yourself? Spread the joy! :cool: Make their day, and your day will be "made" beyond theirs!
Either way there's a Quadrover in your midst :cool:
Will we give preferential treatment to somebody who wants to win for a Girl Scout Troup, over someone that writes about our products in the hopes of getting their own QR? Maybe so. But maybe not exclusively so... (we have a pile of these things to ship!)
'course, there's always a backup plan...Doggiedoc, what's yer bid?
-Matt
@SRLM: Yikes.... $34,645 as of now, if you don't live in state. I imagine the professors are well funded!
I'll put in a vote for you to get a quadrover.
Public universities are getting pretty close to private universities in cost. I just got the bill for next quarter, in state tuition: $3740 in tuition plus $691 in mandatory fees (student center, student services, course materials, division 1 fee, ...). Room and board as charged by the university housing is about $4400 (I work my off so I get it for free). All told, a quarter of college will cost about $8800 per quarter or $26400 per year for in state students, not including additional costs (cell phone, books, clothing, additional food, etc.).
I haven't gone through the budget, but I think much of the money is lost in administration. It was recently estimated that to create a purchase order document (like a University backed check) costs about $30 in accounting for each one.
In any case, I would probably (personally) decline a quadrover donation made to the Regents UC. Trying to get things through the system is almost impossible, and rarely logical. If it made it through at all it would probably be ready to use just before graduation. I appreciate that some organizations on the 1099 might have good systems to get that money where it needs to go, but not the UC.*
*Side note: both the University and the College of Engineering will take a percentage of any donated money. I wonder what they would do with the quadrover? I don't know, but I bet they'd just give us a robot with three wheels or maybe they'd empty out the gas tank first...
@Matt: I don't want to be misunderstood! I am all for educating the masses on how fun electroncis and robotics is! The thing that scared me was the word "organization". I am not an organization, or a teacher, or anything that looked like it qualified, so that is why I said I was disappointed in the new rules. I didn't know that simply showing it off made me a "Benefactor", if that's the case, then of course I'll show it off! I'd do that even if I had bought it! I like to share things like this with everyone I can, and I could find a pretty large number of people who I could show that would be interested in it. Bersides, I've looked, and I bet this would be the only robot in the entire area where I live. No clubs, meets, groups, etc. that I can think of.
I'll be waiting to see who Parallax chooses, I'm sure it will go to a good place either way.
Comments
BTW, if I have interpreted the meaning of a Bezier curve incorrectly, it is due to the fact that the term is familiar to me because it is used in 3D modeling, so I am picturing a physical path that is perhaps different from the mathematical term.
What I really need, due to the lack of distance given by a Nerf dart, is the Parallax laser range finder coupled with an algorithm to calculate the trajectory angle of the dart set by the angle of the gun, set by a servo.
Get your running shoes on, OBC.
Back on track! I've gotten several PM's from you'all - and all are good ideas - run with them!
It looks like were gonna have about NINE or TEN Quadrover give-aways (those are the pre-crated ones)! We'll also have several that we can "part out" as lovely parting gifts too, if the need arises.
-Matt
Nah...That's not any fun!
-Matt
The Central Selection Committee will also consider (really well done) App notes / How to's / What I did's - that haven't or won't be published through "normal channels". (This is a general response to a PM by one of you).
This applies especially to Propeller based projects, but BASIC Stamp applications are fair-game as well.
We will also consider "old stuff" (already published), but newer not-yet-released stuff is preferable (that's not to say that historical stuff can't win however).
-Matt
And this was started on my Birthday, so I now claim my prize.
Jim
WHO YOU CALLIN' OLD STUFF? Sheesh, just because I had another birthday Sunday...
OK, 5 then.
(You guys probably thin I'm big into Nerf or something...)
Does this count? http://find.botmag.com/508125
The GatorBots would love a QuadRover! So would I...
-Matt
If I were to win a Quad Rover, I'd use it to keep me off the streets and tinkering in my basement. The benefit to humanity is obvious!
</pageant voice>
No, we're just glad that you're not into paintball or airsoft.
Well, it is getting cold out side and we have a TON of leaves in the yard. I'd much rather be able to head downstairs to the robot workshop so I can solder and build a larger robot army. I think the Quad Rover could get an attachment so IT can deal with gathering up the leaves and moving them to the street instead of ME having to do it.
That and perhaps an attachment to pull a small trailer so it could take out the trash....
Robert
a) If you're working (or can work with) a non-profit organization, you'll be a "preferred entry"! What we're really looking for is a way to spread this technology to those who can benefit through the education that it'll provide. If your non-profit suggestion is a winner, the non-profit will get the benefit of the technology (through your efforts of getting it running and "showing it off"), as well as educating a part of society that otherwise might find it difficult to have access to this type of technology. The institution benefits through your expertise as a mentor/educator, and you'll personally receive a $150 credit (good on any Parallax products) for your great character! Check to see if your organization qualifies here.
b) If you're a Grinch, and want to keep the Quadrover all for yourself, we'll have to issue you a "1099" for tax purposes because the value of a Quadrover is over the threshold for "non-reporting prizes".
We're hoping that this will open the floodgates a bit to benefit as many individuals/organizations as we (that's YOU and us) can.
-Matt
Wait, you attend the University of California? Nice! That's one of the best tech schools out there, nice job!
Unfortunatly, though, also one of the most funded. I doubt they don't have the finances to buy a robot of the magnitude of the Quadrover. Still, it's a chance that Parallax could pick that.
I'll put in a vote for you to get a quadrover.
Micro, really. Really?
What are you disappointed about? You can win two different ways:
a) as originally outlined...publish stuff yada, yada. The 1099 may or may not impact you - you'll have to decide that (sorry, we can't circumvent the law).
or...
b) you can impact a large number of people by being a "Benefactor" - Microcontrolled - You've got so much knowledge about all this really cool technology...why keep it to yourself? Spread the joy! :cool: Make their day, and your day will be "made" beyond theirs!
Either way there's a Quadrover in your midst :cool:
Will we give preferential treatment to somebody who wants to win for a Girl Scout Troup, over someone that writes about our products in the hopes of getting their own QR? Maybe so. But maybe not exclusively so... (we have a pile of these things to ship!)
'course, there's always a backup plan...Doggiedoc, what's yer bid?
-Matt
Public universities are getting pretty close to private universities in cost. I just got the bill for next quarter, in state tuition: $3740 in tuition plus $691 in mandatory fees (student center, student services, course materials, division 1 fee, ...). Room and board as charged by the university housing is about $4400 (I work my off so I get it for free). All told, a quarter of college will cost about $8800 per quarter or $26400 per year for in state students, not including additional costs (cell phone, books, clothing, additional food, etc.).
I haven't gone through the budget, but I think much of the money is lost in administration. It was recently estimated that to create a purchase order document (like a University backed check) costs about $30 in accounting for each one.
In any case, I would probably (personally) decline a quadrover donation made to the Regents UC. Trying to get things through the system is almost impossible, and rarely logical. If it made it through at all it would probably be ready to use just before graduation. I appreciate that some organizations on the 1099 might have good systems to get that money where it needs to go, but not the UC.*
*Side note: both the University and the College of Engineering will take a percentage of any donated money. I wonder what they would do with the quadrover? I don't know, but I bet they'd just give us a robot with three wheels or maybe they'd empty out the gas tank first...
Now that's funny and embodies higher education these days!! Well said!
I'll be waiting to see who Parallax chooses, I'm sure it will go to a good place either way.
-Matt