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We need more robotics experts, please! — Parallax Forums

We need more robotics experts, please!

GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
edited 2012-03-21 08:24 in General Discussion
Apparently robo nerds are in short supply, and in hot demand. I love it when the girls chase after me, even if it's for my robots.

http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/03/20/robotics-jobs/?iid=HP_LN

-- Gordon

Comments

  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2012-03-20 13:10
    Ladder Logic, which is the de facto language of PLCs (which are discussed in the article), is so annoying to me that I refuse to get involved, regardless of the pecuniary inducement money. For anyone who has ever programmed in any other language, Ladder Logic is like swimming in a raincoat.

    There has got to be a better way!

    Edit: There are better ways. 1000's of them.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-03-20 13:21
    Atomic Batteries to power, RoboNerd to speed. Where are we going again?
    batmobile.JPG
    816 x 612 - 174K
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2012-03-20 14:19
    Starting the party early, erco?
  • rod1963rod1963 Posts: 752
    edited 2012-03-20 15:47
    Ladder Logic is easy to learn and use, in many factories they don't have dedicated programmer and instead the electricians handle all the coding. The places where I worked, the electricians had no problem learning and using LL.

    Personally I'd like to see Parallax put out a LL package or better yet a subset of IEC61131 like Structured Text for the Prop II. It's a perfect fit for the beast.
  • dmagnusdmagnus Posts: 271
    edited 2012-03-20 16:04
    AAACH!! Don't tell me it's worse than RPG!
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,712
    edited 2012-03-20 16:04
    User Name wrote: »
    There has got to be a better way!
    Edit: There are better ways. 1000's of them.

    IEC61131 has 3~5 ways of entering data, ranging from ladder logic to instruction list (not unlike pasm). SFC is nice and pretty and graphical.

    Many of the programming packages let you switch back and forth from one view to another. Its exactly the same "code", presented and edited different ways.

    Sparkies like the ladder view because its similar to tracing electrical circuit diagrams, so quick for them to understand.
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2012-03-20 16:07
    @ rod: By no means am I saying LL is difficult to learn. What I am saying is that for someone used to crafting control solutions in assembly or C - where everything is timed in nanoseconds, and where the bag of potential tools is almost unlimited - I find that LL is akin to playing bongo drums with my feet. It is crude and awkward, and limited to only the slowest and simplest pieces.

    @ Tubular: I like the sound of that!
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-03-20 18:11
    User Name wrote: »
    ... I find that LL is akin to playing bongo drums with my feet. ...

    I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who feels that way. Some years ago I tried to help a friend solve a simple problem with his automation. I figured I could sit down and bang my way through this LL stuff in a matter of hours. Problem was, it seemed so mind-numbingly stupid, I just fell into a stupor. Despite coffee and other incentives, I couldn't keep focused on it long enough to solve the problem.
  • jdoleckijdolecki Posts: 726
    edited 2012-03-21 02:42
    PLC's are great for a machine assembling widgets over and over again. Because its all you need for 99 % of the automation in today manufacturing.

    There cheap, 99 dollars for Automation Directs 6 in 10 out brick.

    You be surprised how many of today's maintenance / electrical guys cannot troubleshoot or program a PLC.

    And forget about it if you have and older machine with relay logic.

    I've been a maintenance electrician for 20 years now and these new guys coming into the field with there iphone's and stuff

    are like a deer in headlights when you put them in front of a machine that will not work.

    I'd take a plc any day over some embedded system.
  • stamptrolstamptrol Posts: 1,731
    edited 2012-03-21 05:14
    Notwithstamding informed personal opinion of one language over another, there are advantages to a system programmed in ladder logic.

    In particular, the ease of programming for simple logic, standard sensors and most importantly, the deterministic scan time which is very important when machinery control is involved.

    The ultimate, IMO are the few micro controllers on the market which allow the concurrent use of both BASIC or C and ladder logic with variables passed seamlessly from one to the other.

    Cheers,
  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2012-03-21 08:24
    ..."ladder logic programming"...huh! Well I'll be. I learned something today. Ain't never heard of it before.
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