Servo - March 2008

robot’ with built-in Skype VoIP phone, webcam, and software suite ( www.meccano.com). The French robot, sold under the Erector brand in the US, seems equally valuable as a source of parts and as a development platform. At $300, the treaded robot is about the price of a WiFi webcam without audio capabilities, battery pack, or mobility.

I’m undecided about the viability of the long-awaited Pleo ( www.pleoworld.com) as a repurposable robotics platform. Given the hype, I was expecting something with the capabilities of the discontinued Sony Aibo. However, I don’t envision squads of autonomous, bucolic Pleos playing robosoccer. That may change with the efforts of an innovative modder, however.

One of the more interesting robotics products featured at the 2008 CES that spans the D3 and entertainment categories is the Gibson Robot Guitar ( www.Gibson.com). Thanks to robotics and electronics developed by Tronical ( www.Tronical.com), the guitar frees the guitarist from the dull and time-consuming task of retuning the guitar. It’s difficult to rationalize the added $700 expense for simply keeping six strings in tune, but where the German Tronical technology shines is in alternative tuning and intonation adjustments.

Many traditional and modern songs use alternatives to the standard EBGDAE tuning (i.e., the first or thinnest string is tuned to E, the next string to B, and so on). Retuning a guitar to common alternatives such as Dropped D (DADGBE) or Delta Blues (DGDGBD) takes time. So much time that performers typically switch guitars between songs to accommodate alternative tuning. With the Robot Guitar, alternative tuning is as simple as turning a selector switch. The six motors in the head and piezo audio detectors in the bridge adjust individual strings to the appropriate tension within four seconds.

The other big headache the Tronical technology addresses is adjusting intonation, which typically involves a trip to the guitar shop for adjusting the bridge. Instead of simply pressing a button, correcting intonation involves manually adjusting the distance between points holding the strings (the nut at the far end and the bridge at the near end). While this is a manual operation, the circuitry in the guitar signals the operator how far to turn the adjustment screws to achieve proper intonation.

There have been other automatic, motorized tuners on the market, but the Tronical-Gibson is the first to pull it off in a clean, fully integrated way. Because the Tronical components are the same size and actually lighter than traditional components, the system is available for Fender Strats and a variety of Gibson guitars. The system can be quickly installed and removed tracelessly without extra drilling, holes, or screws.

While the market for all stringed instruments is threatened by all electronic instruments, the Robot Guitar is a good example of how robotics can be integrated seamlessly and almost invisibly into an existing product to provide enhanced value. I leave you with the challenge of identifying application areas where the same approach can be applied to activities of daily living, from driving and cooking to simply moving from one place to another. SV

Extreme Robot Speed Control!

$399

6 14V - 50V - Dual 80A H-bridges - 150A+ Peak!
6 Adjustable current limiting
6 Temperature limiting
6 Three R/C inputs - serial option
6 Many mixing options - Flipped Bot Input
6 Rugged extruded Aluminum case
6 4. 25" x 3. 23" x 1.1”