BT Young Scientists 2009

[Matt Denton]

Hi,

Just to say I will be at the BT Young Scientists Technology Exhibition with iC Hexapod in Janruary 09, If your in the area come along and say hello

[Matt Denton]

BTYS was a great fun albeit exhausting... only just recovering!

I was invited over as part of the World of Robots arena, but upon my arrival I was given my own stand . which was great but it meant I couldn't get away from the stand at any point for breaks . Fortunately by day two I had enlisted the help of a couple of voulenteeers who came and stood in for me during lunch.

iC added approximately 1600 photos to his collection over the three days. I also demoed the ball tracking hexapod project using the µBug whihc went down well:

[Arildo]

Hi Matt,

First off all I wish you, and your gollegues a very nice Christmas and all that..

I'm an "automation engineer" (mechanics and electronics matter)
I really concider buying one of your hexapod - and probably will do soon. It would of course been in stealth black...,but where is the sensitive "foot"? Does it came off in this bad "economical crises"?. (I dont feel any of the "economical crisis" here in Norway).
I want a robot that I can run via RC, and also run in the terrain! (high grass, and with some grass-growth, some water too). As being an electronic engineer, I want to program my Hexapod to go over high grass, I'm familiar with PIC programming.
I also am an model-airplane builder, and know all of the modern "servo motor" used and their capabilities. Does the "e-brain" got any "current "I"" controls at all? ( if their hit any obstactle for instence).

What I want is an hexapod that could go in the forest, with eye control, and if it "flip over"- it should recover..., and it should be controlled over remote and visual control. -Operates under Norwegian winter and cold temperature....
I know that I have to make a lot of this by mo own, but do you got any idea of how funn this would be, and how it should be done?

Best regards, and "Mary Christmas", once again!
Arild Olsen, Norway
http://www.scubatron.com

[quadrocopter]

Hi Arild,
I'm finishing my one these days and will post a buildblog under MFN in Norwegian, so stay tuned.
If you want it to work in "sub arctic" temperature you have to use high quality servos and - if possible - replace the original grease with some with a higher "freezing" point (higher velocity)
LiPo's don't like cold so you have to go for A123 or similar.

It's to heavy to walk on snow even if you put on some bigger feet.

RC-control is no problem, I'm using a small Spektrum RX with a homemade p-Brain interface.

Send me a PM if you buy one, it's nice to have a small Hexapod community i Norway to.

-Frank-

[Matt Denton]

RC-control is no problem, I'm using a small Spektrum RX with a homemade p-Brain interface

Hi Frank, are you interested in sharing details on your interface, there are others you are looking to implement the same PWM control?

[Lazer155]

Hi Arild,
I'm finishing my one these days and will post a buildblog under MFN in Norwegian, so stay tuned.
If you want it to work in "sub arctic" temperature you have to use high quality servos and - if possible - replace the original grease with some with a higher "freezing" point (higher velocity)
LiPo's don't like cold so you have to go for A123 or similar.

It's to heavy to walk on snow even if you put on some bigger feet.

RC-control is no problem, I'm using a small Spektrum RX with a homemade p-Brain interface.

Send me a PM if you buy one, it's nice to have a small Hexapod community i Norway to.

-Frank-

I would also like to know how you are using a Spektrum reciever. I was thinking of using a ppm-pwm esc converter but I wasn't sure if it would work.

[quadrocopter]

....Hi Frank, are you interested in sharing details on your interface, there are others you are looking to implement the same PWM control?

Hi Matt
I'm on Christmas vacation these days, I'll do some final testing when I'm back home early January.
If everything goes ok I will post HW drawing and hex code.

-Frank-