What we hate, love and expect when we build a robot

Community General Discussions
1

Hi. I'm new in this forum and I'd like to introduce myself and suggest a thema in order to talk about it to all of you (or most of you :)

I love making robots, and all that sorrounds it (electronics, programming, artificial intelligence, mechanics, and so on... actually, I have my own CNC machine and my own 3D printer...) And I'd like to know which are the things that we expect, hate and love when we make a robot... which are the things that frustrate us, the problems that we usually find when we build a robot and so on.

In my case:

I love the process of designing the robot (making the 3D design), and imaginating how it will be... 

I hate:

- wiring the electronics... I do really hate wires!!! :)))

- finding cheap electronics (Thank goodness, nowdays Arduino, and Blackberry have made our lives easier and cheaper and you can find almost anything, but this was something crazy in the past!)

- finding the mechanic parts (that's the reason why I purchased a 3D printer)... specially gears, and small screws!!!

It's frustrating for me:

- spending a lot of time resolving mechanical problems

- realizing that, at the end of the process, what you have built is just only a robot, a machine without feellings... it's not alive!!

(I think, all of us imagine our robots in our minds just like if they were alived, but finally, we discover that they were only imaginations... what a pity!!!) Don't you?

Well, that's me :) 

I will wait for your opinions :)

2

**I agree totally **

Unlike you though I absolutely have no experience in this field, but am very passionate about creating something unique. It’s the idea that drives me. No I am not making a robot persa, but I am wanting to build mechatronic/animatronic/robotic hybrid. Fully functional mech suit exoskeleton frame as a base for my War-Machine armor…

3

Interesting topic…

Ah a very interesting topic indeed!

Well, my feeling is both pleasure and pain :-) 

It’s the same pleasure as I was a child, when building something meaningful from some parts, that can move or do something by itself or for myself at the distance, in space or time.

It’s also a pain, when mechanics or some programming don’t work so I have to re-iterate several times until I have it working. However it’s part of the process and we learn from it. The only way to minimize the pain is learn more and more.

Anyway I think we are here because we like the overal experience of robotics, not just having something done, but the process. I think when we build something, we develop ourselves too.

We try to give some life to our robots, but they give us more than life, experience and hope.

See you around! Nos vemos!

4

so, what about LEGO?

You’ve said: "Anyway I think we are here because we like the overal experience of robotics, not just having something done, but the process. I think when we build something, we develop ourselves too."

So, what about the LEGO Mindstorms? Indeed, everything is “almost” ready. So, there is not so much to learn and not so much problems (mechanics and electronics) to solve (normally).

I think there are people who loves building from zero: getting RC servos, programming the Microcontrollers and so on. And something like LEGO doesn’t allow to do that. So, are we a little bit masochistic? :slight_smile: Hehehe

Nowdays there are also solutions which are based on “plug & play” modules whose functionality can be configured with a simple drag & drop movement in an mobile app. Is this th future? I don’t think so. And you?

5

…"creating something unique"

Maybe this is the idea which join all of us: "…creating something unique"

But my feeling, when I finish a robot and it works is… Ok, it does more or less what I expected but… what else? And finally, the robot stays on shelves or in a box, and then I have the feeling that I’ve spent my time and my money (but I know that I’ve learned many things and so on, but for the rest of the people, what I’ve made is for nothing… Don’t you have the same feeling?

6

All depends on the goal

Well ropola,

That’s another question and I think it deppends totally on the goal when approaching robotics:

  • what is the level of expertise of the person involved?
  • what is the knowledge in general terms? reading, handeling small parts, looking for own resources…
  • what is the final goal to learn? Basic robotics, advanced, something very new…

Depending on the answers you go for a “ready to make kit” or for “design from scratch, gathering parts, and build”.

For kids for example it’s better to have a certain kit, they follow the steps and see something finished and working. Soon they realise they can tweak the robot, and the curiosity drives them to learn more and put more effort on it. At least something similar happend to me with electronics, then computing and finally the whole robots.

I learnt also how to overcome failure and keep going until you arrive to your final result. That’s a key skill that has to be developed by steps, otherwise people usually quit too early.

What kind of robots have you done already? Please explain about yourself so I can see where you go :wink: You can see mine here so we are at the same level :wink:

7

… my robots

How can I upload an image of my robots in my account?

8

**in your profile, then… **

 

Go to your profile with this link:  ropola  (open it with a new webrowser tab so you can keep reading this)

Then go to your “Info” tab -> Biography -> Edit your biography

You have a full editor there

Then you can see it in your profile -> View

I’m looking forward for it :wink:

9

But for the rest of the people, I’ve made nothing. My life story

In 2009 I saw Iron man. Great movie, great suit. But for some reason, that I cannot explain I couldn’t let it go. I wondered, is it possible for a nobody “me” to make this. So it begins I find a prop building site, which I am a member of proudly. Studied the builds, discovered animatronics. Made a torso in foam, ditched that. Not good enough. Tried pepakura with resin and fiberglass, ditched that. So now metal, steel is just too heavy, aluminum yes. So I educate myself in metal casting and hammer forming. Read books on arduino, studying range of motion, mechatronics. Trying to learn and understand robotic’s. The whole time that I am on this journey of discovery and education, I have earned myself the title of being the butt of everyone’s jokes. Yes I can make a foam suit and call it a day. But that’s not good enough for me. It has to be the best I can possibly make, 100% effort, and I know it can be. Guys at work laugh and tease. Some forums see me as a hack. But I will not quit. So I will put up with the laughter, the teasing, and I will proudly wear this badge of being a hack. This is not for them, it’s for me. I do have some small support and that’s great, and I am appreciative for that. So love it or hate it, none of it matters except for what it matters to me…George

10

But for the rest of the people, I’ve made nothing. My life story

In 2009 I saw Iron man. Great movie, great suit. But for some reason, that I cannot explain I couldn’t let it go. I wondered, is it possible for a nobody “me” to make this. So it begins I find a prop building site, which I am a member of proudly. Studied the builds, discovered animatronics. Made a torso in foam, ditched that. Not good enough. Tried pepakura with resin and fiberglass, ditched that. So now metal, steel is just too heavy, aluminum yes. So I educate myself in metal casting and hammer forming. Read books on arduino, studying range of motion, mechatronics. Trying to learn and understand robotic’s. The whole time that I am on this journey of discovery and education, I have earned myself the title of being the butt of everyone’s jokes. Yes I can make a foam suit and call it a day. But that’s not good enough for me. It has to be the best I can possibly make, 100% effort, and I know it can be. Guys at work laugh and tease. Some forums see me as a hack. But I will not quit. So I will put up with the laughter, the teasing, and I will proudly wear this badge of being a hack. This is not for them, it’s for me. I do have some small support and that’s great, and I am appreciative for that. So love it or hate it, none of it matters except for what it matters to me…George

11

The important thing is what you do…

 

Hi Murdoch,

Don’t worry about what other say (unless you harm anyone of course). Just work on your projects and keep going. The important thing is the will you want and what you passion drives you to. Check for example this guy. I follow him for some time already and I think his projects are cool. Probably he’s not going to accomplish anything close to the iroman suit, in part because the ironman guy is multimillionarie, also is fiction. If you analize the suit from today’s phisics and engineering point of view, it’s not possible right now. However it’s good to try because you can accomplish some great projects, and maybe participate in some Cons like this other guy.

Keep trying and publish here. I’m looking forward for your projects.

12

this is my robot

Ok. This is my robot

13

Lovely!

 

Oh ropola your robot looks lovely! Is it your first robot? If so it looks very advanced to be the first.

Please publish more about it for example here, about its electronics, mechanics, also the issues you found and I’m sure you’ll get some ideas on how to solve it and make it alive ;-) 

Here are some tips on how to start posting in LMR so you can start faster:

TIPS

Thanks for sharing, and… Let’s Make Robots! :slight_smile:

14

**I am familiar **

The first fella I don’t really know, the second is James Brunton out of the UK. 

Lol no I Don’t expect to make a real Iron man suit. Just a replica with lights, sound and servos. The difference between all the rest and what it is I want to do is to have a full range of motion. …

15

Good!

 

Then things are “easier”. You can get some ideas from the links I passed you but I’m sure you have loads more.

I look forward to see your proyects around :wink:

16

… to be useful or not, that’s the question.

 

Well, no everything one produces is going to be an ever lasting product, because you have to make prototypes, also different models until you finally create the “good” one. But let’s say you are going to create something good from the begining…

Let’s ask the other way around: ¿where is going to end that robot?

  • daily using like a roomba, or a talking robot to talk with?
  • being sold in an online shop?
  • maybe a present for a friend so it can be used in the office or as a toy?

If you don’t want your robot to be ended as a thing in the shelves, then think about where is going to end up your robot :wink:

P.S.: your robot then is going to need some maintenance as it has mechanical and software parts… you can think about that as a possible business or a liablity as some people are going to ask you to maintain the robot…