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Toddler Experiment — Parallax Forums

Toddler Experiment

Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
edited 2014-08-27 18:33 in General Discussion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cq-sAdeavY&list=UUfveeuCAWNnt_YoNEp4e3aw

One of my favorite robots is the Toddler. Because I design robots for Minds-i, I had to try and make one from the Minds-i parts. It walks nice and straight and is pretty cute! I am still trying to get it to turn and walk backward with any grace. I should take a video of it walking with my Toddler. Thanks for the design Parallax, too bad I can't do anything with it as it is your design but it was fun to do!

Comments

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2014-07-31 08:17
    Actually, the book that comes with the Toddler explains very clearly how to get it to turn and walk backwards. I suspect that you just haven't seen the book.

    My Toddler is right now stored away as parts. It was getting a bit old and tarnished, so I disassembled it and gave it a coat of paint. But I've yet to get back to it. I really want to upgrade it to the Propeller ProtoBoard and Forth on the Propeller. The BasicStamp did work, but there was very little capacity to do substantial add-ons.

    Have you ever seen a Parallax Penguin?
    http://www.p-robot.com/
  • Jen J.Jen J. Posts: 649
    edited 2014-07-31 11:00
    Thanks for sharing, Carol!
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-07-31 11:40
    Hi Loopy, I have read the Toddler manual cover to cover when I built my Toddler. But there are some physical differences in the two robots and I had to make some programming adjustments to get mine to walk as well as the Toddler does. I just haven't completed doing that for this robot yet. I've seen the Penguin but don't have one. It did not seem to be on the market for very long. It is really cute. Since the instructions for it are still around I may try it but very small robots are hard to do with the parts system I am using.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,392
    edited 2014-07-31 13:28
    Carol, you are free to use our Toddler design for any purposes, even commercial. I can provide a more formal approval if needed (just requires attribution).

    Also, see if you can get your adaptation up on one leg when it walks - should have a smoother gait. Its a nice robot and impressive to see the concept in use.

    Ken Gracey
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-07-31 16:20
    Thanks Ken,

    What I would like to do is see if my editor, Tom Atwood at Robot Magazine will let me do an article about it and I will use both my Toddler and this robot as a sort of past and present type of story. Since I have Twinkle Toes on my Toddler I'll have to do something similar on this one. This will be fun! As for lifting the leg a little more I am trying to get the fine line between standing on one leg and falling over. My design is not quite as stable as the Toddler is.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-07-31 21:24
    You do beautiful work as always, Carol! A wonderful tribute to the original Toddler bot. You are such a cool lady, I hope we meet some day.

    One geometric difference I see is that you have a sizeable gap between your robot's feet. The original Toddler (and Penguin) had almost no gap, the feet nearly scraped against each other. I think that may help shift the weight faster, lean more, and lift the raised foot off the ground more.

    Keep up your excellent work, I want to see your Minds-i Toddler doing a Figure 8!
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-07-31 23:30
    Thanks Erco, I'll give that a try and let you know what happens.
  • AGCBAGCB Posts: 327
    edited 2014-08-01 08:18
    Carol Hazlett wrote: »
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cq-sAdeavY&list=UUfveeuCAWNnt_YoNEp4e3aw
    I should take a video of it walking with my Toddler.

    I 2nd that.

    Aaron
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-08-07 03:05
    Here's a plywood Toddler clone, hardware kit only, for $50. Intended for use with the British Genie microcontroller.

    http://www.kelvin.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=k&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=283723
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-08-07 08:59
    Interesting! Looks like an interesting kit. I don't want to market mine, I was exercising
    my skills at using my Minds-I parts. I am doing a little rework to add some of the suggestions
    I've gotten from the forum.
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2014-08-07 19:48
    @Carol - can't remember if I shared this bit of history when you got your Toddler. Can't wait to see your article - sounds great!

    Blue Bell's Home Center Walker - http://www.bluebelldesign.com/AppMod2.htm
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-08-07 21:31
    Looks like the toddler design is very popular! It is a lot of fun. I have taken erco's challenge and will soon produce a video of mine doing a figure eight. I am not working on it full time because I'm programming my Robomagellan for Robothon on Sept. 20. I am doing the Toddler as a break from navigation and GPS! My head is spinning! And I just finished and submitted my next article for Robot.
  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,243
    edited 2014-08-09 06:50
    Carol - that is awesome! Were you able to construct it from the stock MindStorm kit parts? I am a big fan of the Toddler and Legos too!

    Paul
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-08-09 07:12
    @Carol: Here's the figure 8 thread for inspiration: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/138125-Erco-s-Figure-Eight-Challenge
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-08-09 16:56
    Thanks for the link Erco. I'll definitely be reading it.

    Doggiedoc, no it is not Lego parts it is a company called Minds-I at mindsirobotics.com. Their parts are much bigger and stronger than Legos and have a locking mechanism that holds them together. They are for making larger robots that can be used outdoors. You can see some of my creations on my You Tube channel.
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-08-09 17:02
    Erco, I just watched your Spiderbot video! Great project, you are a genius, I am totally impressed! What kind of microcontroller did it have and what language did you use?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-08-09 20:00
    Oh, Carol... you're the real genius. I'm a simpleton who resorts to trickery to pretend like I'm keeping up with all you smart folks here. :)

    I use "just enough" processor to do the job. In two of my recent small bots for SERVO magazine, I used a PicAxe (don't hate me, you asked!) which programs in BASIC.
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-08-10 22:34
    My very first wander into the realm of microcontrollers was long ago with a little trainer called a PicTutor which was programmed in assembly language. I think they are still around in a more modern version. But this was back in the days of DOS. You said you resort to trickery, did you see my signature! Even a real genius did it!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2014-08-22 00:47
    erco wrote: »
    @Carol: Here's the figure 8 thread for inspiration: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/138125-Erco-s-Figure-Eight-Challenge

    And I just got my Penguin around an 8 last night: http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/138125-Erco-s-Figure-Eight-Challenge?p=1288629&viewfull=1#post1288629

    Carol, you're on deck to do a Figure 8 with your Minds-I Toddler. Go Girl!
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-08-27 14:41
    I accept the figure eight challenge but can not work on it until after Robothon on Sept. 20th. I am programming my Robomagellan for competition and it is the hardest program I have ever tried to do! Here is a picture of my Robomagellan and the URL to a Robomagellan being done by Xandon Frogget and team. I made the chassis for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMHIXD5fMIQ&list=UUfveeuCAWNnt_YoNEp4e3aw
    Right after seeing the video I went and got a haircut and trashed that horrible dress!
    100_1173.jpg
    1024 x 768 - 175K
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2014-08-27 17:53
    That is AWESOME!!!! Are those both Wild Thumpers? Sure put mine to shame but some day!!! Where is the event located? I live in Federal Way and would love to attend.
  • Carol HazlettCarol Hazlett Posts: 312
    edited 2014-08-27 18:33
    those are Minds-i kits. The smaller one is their 4X4 and the larger is the 6X6. You can see their site at mindsirobotics.com. The Robothon 2014 competition is on Sept. 20th at the Seattle Center Armory with Robomagellan being held outside on the Settle Center Mural Lawn. All the specifics for Robothon can be found at robothon.org.
    And everything is free.
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