From: CBS Sunday Morning
July 25, 2010 11:38 AM
Daniel Sieberg reports on how robotic technology is becoming more than just science fiction and is changing our lives on a daily basis right now.
Probably some of you might be asking “why hasn’t he been posting anything for a while?”
Well I took a break from robotics to hike the Appalachian Trail. I have posted my journal and photos on line for you to see what I have been up to.
New posts will be coming shortly on Memphis robotics, but until then enjoy my adventure.
This video shows the first test drive of the next Mars Rover, Curiosity, in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., on July 23, 2010.
Like many, I have a lot of old programs. I have one that I have to have, but when I switch to WIN 7 that program CRASHED WIN 7 when I installed it. Obviously it is not compatible. But Windows 7 Virtual XP it can still be used. Just follow this LINK to get started in downloading it.
It will set up a virtual XP machine under Windows 7. It does let you use files from the WIN 7 space in WIN XP as well as USB Devices (I needed this for my scanner -> PDF software).
I stumbled upon this, but didn’t find to much posted on it (still trying to figure some of it out myself), but thought someone else might be looking for this solution so I thought I would post it here.
The One Laptop Per Child group is at it again, this time announcing a Tablet PC for hopefully under $100. Cnet reports that Marvell Technologies will partner with the OLPC group to create the necessary hardware.
Here is a video on the proposed tablet:
According to the Cnet article:
…specs are now taking shape, including an ambitiously low power rating of 1 watt per hour (compared with the 5 watts per hour required by the OLPC laptop). Other promised features include a multilingual, multitouch-screen keyboard with haptic feedback, Wi-Fi, high-quality video (1080p full-HD encode and decode), integrated video and still cameras, high-performance 3D graphics, Flash 10 Internet, and two-way teleconferencing.
The backbone of the XO-3 will be an ARM processor (likely the Marvell Armada 610), with initial models running a version of Google’s Android OS. As with the OLPC laptop, these initial models will be sold within developed nations, subsidizing the less-expensive $75 version (running the open-source, educational Sugar OS) distributed to children and institutions supported by the foundation.
Anybots are telepresence robots designed to give you a physical presence when telecommuting. Interesting concept to keep an eye on.
Went to the Midsouth Makers meeting this past Friday. Great group. Not only did they do a hands on soldering demo, but also had mini talks on making your own chainmail and a computer project in the preliminary stages.
I also learned about some Electronics software I haven’t heard of before called Fritzing which is an electronics schematic capture / printed circuit board layout open source software which I want to check out.
I encourage you to check out the Midsouth Makers. Hopefully the group will continue to grow and be able to establish a hacker space here in Memphis!
From: Picayune Item
Dated May 10, 2010
By Jeremy Pittari, Item Staff Writer The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE — Pearl River County Robotics had a successful year. The team won the Bayou Regional and placed the highest of any Mississippi or Louisiana team in the history of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology competitions.
After winning the Bayou Regional, held in New Orleans in March, the team went on to the World Championship in Atlanta, Ga., which was held on April 15-17.
A release from the team’s mentor states Team CHAOS competed well at the world championship, but did not place high enough to be guaranteed a spot in the finals. The team placed 11th, but in order to be guaranteed a spot in the finals, a team would have had to place in the top eight. Team CHAOS felt certain the fourth ranked team would select it for a playoff alliance but that team was instead picked by the 3rd ranked team. However luck was on Team CHAOS’ side.
After two matches in the finals, the team that beat out Team CHAOS for the alliance of their choice in the finals encountered technical issues with their robot. That opened up a spot for Team CHAOS in the finals, but by that time the alliance had a 1-1 record and only one match left, the release states. Team CHAOS’ faced a tough challenge. The alliance needed one more win to advance, but another loss would mean the end for the alliance.
In the following match, Team CHAOS’ robot scored five points in its autonomous mode, which is the 15 second period of the match where the robot controls itself, the highest at the competition. That feat combined with the driving skills of team member Matt Lander brought the alliance to the semifinals and consequently on to the finals.
While the alliance did not win the finals, it did place second on one of the event’s four playing fields. The placement earned the alliance the honor of being ranked the sixth alliance in the world for the season, the highest placement of any Mississippi or Louisiana team since FIRST began in 1992, the release states.
Time spent in robotics has provided a few of its senior team members with experiences they say will help them later in life. Lander said his time in robotics has led him to decide to seek a degree in mechanical engineering. He said the hands-on experience with building and operating the robot, along with team members Zac Haller and Drew Williams, has given him experience he will use in life after high school.
Working on a piece of hardware was not the only thing Lander learned while in robotics. He also learned about teamwork. He attributes the team’s success this past season to every team member, not one person.
Team captain Mary Pollitz, who has been involved in Robotics in some way since she was in the fourth grade, said she now has a desire to seek a degree in English to become a teacher. During her time with the team, she volunteered her time to write letters to businesses and companies to seek donations.
Pollitz said she also got the chance to work with mentors — such as Alan Forsman from Pratt Whitney, Scott Olive from NASA, and Branden Wilson from Northrop Grumman — who shared information about their employment. She said those mentors helped her build spread sheets and create flow maps to develop processes for the pneumatic cylinder used in the robot. Those are all experiences Pollitz believe she can include on a resume.
Team member Lane Balch said his experience has led him to decide to seek a degree in mechanical engineering, which he plans to use to design roller coasters. Balch also enjoyed the perks of being a media member of the team, allowing him to go on the floor and take pictures of the competitions.
Public interaction is another thing Pollitz and Balch said they learned. Both said their time in robotics helped them be more outgoing and interact with people they don’t see every day at school.
“It’s a whole lot easier now,” Balch said.
The team members aid they would like to thank all the people who made this year so successful, including the mentors and engineers who volunteered their time, including M.J. Miller.
This year’s sponsors include Picayune public schools, Mississippi School of the Arts, Mississippi Power, NASA, Picayune Eye Center, ERC, Subway of Poplarville, James L. Lambert Dentistry, AGT, Carter Appliances and Flooring Company and family and friends. Mentors include Maureen Pollitz, Michelle Carter, and Amy Yarbrough all from Nicholson Elementary.
Next year the team will be looking for additional sponsors and services. Anyone willing or able to donate machining and fabrication services should contact a team member.
Was just contacted by the Mid South Makers (http://www.midsouthmakers.org/). I didn’t even know about the group until now, but if you read this blog you are probably already aware of HackerSpaces, but if you are not, watch this:
They are just starting out and don’t have a permanent space yet, but it is an idea I really hope catches on. I plan to check it out and I will report back.
