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#Post#: 189--------------------------------------------------
Rambling Intro
By: Robo_Pi Date: June 22, 2015, 10:00 pm
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Hello Everyone,
This is going to be a long intro so I've placed bold brown
headings over each topic section in case you want to just read a
particular piece of my ramblings.
About Me on a Personal Level
My real name is James.
I'm 67 years old.
I chose the screen name Robo_Pi because I'm hoping to build a
robot using the Raspberry Pi computer on a card.
My dream is to single-handedly build a full-size
fully-functional Johnny Five robot.
Yes it's true that senility sets in as early as 67 years of age.
So I'm not only a Robot Enthusiast but I'm also clearly a
Complete Idiot. (you may call me "id" for short)
Now with that out of the way, I do clarify some things in
sections below, especially the section entitled "Real World
Reality"
My Experience Background and Knowledge
I've worked in R&D for quite a few companies over the course of
my careers. I'm retired now.
Here is a list of some areas I've worked in.
Electronic circuit design
Automated systems design
Mechanical design
Fabrication and manufacturing methods
Computer programming
Micro controller programming
Instruction manual writing
Troubleshooting and Repair
This is not intended as a resume.
I'm just offering it to give an idea of what I've done.
I'm not hoping to become part of the Input-Inc team.
However, I am willing to share everything I do in case it might
be helpful in any way.
Also, most of my experience is probably fairly obsolete in terms
of modern technologies.
I retired early at 50 years old and so I've been out of the loop
for the last 17 years.
My Johnny Five Dream
I don't really have an official "Johnny Five Dream" actually.
What I've been thinking about lately is to simply build a
full-size functional robot.
After looking around the Internet at various popular robot
designs I've decided that the Johnny Five most closely resembles
the type of robot that I would like to build.
I'm personally not concerned with reproducing the actual Johnny
Five (or Short Circuit) robot in precise detail.
I would just like to end up with a robot that has similar
functionality.
I will also be quick to adopt or change any designs for the sake
of practicality.
And so if I end up with a robot that doesn't look anything at
all like a Johnny Five, that's ok by me.
Real World Reality
I'm sure that the full dream is unrealistic.
Especially for a single person like myself who doesn't have a
lot of money to spend. ;D
My practical plan is to begin by designing and constructing a
base and track assembly.
Also, in the early going as a prototype, I hope to build
something really lightweight and inexpensive.
Possibly even made from a frame of plastic water pipe being
glued together, etc.
This of course would not be the foundation for a larger robot.
But it would serve for the foundation of an otherwise much
steeper learning curve.
So that's my "real world" plan right now.
Of course I would like this lightweight prototype base/track to
have some of the features of the Johnny Five base/track.
So I'll be designing along those lines.
I would like to try to emulate the functionality as much as I
can.
I figure that if I get a nice base/track assembly that works
well, that will be a good foundation for moving forward from
there.
I've actually seen base tracks with just a head mounted right on
the base. Kind of cool already.
And of course arms could even be added directly to the base unit
too in the event I give up on the actual Johnny Five concept
entirely.
So the base and track assembly is where I plan on starting.
I don't know whether my crude work in this area would be of any
help to Input-Inc or not.
Who knows?
If there are any instabilities or problems in this area I might
be able to focus on addressing those.
Even a crude prototype might help to iron out various problems.
A Very Warm Hello to Everyone!
And now I would like to extend a very warm hello to everyone at
Input-Inc, and any other members of this forum.
I have recently downloaded all the CAD files. However, I don't
yet have a copy of Solidworks to view them. I didn't mention
above, but I have a lot of experience drawing in 3D using
AutoCAD. So I have experience with CAD.
I see that you people are working in great detail like the
engineers who build jumbo jets. Your detail and professionalism
is way over my head to be sure. Hopefully I can glean something
from your work toward designing my own lightweight low-cost
home-brew base/track assembly. And with any luck at all, my
work with that might potentially result in design suggestions
that might be useful on the more sophisticated project. Who
knows?
Anyway, I want to thank everyone for sharing open source. And
for creating this forum where I might be able to participate in
some very small way if possible.
Thanks for reading my intro,
James
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