Decolab bots

After I heard about JZ's Annoybot project, it stayed with me.

I've long wanted to build a larger robot to be with me during presentations. In the utopia-themed critical thinking seminar for first year students I developed at Plymouth State, we'd discuss technology, technoutopia, and etc., and it would have been nice to have it around for that. Also robots tends to have a certain 'cool' factor and to attract attention, i.e. to create an opportunity for engagement, engagement being key to my teaching methodology. To meet my needs, it wouldn't have to be an advanced robotics platform -- though that'd be nice -- it just needs to look like one occasionally for a few minutes, be transportable, and be interesting.

There are quite a few approaches to achieving Annoybot's design goals, not that I have been fully briefed on them all. As the Decolab folks I met during my visit to RPI last year noted, Annoybot can, essentially, be a chat bot app running on a laptop. The above is really just a laptop stand. Actually it's a (Photoshop image of a) handcart of the sort used for luggage with a laptop attached. The idea is to wheel it into the room and then leave it to interact with whomever is there. Attaching a battery and an electric motor isn't terribly difficult, but integrating that system with the laptop and then with the chat program is much more challenging. To work for my purposes, it'd nice for the 'robot' to be self-propelled, to be able to 'walk (or roll) into the spotlight'. If you're not terribly concerned about systems integration, i.e. you are prepared to have someone pilot the robot chassis remotely, then it's a very optainable goal. But, of course, JZ, Nathan, and Elia solved the mobility problem using a Roomba chassis -- a great solution.

I saw a large hardshell suitcase on rollers in a Walmart (not exactly like the one in the image, but you'll get the idea), and noticed how easy it was to propel on the four omnidirectional casters. Neat! I made some design notes for a prototype called 'Donde', short for "¿Dónde va?" ('where are you going?' in Spanish). Donde is another glorified laptop stand, if a much more powerful one. This design is propelled by an electric scooter motor or two, depending on the drive configuration -- the turning radius will be lousy with a single drive wheel inside the case (as in the visual at left), so, for maneuverability, you might want two wheels outside the case instead, as on a wheelchair; add a second, independent motor, one for each wheel, and Donde can be steered by stopping or reversing one of the drive wheels -- the same sort of thing a two-armed human in a non-electric wheelchair does. You can see electric scooters and parts at http://www.electricscooterparts.com/index.html

A webcam can be added, and work could begin on training Donde to do simple things like follow a person or a signal, something that would require some programming. On the upside, these suitcases are not difficult to tow on a leash at low speeds and it doesn't need to be able to drive itself perfectly in year 1. As a suitcase, though, Donde isn't very useful -- the case would be 90% full, maybe more, of the battery (or batteries), the drive wheel, and the motor(s). Wouldn't be able to carry my books. I could add a luggage rack, but that could make it unstable.

The case could be modded to look less like a suitcase (preferably in a way that maintains the structural integrity, though). Something like an R2D2 with a laptop in the head or chest is within the realm of possibility.

Whether or not we ever work on anything like this in Decolab, I plan to build some sort of platform during my time at RPI. While searching for salvage parts for Donde, I came across something called an electric golf trolley ... there are a bunch of names for it, but they all refer to a device that is intended to carry a golf bag full of clubs. Uses an electric engine. Very portable, also quite powerful. AND some are remote controlled. A lovely chassis/platform for a robotics project.

Link to one on eBay: http://tinyurl.com/5owcab

There's one offered on Craigslist for $65. Adjustable speed electric golf bag cart.

Anyway, I could still add a suitcase, but the bag frame is pretty cool by itself. I'd start by attaching the laptop, making the chassis drive remote (if it isn't already, some of them come with a handheld remote! But I need a bargain) and I can add an arm, a webcam, and etc. in the future. Having a frame that can come into the room and a laptop to be the 'head' (whereever it is situated, it will provide the voice, the face, at least for now) and most of my design objectives are met.

I'll let you know how it goes. I also have a VR project ... if I'm going to continue to work on both even intermittently, I'll have to combine them ... I can envision a way to pilot the robot or run the chat 'face' remotely using the headgear and glove, but there are a lot of problems to be solved before that'll work.