EZ-AI development is on hold right now, well kind of...
We are in the process of working with some services that will allow the capabilities of EZ-AI to be far better than what they currently are. These include Wolfram|Alpha and IBM BlueMix/Watson. Speech Recognition will be performed through Nuance Cloud services. Advanced vision features will be available through OpenCV. A quick search of these services will allow you to see the end goal of what we are doing. These will be in the Rafiki project which is the primary focus at this time for CochranRobotics. We will release a limited use version for free which will replace EZ-AI. All of the current features of the EZ-AI database will be available through the new version. All of the services provided by EZ-AI will be available through REST queries and exposed services. This will allow plugins to ARC to be able to use these services.
There has been a huge amount of changes to what is possible since I first started working on EZ-AI. This huge shift of improved technologies has made it necessary to rework EZ-AI so that it can continue to grow and mature.
We are also toying with the idea of allowing programmers to write their own business logic layer within Rafiki. This would allow a programmer to be able to use the core services of Rafiki/EZ-AI and write their own applications with the data that is returned. It will probably be a while before this is implemented, but it is something that we are trying to make happen.
I have probably said too much, but wanted to give you all a picture of what is happening and why EZ-AI isn't being worked on directly. We hope to have our new AI available around the end of the year. There are multiple developers working on this while I find come up with solutions to other problems that arise.
As far as Rafiki goes, the pods are functioning great and additional code/abilities are being added almost daily. The models for the pods are being tweaked to expose the HDMI and usb ports and network port to the outside of the case. This will allow someone to connect a mouse, keyboard and monitor to the pod and use it as a computer if they would like. The Rafiki Bot is about 1/3 of the way printed. I am making modifications to the models as needed and reprinting some of the parts as needed. There will be 6 subsystems on this robot. 3 of these subsystems have been written and are ready to use. The other 3 subsystems cant be worked on until more of the Rafiki Bot has been printed. The 3 that are not complete are all very similar for motor control. I hope to have these ready in a couple of weeks. I should be able to show a demo of the Rafiki Bot in about a month, and then all of the robot programming starts. I will work on the charger base shortly after the robot has been completed and the pods are all working with all of their functionality.
One more thing on EZ-AI... As a part of this rewrite, you will just need to have Java installed on your computer to install and use EZ-AI. The days of the huge install will be behind us so it should make it far better in the long run. The other thing that this allows is robot platform independence. I will be working on modules in ARC to allow the features of EZ-AI to be accessible far more easily. This will probably not be worked on until December at the earliest.
Okay, going back to my robot cave. Have a great day all.
The design is to use 2 rare earth magnets, one in the door and one in the support. I think I will include both the top and bottom support and allow the builder decide if they want to use the support on the top, bottom, both or neither.
These access doors were not in the original design. During the build they are not needed. They are very good if there is an issue though. It is a difficult thing to try to do things from the back door. Also, if nothing else, it helps to have more light in there.
I had an issue on my 3D printer (clogged hot end) that I will need to address. It is about time to replace the hot end anyway, so I will do that today and then keep printing. The good news is that the Plexiglas box fixed the layer separation issue that I had. Unfortunately the hot end clogged. I should have that fixed tonight and will start printing again.
Thanks David
LOL.. I just went thru replacing my hot end too. I have the same separation and warping issue even with a box. I just kicked up the heat bed and hot end temp 5 degrees and hope it will help. Even though there is some warping and a couple cracks in a couple of the parts, I will check the alignment from the top surface. If it looks ok I will assemble the parts anyway, if not I will do a re-print. You are look at a production process for sale, I can get away with minor flaws. The strength should not be effected. Sounds good about the added doors. If the side doors have a lip where they fit or pocket, I assume they can be held in by all the ways you mention. I may try the bathtub caulk idea and see what happens. It is white and Rafiki is white too. The caulk will release easier than the silicone sealant if access is needed. (LOL .... prevents mold too !)
Ron
@Ron, I just posed new STL files for the shell. These are on the GitHub Repository. I am only going to be updating it because it will show you the date that the files were updated. This should solve the version issue you mentioned.
There is a lip added to parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Shell1.zip. This lip will allow you to align the shell to the base a little bit easier. The magnet holes have been added to part 11 in Shell1.zip. The magnet holes have been added to parts 18 and 19 in Shell2.zip. The door supports have also been added to Shell3.zip.
The door supports are separate pieces that allow you to decide which you would like to use if any. I would probably just use the bottom ones. This should still allow you room to access the inside of the robot from these doors. It will also allow you to mount these (bond them to the inside of the shell) earlier. I didn't attach them to the body shell so that you could choose what you want to do.
Small layer separation is no issue. Fill it with Slurry and go on. A lot of layer separation isn't good and will need to be reprinted.
As far as the doors go, they have a gap on the sides of them. This is by design to allow some venting. I haven't needed venting but figured it was a good place to add them. The magnets and the amount of support should be fine. I haven't physically tested it out yet though. The holes for the magnets are designed to fit these magnets (http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Hobbies%C2%AE-Ceramic-Magnets-Science/dp/B014Q44HOK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1456177695&sr=8-4&keywords=magnets+rare+earth)
The supports have the same curve as the doors so with the magnets, they should be held well. The top and bottom of the door are snug to the rest of the shell.
One other thing... Part 17 in the base has been updated to allow a little gap for the wires from the encoders to feed to the board more freely.
I still owe you the measurements. I wont have time to do this tonight probably. I need to get the lidar plugin to quit locking up for some people, and need to get the 3D printer going again. I haven't forgotten about this though.
Sounds good on the shell updates. I will see the door fit when I get there and figure out your magnet assembly.
I will check out the fit and finish of all the base pieces and if any are N.G I will re-print. Otherwise I will do a slurry fill and bond them all together on final base assembly. They are small cracks. I will probably wait for the motors to come in to be sure of alignments. Ok on base part 17. I will continue to complete all files.
As far as the dimensions, no problem, I'm still printing the base pieces. I won't need it until all are finished. It was really just a suggestion, just for confirmation of fit.
@David, you have mentioned you have your printer in the living room . You are using acetone and the slurry to hold the parts down . My question is how do you keep the smell down so it doesn't bother your wife or your kids . I ask because my wife kicked my printer out to the garage, which is too cold even though it's enclosed. so I won't be able to start printing Rafiki until it gets warmer out in the garage there is no heat.
Thanks
I use an acrylic cover over the printer for heat control but it also protects against sound and smell for the most part. My daughter woke up the other day and said "Nothin' like the smell of ABS in the mornin'" so I guess she can smell it. My nose has become pretty numb to the smell I guess. Also, just move an adult child of yours back into your house and give up your office. You can get by with a lot then without them complaining because they like seeing the child
Actually, I will probably move the printer to the garage soon. I have a nice work area setup and the box should be able to allow the printer to maintain heat even when it is a bit cold outside. If I need too, I will put a blanket over it to help hold more heat. I am further south than you, so 70 degrees in the winter isn't unheard of. I guess 0 degrees is also not unheard of but it seems this year 70 has been more the norm.
The box I bought cost about $200. The shipping on it was crazy high ($175 I believe) but I didn't feel like failing over and over again to get a box right. The one I got is 24"x24"x24" and gives a lot of room inside the printer for spools and such. It is a bit too deep for what I need, but too big is better than too small in this area.
Thanks David I think I'll get a cover for mine, even though it is in closed already and try the blanket. I get frustrating when you print for eight hours and it doesn't come out right