Hi everybody my name is zman and Im new to the forum. This past week Ive been online looking at different websites to work on my senior project and I think Lynxmotion is by far the best that Ive seen as far as purchasing what I need. A little bit of info about me: Im about to graduate with a BS in Biomedical Engineering Technology and currently working on my senior project that I would like to revolve around the robotic surgery system. I know that it is not new to the world (i.e da Vinci) but it has not been attempted at my school. Hopefully if I do a good enough job my dean will give me a letter of recommendation for my transcripts for my Masters. To start out with I need to control my robotic arm for the endoscopic tools but there also needs to be another arm for the positioning camera so that the simulations shows up on my laptop. It doesnt have to be in a surgery room setting. I can take it a step further and make the robotic surgery system mobile for combat situations or even space travel. I do like the idea of making the surgery system mobile than having it sit in one place. So my questions are am I able to use the robotic arm for picking up surgery tools and also have a camera installed on the same one or do I need two arms for this? Also am I able to install the arm models that are available to make them mobile? I have about 5 months to complete my project. I appreciate any feedback to point me in the right direction. Im fascinated with robotics but have no experience with them, lol.
You can try sticking two AL5A/B/C/D arms --one with a camera attached, the other one with a surgical tool-- on top of a tracked vehicle. I don’t know. These kits aren’t necessarily used for “live” application, I think they are meant more for hobby use.
But that is an interesting project, to demonstrate how you could create robotic surgical tools (mind you, these arms aren’t accurate enough for surgery)
I’d say you need to be very familiar with current surgery techniques and the the equipment currently used. A good optical system is needed if humans are involved. A traditional arm for the cam and possibly an optical laser pointing device. The actual surgical tools might need a stronger support to ensure the required surgical precision.
You might want to do a little more research on the da Vinci. The da Vinci doesn’t just “pick up” the surgical tools. The instruments are “installed” onto a dV PSM (Patient Side Manipulator), and then must be moved in such a way as the tip (work end) of the instrument moves as the surgeon wishes, i.e., hold, move, cut, cauterize etc. This motion must be “translated” through a virtual “pivot point”, i.e., the cannula which serves as the entry point through the patient’s body. Not an easy task! The LM arms do not have the required motion or length, nor can they carry the required weight.
Hard to describe! But hold a pencil about midway with your fingertips, and attempt to move the eraser end with your other hand and write your name on a piece of paper. You can’t move your fingers (simulating a cannula) Now consider that you need to be able to move in 3D, not just the 2D of the paper. Not easy!
As to holding the instruments (1 to 3), cameras (two HD color cameras and high intensity light source), no, the LM arms aren’t going to be up to the task! The PSC (Patient Side Cart) is nearly 7’ tall! And the arms are quite long, with seven (7) axis of freedom each!
It would be interesting to demonstrate the action of a PSM. the IK might get a little complex, 'tho…
movie:
viddler.com/explore/intusurg/videos/35/
Alan KM6VV
Thanks for the responses so far and they do make sense. My project DOESNT need to show a simulated surgery on one of our models, thats too advanced for our class. It just needs to show that the robot is capable of driving up to the model, sensing that it is there, pick up a medical tool such as a scalpel knife, forceps etc. etc. or find out the weight of the tool and just use a block, place it on the model to simulate surgery and have a camera on another arm. Just by browsing through the website so far it looks like I am able to control it from my labtop, not too sure about wireless. So with this information does anybody have any more ideas? Im more concerned about making my robotic arm mobile and able to either take pics or have a camera installed. Im not sure if Lynxmotion sells any accessories like that. Thanks guys this helps out alot. I have to have a proposal by the end of the week.
I saw these two videos on youtube. I thought they were really interesting. They’re about remote control interface with your robot arm.
youtube.com/watch?v=58DIp7NblzU
youtube.com/watch?v=zZwnyZPk … re=related
I really like the second video. Now I have so many ideas swimming in my head for my first robot project 
Message for Robot Guy:
I plan on building a mobile robotic arm, but there are so many options to choose from as far as combo kit, no electronics/no hardward etc. etc. I would like to control my arm/rover from my laptop so would they both need to be a combo kit? Thanks.
The RIOS program is a really powerful and accurate way to control the arm from a PC, but it wasn’t designed to control a mobile base. Theoretically RIOS has 2 extra channels that could be used for a dual channel motor controller, but it would be difficult to control the bot that way. It would be able to repeat sequences even for the base, but there is no feedback from the wheels. So it’s not going to be accurate. Controlling it in real time, the arm is no problem, but the mobile base would be difficult.
We have code for the Atom Pro to control the arm and the mobile base (our A4WD robot) in real time from a wireless PS2 controller. It’s possible to replace the PS2 code with Xbee routines so you can control it from a PC. But you will have to write a program for the PC to interact with the bot. There are people here that can help with this.
Actually, the A4WD1 (PS2) would work just as good. I am looking for something to control the A4WD and the AL5 with one controller and from what you told me it seems like I can with the PS2. It doesnt necessarily have to be from my laptop. So my list for my senior project of having a mobile robotic arm is:
A4WD1 Combo Kit (PS2)-399.69
ARM AL5 Combo Kit-360.65
Wrist Rotate (Lightweight)-33.84
I think this will get me going in the right direction. If I missed anything please let me know.
That should do it!