Twin Tweaks ...
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create a platform where applications
including sound, video, and signal
processing could be integrated
without sacrificing the performance of
any single application. A project that
combines video and other signal
processing sounds a lot like a camera
toting robot – how fortuitous! And to
top it all off, the Blackfin cuts through
the waters of signal processing with
the utmost energy efficiency.
The Blackfin processor on the
SRV-1Q handles the camera (Figure 5),
which is an Omnivision OV9655 1.3
megapixel sensor. For those of us that
don’t structure our thoughts with spec
numbers, that basically means that
the bot is outfitted with a nice color
camera. The SRV-1Q seems to be
nothing but quality through and
through, and you get what you pay
for. The bot comes with a price tag of
a little under $500, which really seems
quite reasonable given the caliber of
the robot. A fine chassis, robust
motors, a stunning camera, an able
processor, and more software than
one could shake the proverbial stick at
all seem like excellent justifications for
something that is a much better use
of one’s money than the newest
gaming console.
My Robot is More
Well-Traveled than
Your Robot
We were eager to test out the
capabilities of the SRV-1Q, but the
idea of tackling a robot without the
comfort of a software CD did seem a
little daunting. We wanted to get an
idea of the bot’s capabilities and limitations before we tackled it ourselves,
so we looked to the place where any
roboticist would look if they were in
the same situation – Australia!
A fun showcase of the Surveyor
robot’s abilities comes from a
somewhat unexpected place – the
folks at the Australian branch of the
energy company British Petroleum.
The BP Explorer is a website that
allows users from all over the world
to drive a Surveyor robot around a
diorama of a cityscape and the
surrounding countryside. Not only is
this a cool way to
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demonstrate the wireless capabilities
of the Surveyor, but there is also
something intangibly empowering
about controlling a robot that lives in
another continent. The project also
earns kudos for the camera on the
Surveyor, which gives a clear color
picture of the surroundings that is
detailed enough to read model
billboards scattered around the
environment that offer clues to a
secret message.
Why would these intrepid bots be
given a playground by an energy
company, anyway? Apparently, the
demonstration is meant as a way to
spotlight the company’s environmental initiatives. The SRV-1Qs in the BP
Explorer all run off of batteries that
are charged with BP solar panels. For
that reason, the bots only run during
the daytime (in Australia).
When the website debuted, the
little bots were so popular that the
waiting time to use one of the five
was several hours. When we surfed
the website, however, there was no
wait time at all and we were able to
drive around at our leisure. After a
couple of rounds, we felt that we
had become sufficiently acquainted
with our robot’s Australian cousins,
so we turned back to the home front
with renewed excitement and pride
in the capabilities of the
robot.
We personally think
it is a great thing to see
the adventuresome
bot involved in the
environmental cause,
especially when it takes
the form of a fun and
interactive game.
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22 SERVO 11.2008
