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What would you like to see from a 12inch humanoid robot — Parallax Forums

What would you like to see from a 12inch humanoid robot

MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
edited 2011-11-24 02:11 in General Discussion
I know this is robotic-related but I'm hoping to get a general view so please don't bump my thread.

I have recently finished a platform that allows multiple features to our mini-humanoid robot. Currently, it can:

1. Tell stories
2. Play puppet

plus minor features like tells the time, stands correctly (if its laying on its back or front) etc.

I'd like to what you would expect this little guy to do for you?

Comments

  • SkoorbSkoorb Posts: 42
    edited 2011-11-21 03:48
    Neat project! I'd like to see something that you could attach sensors to like the boe bot for line following etc.
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2011-11-21 03:56
    Thank you. Had that requirement from a polytechnic just last month. I'll add this in.
  • zoopydogsitzoopydogsit Posts: 174
    edited 2011-11-21 03:58
    Hi MacTuxLin,

    I'd been thinking for a while that a prop based humanoid robot (PropMan) would be possible, that using the capabilities of the prop and a gyro and servos that it could stand and ballance, and possibly even walk (controlled fall forward/step/ballance). Of course it'd need lipo batteries to get the power/weight right. Well done if you have already done this!

    If you developed it to be prop based, then maybe have a framework that allowed you to develop/add in other prop modules - so the basic form might just have the mechanics subsystem (Prop & gyro to drive servos/ballance/walking etc.) and a command & control propeller system that directed the mechanics subsystem and linked into others. Other plugins might do things like use a Wii remote camera for tracking IR images (some work has been done here already). Follow an RF beacon (carried by a child, so the robot toddles/walks to stay in range). Lot's of opportunities. Simple voice recognition like the module Parallax used to sell would be nice. And an optional subsystem that gave it a head/movable eyes (not to see with - but to gesture), movable mouth & ability to smile.

    After discussing with my wife, she got exited and mentioned that if it could have "sew" points, that allowed for a customized constume to be sowed on, ie. dog/bear/tiger/panda/etc. allowing for end user customization, then you could be a real hit for a child owner. ie. A Panda bear that read a bed time story and played basic games with a child could be a real hit!

    Ideally if it could play games - like "Simon says" and other childs games (maybe peekaboo - sensing change in range/distance (ultrasonic? / sharp IR range detectors) )etc. That would be seriously cool ;-)

    If you/Parallax had it as a kit then I'd be seriously interested.

    Congratuations if you've already made some progress on this!
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2011-11-21 04:07
    Thank you Zoopydogsit! You have helped light up many bulbs on top of my head. You can see some pictures & video on our Facebook where it tells stories & children playing it as puppet.

    Yes, adding a camera will my top priority.
  • John A. ZoidbergJohn A. Zoidberg Posts: 514
    edited 2011-11-21 04:16
    Doing housework? Carrying some small articles to assist the disabled? :)
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-11-21 04:47
    I think it could teach Tai Chi, lead a session of aerobics, dispense pills to your grandparents, remind you of schedules, pick up small things around the house, keep you company and be a friend, become a walking dictionary and encyclopedia, become your robot hobby, entertain with singing and dancing, catch mice and stray bugs on the floor, become a security night watchman for your home, clean the floor, take messages to other parts of the house, play hide and seek with the kids, teach numbers, and have fun with games.
  • zoopydogsitzoopydogsit Posts: 174
    edited 2011-11-21 05:05
    Give it a bluetooth module, have it recognise you by your phone ;-) and greet you when you get home by waiting for you at the front door. Personally I'd consider this a far reaching goal - having it navigate it's way to your front door is near impossible at this stage for a biped. Though the BlueTooth module may allow it mute/freeze when the phone rings so it doesn't disturb you.

    Give it a range of Parallax air quality sensors to warn you of CO, CO2, etc. in the house. I read in a hack-a-day forum of other "air quality" sensors in a single package. Alarm when air quality event is reached - ie. too much CO. This would be possible.

    Alarm clock/Calendar/Nag (depending on a WIFI connection and integration into other systems to publish your calendar (outlook?) though a lot of system integration!).
    - Wakes you up in the morning
    - Tells you of your schedule (don't forget you have the car service today)
    - Nags you (Your wife's birthday is next week, you need to buy her a present. Don't forget to call your mother, it's been two weeks now. Your turn to pick up the kids. Uni assignment due in 33 days. Pick up milk on the way home as it's about to expire based on the last one you bought).

    Actually - don't add the "nag" feature - the users will void the warranty in less than a week!

    Far reaching goals for ideas maybe the Robot "teddy" from the movie AI, "Major Chip Hazzard" from Small Soldiers. Again these should be considered for ideas and far reaching goals, not as currently achievable. Bicentenial Man, and others.
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-11-21 07:24
    Humanoido wrote: »
    I think it could... dispense pills to your grandparents....

    "I am sorry, Grandpa, but your health coverage this year has been zero-funded and your reverse mortgage is in the red. Please return your hip replacement to your in-home health care provider immediately."

    robot_attack_old_glory.jpg


    ET16JUN09.bmp

    "I'm sorry, Mrs. Norquist, but you have exceeded your allotted usage of Preparation H.... Emergency cost-saving pill extraction will begin in 5... 4... 3... 2....1..."
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-11-21 09:13
    Something that walks and is affordable. The last thing we need is another $1200 Bioloid/RoboPhilo/Kondo/Kumotek/Robonova humanoid with 30 servos that fights and self-rights. Somewhere between a RoboSapien and Lynxmotion Brat. Something that actually walks around a real house, on carpet/rugs, which can make the transition from carpet to linoleum.

    Frankly, I don't want or need a humanoid robot to tell time & stories and dance.

    You asked! :)
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2011-11-21 09:45
    Hmmm, I recall the movie "Small Soldiers" from several years ago. They were basically robotic action figures that went rogue. I don't think we're ready for that.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-11-21 10:16
    Then there's the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Invaders"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invaders_(Twilight_Zone_episode)
    The_Invaders.jpg
    534 x 384 - 36K
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-11-21 12:44
    erco wrote: »
    Then there's the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Invaders"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invaders_(Twilight_Zone_episode)

    I saw that episode when I was a kid. Freaked me out. Strange, but in my memory one of the little bots (I think the one that cuts the lady's hand) looked a lot like the B-9 robot on Lost in Space. Am I wrong about that? My memory wires crossed or something?

    In any case, when MacTux mentioned a 12 inch figure, those were the bots that came to mind. Erco, between this and your turkey hand sweater comment, you're freaking me out.
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2011-11-21 13:51
    It sounds like this is target toward children. I think voice command would be neat for a child..... like sit, stand, spin around and pull my finger and tell me a story. If you keep the commands to a minimum, I expect you'll have a better chance of responding properly to a young child's speech.

    Second choice would be "Follow me" where the little bot would follow moving objects..... hopefully the toy's owner :) This with voice command, it might be like a pet.

    Who knows? with the right feature set, you might sell a million of em'

    If money were no object (unlikely for a kid's toy) autonomous navigation would be the ticket.
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2011-11-21 15:14
    Can the Little guy be thought to pick Strawberry's...???
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-11-21 16:00
    If you're presold on child interaction and story telling, check out a WowWee RoboPanda. They did some good things and some bad things. Touch sensors & general interactivity were good, though some reviewers say the personality & voice were annoying. Bad, it was a hard plastic heavy thing. Hard to hug & love hard plastic. Plush is always good for the kiddies. Bad, it sorta kinda moved around but didn't walk.
  • zoopydogsitzoopydogsit Posts: 174
    edited 2011-11-21 16:08
    Personally I think a winner would be;
    - Low/reasonable cost platform
    - Basic movement (walking capability accross a range of surfaces (as Erco mentioned) which I think a lot of this has to do with ballance change detection and reaction)
    - Modular platform (allowing for featuring up)
    - Open platfom (documented connectivity to base, supporting innovation)

    I recall years ago trying to learn ballroom dancing, and realised that a lot of it was just joining together a library of moves into a macro function called "waltz". Then in execution higher level functions gave destination objective and predictability of collision/imminent alert of collision requiring significant change.

    Probably likewise with this guy, having an open platform with documented connectivity and a library of micro and macro functions. Which can then be directed by a command module/additional modules.

    Your organization could sell both the base platform and your version of the enhanced platform (ie. targeted for kids). The open source community could further develop this, thus reducing your development costs, leading to a wider market reach and selling more units.
  • graffixgraffix Posts: 389
    edited 2011-11-21 16:10
    I think you would have to pay to much money for servos to do any thing worth it.Heck even a single arm gets expensive way to quick.just my opinion
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-11-21 16:19
    Of course there are hundreds of ways to achieve "walking". Besides the obvious and expensive 73-servo route, there are simpler alternatives that could work for a kid's toy:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWSbFfW3lC4
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLvMBUxk_As
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie1AWV3-yS4
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDljbN7eJ5Y
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2011-11-21 17:56
    Hello All,

    Thank you very much for everyone's inputs. They are very valuable & constructive comments/suggestions.

    Some of the suggested items had already been done (proto-typed & tested) during these 2 years of working on this. What Zoopydogsit suggested is actually what I had done for this controller. Currently, it is powered by 1 Prop1 but it has a 20-pin connector for future feature e.g. 2nd Prop1, Gyroscope, Xbee wireless, etc. I've even tested a similar real-steel type proto-type using XBee. There are so many features that can be added that I think only a community like all of you can realise it.

    I'll be selling this controller through our company's web-site (dead-line of completion had been pushed many times) hopefully by next week.




    Attachment not found.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-11-21 21:16
    $WMc% wrote: »
    Can the Little guy be thought to pick Strawberry's...???
    That reminds me, when I was a little kid, my parents had me pull weeds in the garden. If I had a little humanoid, I could program him to do the work.
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2011-11-21 21:24
    Humanoido wrote: »
    I think it could teach Tai Chi, lead a session of aerobics...

    Humanoido,
    For you, we could program a Tai Chi session, hopefully it will be convincing enough for others to follow. Will pose up to YouTube next week.
  • DavidSmithDavidSmith Posts: 36
    edited 2011-11-22 17:34
    Actually, it would be a world first accomplishment if you could just plain make it walk. NOT creep. Years of trying and even the quadruped machines haven't achieved true walking.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2011-11-23 04:18
    MacTuxLin wrote: »
    Humanoido, For you, we could program a Tai Chi session, hopefully it will be convincing enough for others to follow. Will pose up to YouTube next week.

    Thanks - that would be great! For those following along, Tai Chi can balance your Chi, reduce Hypertension, reduce the heart rate, and induce relaxed states of mind and body similar to Yoga. Some people have called it "life extension."

    I remember working on a limited subset of Tai Chi for the HT, Humanoid Toddler.
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?122969-Humanoid-Toddler-Robot
  • SkoorbSkoorb Posts: 42
    edited 2011-11-23 04:48
    I didnt realize this was a childrens product.

    How about something along the lines of a walking "See and Say" You could have a line of toys with embedded RFIDS. Hold up a toy horse and the robot says "A horse says Woof WOOF!"

    It could provide help with math flash cards in a similar fashion, or interactive books, maybe color and shape identification as well.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-11-23 07:39
    Twelve inch robot, two inch feet.

    No yakking no dancing.
    If it can walk properly that would be enough.
  • bill190bill190 Posts: 769
    edited 2011-11-23 09:30
    I think the ability to learn to do something would give it "depth" and it would keep people's interest.

    And not human ability necessarily, but maybe something along the lines of a dog and its limited ability to learn.
  • MacTuxLinMacTuxLin Posts: 821
    edited 2011-11-24 02:11
    Thanks Humanoido. I wasn't aware you did a similar model last year! We started our feasibility study & research in early 2008 but only actually started working on this early last year.

    Thank you David, Skoorb, Heater & Bill190. Yes, the initial & current objective is still to reach out to young children. I'll continue to add features that will lean more to this objective. Yes, walking "properly" on different terrain is extremely difficult. I have got it to walk but not "properly" as like a human. More work needed.

    The learning capability is also very important & is part of the P-Mode. So, each MTY will start to have its own personality base on the interaction with the child/user.
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