Subject:
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Re: Lego Compatible (was Re: JCX and Legos...)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Wed, 15 Sep 2004 19:28:21 GMT
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Viewed:
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994 times
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Joe:
I was hoping more people would chime in. Alas, I do
not see much interest in this thread right now.
Please accept my apologies in advance, my
comments below are going to sound like an
advertisement ...
In lugnet.robotics, Joe Strout wrote:
> In lugnet.robotics, Mr S <szinn_the1@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > My question for everyone is this: How much interest is
> > there in LEGO compatible aftermarket products that are
> > not plug-n-play compatible with the RCX?
>
> Much interest from me. Details below...
>
> > That is to say, if you build your own controller, how
> > much interest is there among the LEGO using community
> > for sensors and motors that will easily attach to LEGO
> > built robots?
>
> Some, though that's hard to say since I haven't yet built my own controller, and
> it's not clear to me how hard it would be to interface those sensors and motors.
> But I'm certainly not opposed to the idea.
>
> More attractive would be a set of sensors and motors that work with a controller
> that I can also buy and just use. In other words, make an alternative to the
> whole Mindstorms line, but fully compatible with LEGO bricks (including Technic
> parts etc.). Make it cheaper to get started with than Mindstorms, and it would
> be very appealing to me.
Such a system already exists and it is called RoboBRiX.
The web site is <http://WWW.RoboBRiX.Com/>. All of
the boards snap right onto standard Lego studs. The
system already has more and better sensors than
Mindstorms and even more sensors are on the way.
If you want to see what is in the pipeline go visit:
<http://Gramlich.Net/projects/robobricks/modules.html>
> > Would you be interested in a LEGO structure designed
> > to house a basic stamp or PIC module?
>
> Yes, especially if I can program it from my Mac using only a serial cable and a
> terminal app.
Already been done. The MicroBrain8 RoboBRiX can
take any module that is pin compatible with the
Parallax Basic Stamp II. This includes BS2 (basic),
Javelin (Java), OOPIC-C (basic and a couple of others),
the StAVeR (AVR microprocessor that can be programmed
using the Gnu C compiler), etc. The PICBrain11, is a
PIC16F876A that has a boot loader that allows it to be
programmed from any terminal emulator.
> > Would you be
> > interested in LEGO compatible sensor blocks that could
> > be plugged into controllers that are not an RCX?
>
> Yes, if they can be plugged into whatever controller I happen to have -- you see
> the issue here.
RoboBRiX sensor/actuator modules are use standard
asynchronous serial communication protocol. If you have
a controller that can bit-bang serial bits in and out on a
couple of pins, it can talk to a RoboBRiX module.
> > This is something that
> > I'm doing for my own robot, but I find it intriguing
> > that I might be able to continue this hobby in some
> > respect by selling, at moderate prices, the things
> > that I develop.
>
> I encourage you to do so. I've looked for such products for sale, and while
> there are some who have sold such things in the past, and others who claim to be
> planning to sell such things in the future, I couldn't find much in the way of
> such things actually available now.
You can buy RoboBRiX now.
> > I'm always willing to share, but for many, I know the
> > ease of ordering a part is better, and often the only
> > method, of adding parts to their robots. My concern is
> > should I simply share, or make the design such that I
> > can sell such things.
>
> I think you could share the design, but still sell the assembled units. Those
> who would be willing to build them from the design alone would probably not be
> willing to pay much for them anyway -- they'd probably just design their own
> instead. And those who are willing to pay, won't be less willing just because
> you've made the design available.
I totally agree about assembled units. Alas, RoboBRiX are
currently sold as kits (no surface mount parts tho').
> > That sounds a bit odd, I admit, but if there is enough
> > interest, I will design for manufacture rather than
> > for a single piece.
>
> Doesn't sound odd to me.
>
> Cheers,
> - Joe
It isn't easy to get low volume products to market.
The first RoboBRiX modules were working about
6 years ago. The became available for sale about
a year ago.
I don't want to discourage people from trying, because
the more products in the market, the more choice
the consumer has. But be forwarned that it is not
easy task.
Later,
-Wayne
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Lego Compatible (was Re: JCX and Legos...)
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| (...) (URL) All I can say is wow, and thanks. RoboBrix is a very cool line of products. Have you yet interfaced the h-bridge modules to an RCX output so that it mimics the RCX output? Also, on the shaft encoder board, do you sell any (...) (20 years ago, 16-Sep-04, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | Re: Lego Compatible (was Re: JCX and Legos...)
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| (...) I can't just buy and use any of those, though -- soldering is required. And though I've made a couple attempts to learn soldering in the past, it's almost always ended in frustration and fried components. I'm not opposed to computing current (...) (20 years ago, 16-Sep-04, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Lego Compatible (was Re: JCX and Legos...)
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| (...) Much interest from me. Details below... (...) Some, though that's hard to say since I haven't yet built my own controller, and it's not clear to me how hard it would be to interface those sensors and motors. But I'm certainly not opposed to (...) (20 years ago, 14-Sep-04, to lugnet.robotics)
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