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Mind / Iron
by Bryan Bergeron, Editor
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Next Level Robotics
reach of every roboticist is software
development. For example, in the
area of robot vision, there is a need
to better recognize, track, and
differentiate objects, to read facial
expressions and gestures, and — in
general — to make robots more
socially adaptable. If your interest is
outdoor navigation, then there is a
world of software options to explore,
from GPS-based localization to
navigation with light and RF beacons.
Means of providing robots with
the ability to maneuver through
mazes and how to best avoid
ledges and low-traction areas have
yet to be perfected.
Connected to a PC, your robotic
arm or vehicle with appropriate
sensors can become just as
sophisticated as any rover developed
by NASA. Of course, you can work
on challenges completely within a
computer using simulations. And
that’s an efficient, low-cost method.
However, at some point you have to
validate your work on a real robot.
One thing I’ve learned over several
years of building robots is that
unless you’re working on a specific
hardware specification, you’ll make
more progress in shorter time if you
leave the design of the hardware
platform to someone else and focus
on the overall functionality.
For example, why spend months
designing and building an arm when
you can buy a kit from Lynxmotion
( www.lynxmotion.com) or
CrustCrawler ( www.crustcrawler.
com)? Even if you have to modify an
off-the-shelf arm, you’ll likely still save
time and money. I’ve used various
versions of the CrustCrawler arm —
PUBLISHER
Larry Lemieux
publisher@servomagazine.com
To an outsider looking in at
amateur robotics, it often appears
that the field hasn’t evolved much in
the past few years. Certainly, there
have been evolutionary gains.
Sensors are a little smaller and
smarter, and motors and controllers
are a little more powerful and
sophisticated. Furthermore, there
have been a few advances in
microcontrollers, such as the
development of the Parallax Propeller,
and more powerful field
programmable gate arrays or FPGAs.
Despite incremental advances in
the components we use to construct
robots, the fundamental capabilities
of carpet roamers, crawlers, and
arms haven’t changed much. The
leading edge of low-cost robotics is
often represented by toys carried by
the major retail outlets. So what’s it
going to take to get amateur robotics
to the next level? That is, to a level
that not only matches the capabilities
illustrated by commercial and
academic robotics, but that at least
hints at the capabilities we ascribe to
robots depicted in Star Wars and
Transformers?
First, a reality check. Developing
a semi-autonomous Martian rover or
a robotic prosthetic arm for a soldier
injured in Iraq takes significant
financial resources and teams of
engineers, scientists, and machinists.
So what can you do, given the
current economic environment,
to move your robot designs to the
next level?
The most fertile area in robotics
yet to be fully exploited that is within
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/
VP OF SALES/MARKETING
Robin Lemieux
display@servomagazine.com
EDITOR
Bryan Bergeron
techedit-servo@yahoo.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Jeff Eckert Tom Carroll
Gordon McComb David Geer
Dennis Clark R. Steven Rainwater
Fred Eady Kevin Berry
Bryce Woolley Evan Woolley
Jason Bardis John Toebes
Michael Simpson John Sosoka
Tim Wolter Aaron Nielsen
Chad New William Smith
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Tracy Kerley
subscribe@servomagazine.com
MARKETING COORDINATOR
WEBSTORE
Brian Kirkpatrick
sales@servomagazine.com
WEB CONTENT
Michael Kaudze
website@servomagazine.com
PRODUCTION/GRAPHICS
Shannon Lemieux
Joe Keungmanivong
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Debbie Stauffacher
Mind/Iron Continued
6 SERVO 08.2008
Copyright 2008 by
T & L Publications, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
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