Spent way too many hours hacking data streaming out of a game controller. I don’t do video games, I’m figuring out how to use it to control seven servo-motors
Category: Play
Visualizing LEGO
Got back to my Lego Mindstorms robot after resting my brain for a few weeks. Started building a software visualization of the robot to help me understand where to move the joints to position the tip of the robot at a particular position and orientation. Needed a nap afterwards.
AFOL
Did something really nerdy: posted to a technical discussion on an AFOL (adult fans of LEGO) site.
Jigsaw Puzzle
Completed a travel-themed jigsaw puzzle, a gift from a friend.
Unsolicited Gifts
Reviewed our unsolicited holiday gift collection: a “gifting set” from The LEGO Company (wrapping paper, card, stickers, etc.), a face mask from our state representative, and plastic champagne flutes from the Minnesota Orchestra (to be used during their New Year’s Eve broadcast).
Learning in a Time of Covid
In these days of Covid, travel is not an option. Instead, learning new stuff has been fueling our ikigai (getting us out of bed in the morning), and giving us plenty to talk about over dinner. Until one of our dinnertime conversations, I thought grow lights were pretty straightforward. Apparently the cognoscente measure “photosynthetically active… Continue reading Learning in a Time of Covid
Redesigning a Robot’s Joint
With temperatures dropping to single digits (Fahrenheit), decided to stay inside and rest my joints. Spent much of the day redesigning one of my robot’s six joints.
Globetrotter Martha
Google Photos’ People-and-Pets search feature makes it easy to click a face and go directly to photographs of that person. Here’s an example from our photo collection: Can you spot the odd person out? Yup? I’ll call her Martha. Of course, I clicked Martha’s face, and up came about 20 photographs. I’ve written about Martha… Continue reading Globetrotter Martha
Understanding Axes
Used a straw constructor toy I just happen to have to help understand the axes (red=x, green=y, blue=z—the rotational axis) for each joint in my current robot according to industry standards. I find it difficult to think spatially, so need to double-check
Robotic Arm
Spent way too much time working on the robotic arm I’m building. Currently it has 8 servo motors, 3 microcomputers, pneumatics, and machine vision. The main challenges, now, are software engineering and redesigning subassemblies as I learn more. Then, I’ll take it all apart.