When a robot's not a robot, but is
GordonMcComb
Posts: 3,366
This product is not new - been out a year or so:
https://anki.com/en
but it's a great example of brilliant people putting the science of small robotics to work in a new and engaging product. The Anki DRIVE is basically a slotless slotcar racer. The cars contain sensors for staying on the flat roll-up track, and are controlled via Bluetooth (I think, rather than WiFi) from compatible mobile devices such as the iPad. IOW, the sort of things we can do with an assortment of parts from sites like Parallax.
I'm also impressed that they have a full programming API. From my quick overview it seems well written, with clear and concise C examples. (Ahem. Another reason to learn C!)
In another thread Bomber noted MS has shuttered their robotics development group. Too bad. Had they thought of something like this, not only would the group still exist, they'd be making ca$h for their Redmond masters.
https://anki.com/en
but it's a great example of brilliant people putting the science of small robotics to work in a new and engaging product. The Anki DRIVE is basically a slotless slotcar racer. The cars contain sensors for staying on the flat roll-up track, and are controlled via Bluetooth (I think, rather than WiFi) from compatible mobile devices such as the iPad. IOW, the sort of things we can do with an assortment of parts from sites like Parallax.
I'm also impressed that they have a full programming API. From my quick overview it seems well written, with clear and concise C examples. (Ahem. Another reason to learn C!)
In another thread Bomber noted MS has shuttered their robotics development group. Too bad. Had they thought of something like this, not only would the group still exist, they'd be making ca$h for their Redmond masters.
Comments
They have come a long way from Total Control Racing sets, (of which I still own over 100 pieces of track).
I have been a Slot Car nut since I was able to put one on the track and squeeze the throttle grip...
Thanks for sharing.
-Tommy
Wow, those are cool.
I used to program in C a lot. I recently went through many of great C tutorials on the Learn site but the magic just isn't there for me. Programming the Prop in C seems like a chore but programming the Prop with Spin is playtime for me.
I'm sure I'll learn to use C on the Prop, but I have a hard time getting excited about it.
Those Anki DRIVE sure look like they need some sort of Propeller controlled accessory.
If Prop-C seems like a chore, you might voice your concerns to Andy Lindsay, who is writing many of the tutorials and libraries. Personally, I find Prop-C with Simpletools and other libraries on par with the Arduino, or maybe a little easier as there isn't quite the concentration on creating objects for everything (or is that part of the problem?). As all of it is a work-in-progress I'm sure Parallax would be happy to entertain suggestions.
I think they're betting on the nostalgia aspect!
From what I can gather from pieces here and there, the "track" is an imprint of tiny patterns that the optical sensor under the car picks up and translates into position on the course. The patterns indicate things like curves, distance from the center, and so on. The brightly colored inside and outside "guard rails" look to act like a form of line-following stripe.
A YouTube video I came across appeared to show single-user play, where the system ran the challenge car against you. While I applaud any product that promotes team play, it's pretty cool if you can practice alone against the computer. Can't do that with slot cars.
Agreed. C is a good language to know.
I think the tutorial are great (and I've told Andy so).
Agreed. I don't really like the Arduino IDE. I end up using a lot of tabs in Arduino since there isn't an way to collapse sections of code.
I think a big part of my problem with SIDE and the Arduino IDE could be solved with a more advanced editor. I'll probably look into using Code Blocks.
With the Prop Tool, it's easy to find a method in a child object. It's not easy to find a function in a library in both Arduino and SIDE.
I also have a hard time knowing how many cogs are in use when the code is so compartmentalized in C.
I think the reason for most of my resistance to C is just how used to Spin I've grown.
I also find it annoying to type brackets and semicolons. Heck, I'm indenting the code anyway, why do I need to type addition symbols? (rhetorical question)
I've made a few minor suggestions which the Lindsays appeared to appreciate (I think they had already planned to make the changes I suggested).
I understand the need make C available for the Propeller and I'll probably learn to use C on the Prop, I just want to be able to grumble a bit in the process.