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Vote for Robot! — Parallax Forums

Vote for Robot!

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2015-01-10 10:39 in General Discussion
Please take a minute and vote for my buddy's Meccano robot debuting at CES this week. It's a finalist in the "Last Gadget Standing" contest. Have a look at the video. It's a pretty cool toy, certainly a bit risky at $400. Voting button is at the bottom left of the page. http://lastgadgetstanding.com/2015ceslgs/meccanoid/

Comments

  • davejamesdavejames Posts: 4,047
    edited 2015-01-08 11:02
    ...today's the 8th - voting closed on the 7th.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-08 11:28
    davejames wrote: »
    ...today's the 8th - voting closed on the 7th.

    Wonder what time zone it was in.

    I got to vote this morning ( 8:00AM EST) and I noticed 1000 + votes after mine before it closed.

    (It's a very slow website)
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-08 11:35
    Oops, thanks Pal. My buddy just mentioned it on FB last nite, so at least Jim and I voted. Better to vote than veto!

    So for the rest of you, in my finest Emily Litella voice, "Never Mind".
  • zappmanzappman Posts: 418
    edited 2015-01-08 13:51
    erco wrote: »
    Oops, ....

    So for the rest of you, in my finest Emily Litella voice, "Never Mind".

    Gilda Radner as Emily Litella
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2015-01-08 19:09
    I think @ $400.00 it's a good deal for all that it does. Making me rethink the Quad idea!!!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-09 07:41
    Meccanoid won!
    https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10922833_10152625989510060_1356957154949072024_n.jpg?oh=6d7f8936d1d442244640f198c73e6634&oe=5537AA16
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-09 07:45
    I'm sure he only won by one vote, so mine counted! :)

    Unfortunately,
    This content is currently unavailable
    The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-09 09:46
    Here's the photo, the link was via Facebook.
    mecannoidwin.jpg
    720 x 687 - 80K
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-09 10:08
    erco wrote: »
    Meccanoid won!

    Was there any doubt? This this is clearly a game changer, particularly for those schools and groups unhappy with the limited selection of parts kits for competitions.

    Our job is to get the Propeller connected to this thing.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-09 10:17
    Or a BS1 with relays? Throw in some plywood for good measure. :)
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2015-01-09 12:37
    Aw, man...

    And I just spent way too much money getting LEGO Mindstorms EV3 for my nephew for Xmas...
    There's no way I can explain buying a kit like that now...
    Especially as he doesn't have any Meccano from before.
    (He - and his father - has a lot of LEGO, both ordinary and Technics... )
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2015-01-09 12:42
    Very cool. In that incredibly annoying Starwars "I'm a friendly robot, have a nice day" kind of way.

    Is that some kind of new plastic Meccano or the real deal?
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-09 13:18
    Plastic is going to be a lot lighter for the larger size and shape of many of the plate parts. Seems to work okay.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjyaR6u3cx4
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-09 13:19
    Lightweight plastic parts, and they will soon release CAD files so people can 3D print their own. And there is discussion about releasing the code to hackers. Open source rocks!
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-01-09 15:27
    erco wrote: »
    Open source rocks!

    Yeah, I hate rocks that are closed source. Tried to launch a Kickstarter project with open source cow patties, but sadly it didn't reach its goal.
  • DrPopDrPop Posts: 227
    edited 2015-01-09 21:24
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    ...
    Our job is to get the Propeller connected to this thing.

    So as the newb on here, what is controlling this thing? If it's an Arduino, wouldn't that be pretty taxed with voice recognition and movement at the same time? Or is it something more powerful, like a Raspberry Pi or Beaglebone Black with a couple Arduino type chips as "slaves" to run the motors?
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2015-01-09 22:10
    At the moment it does not look like they are saying. However, If I had to venture a guess I would say something from Maker from the articles I have read. I could be wrong though.

    I signed up to receive news about it's release, etc.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-10 08:49
    I can find out what the controller is. Also of interest are the new servos, which send position feedback for programming/puppeteering.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-10 09:03
    erco wrote: »
    I can find out what the controller is. Also of interest are the new servos, which send position feedback for programming/puppeteering.

    Dynamixel or one of his own design.?
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-10 09:23
    Custom servos, much cheaper than Dynamixels. I can't afford those; only Duane Degn is rich enough to dabble in Dynamixels. I gotta stay on his good side.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-10 09:55
    Sell the Cessna and you will have the money. Oh...wait a minute.. that's going to be your next large robot. Never mind..
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2015-01-10 10:06
    Quick Facebook reply from my pal "Chippy":


    yeah.. we have to get you and your hacker pals some robot kits so you can start playing around.


    the processor is a 16 bit toy grade microcontroller that has speech and voice recognition on it. The SPI ports are spoken for b/c they are communicating with 2 different Flash memories. Also, tell your buddies that I'm going to TRY to see if we can release the schematics...but no promises


    however, we will be making the data communication protocols between the microprocessor and our smart modules, public. Therefore, your buddies can use their Stamps or Arduinos or Raspberry Pis, they can just use that. i'll be working on templates soon
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2015-01-10 10:39
    erco wrote: »

    however, we will be making the data communication protocols between the microprocessor and our smart modules, public. Therefore, your buddies can use their Stamps or Arduinos or Raspberry Pis, they can just use that. i'll be working on templates soon

    He forgot to mention Porpeller. :)

    Lookin' good so far.
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