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Subject: 
Re: SSClagorpion
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.technic
Date: 
Mon, 19 Apr 2004 16:19:43 GMT
Viewed: 
12993 times
  
In lugnet.technic, Steve Hassenplug wrote:
> In lugnet.technic, Kevin L. Clague wrote:
> > In lugnet.technic, Steve Hassenplug wrote:
> > > In lugnet.technic, Kevin L. Clague wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > Ignoring side walking for a moment.....
> > > > 
> > > >   1) One motor to turn a single switch on/off.  This allows or prevents walking.
> > > > 
> > > >   2)  One motor to flip 8 switches.  This one controls walking vs. turning.
> > > > 
> > > >   3)  One motor to flip 8 switches.  When walking, this one controls forward vs.
> > > > backwards.  When tuning (in place), this one controls right vs. left turning.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > That was my second choice.
> > > 
> > > Ok, three motors.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > I still think walking sideways is cool, but optional.
> > 
> > It is still on the list, I was just leaving it out of the equation for a moment.
> 
> 
> Ok, so what's required for walking sideways?  One switch (= single set of
> switches, all activated at once) to switch from forward/back/turn to
> side-to-side?  I'm sure that comes to about 16 reverser switches, or something.
> :)

It is my belief that sideways walking will require a third degree of
articulation in the leg/hip structure.  It will cause the legs to swing towards
and away from the body.  By replacing the forward/backward part of the leg sweep
with the side to side leg sweep we should be able to walk.

I'd guess 16 also.....  We'd need 8 to swap the side to side motions for the
forward back sweep, this gives us one direction of side walking.  We'd need
another 8 to swap the direction sweep so that we can walk toward the other side.

Looks like the sideways muxes will need a motor.  We can probably use the
forward/backward motor to also control the right/left muxes as well.

> 
> I just happened to think, the legs should be in a known position when switching
> from forward/back to side-to-side.
> 
> Do the legs need to be in a know position when switching from forward to
> backward?  Or walking to turning?  If so, we need sensors for that...

Yes.  Changing the forward/backward/turning muxes needs to be done when the feet
are in the air.  Observing any one foot is probably sufficient.

The above costs us four motors, and one sensor.

> 
> 
> Here's my current bill of materials:
> 1 Spybot, for IR direction control.  This is mostly used as a sensor.
> 2 RCXs.  I really haven't counted I/O, but two sounds like enough.
> 1 Battery box for compressor(s)
> 
> All those should be installed in the body of the beast.  The Spybot/RCXs will
> need to communicate via IR.  (there are other options, but we'll start there)
> 
> The Spybot has two motors, but very limited sensor feedback.  It would be good
> to use the Spybot motors to activate something like claws (open & close), where
> it won't be critical if they work exactly right.  We can use the Spybot remote
> to send it commands, like "follow me" or "attack anything in front of you"
> 
> All the outputs from 1 RCX control movement. 1=Activate, 2=function
> (turn/straight), 3=forward/backward

Until you try side to side walking.

> 
> Two inputs would be used for sensing the edge-of-table.  That's one input for
> each front leg.  Each leg would have one sensor to detect when the leg is in
> it's "down" position, and one sensor to detect the ground.  The two sensors in
> each leg can be connected together, to use one input.  This could be two touch
> sensors, or a touch+light sensor combination.
> 
> Two inputs can be used for the arm "feelers".  Maybe several touch sensors per
> arm, or one rotation sensor for each.
> 
> 
> I'm not sure the RCXs really need to "know" when the SSClagorpion is actually
> walking.  It can assume if it runs the motors, then the switches are set, and it
> is going.

Yes, I think it can assume that if it has set the switches correctly it is
walking.

> 
> Beyond that, there is one motor to set the switch for curling the tail.
> 
> That leaves 2 motor outputs, and 2 sensor inputs, for further expansion.  Plus a
> touch sensor & light sensor built into the Spybot.  The outputs from the second
> RCX can be connected to a gearbox, like Eric was suggesting, if we want to
> control more things, but I think that may just make things more complex than
> they need to be.
> 
> 
> It would be nice to mount the Spybot in the end of the tail, but it needs to
> communicate with the RCXs via IR, so I don't think that will work well, unless
> we connect a fiber-optic line.  No, I don't think that will work, either.
> 
> 
> So, SSClagorpion will walk forward & backward, turn right & left, open & close
> two claws, and move it's tail.  It can stay on a table/stage, detect when it
> bumps into something (going forward), follow the "controller" or be driven
> around like an RC car.
> 
> Is that enough cool functionality?

It works for me!

> 
> Steve

Kevin



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: SSClagorpion
 
(...) Ok, we [plan to] have a sensor on the front foot, and can detect when that is down. So, no more sensors are required. So you said, the forward/backward must be changed while the feet are in the air. We've been thinking of having a touch sensor (...) (22 years ago, 19-Apr-04, to lugnet.technic)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: SSClagorpion
 
(...) Ok, so what's required for walking sideways? One switch (= single set of switches, all activated at once) to switch from forward/back/turn to side-to-side? I'm sure that comes to about 16 reverser switches, or something. :) I just happened to (...) (22 years ago, 19-Apr-04, to lugnet.technic)

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