Hi All
Introducing the AIMEC:EZ1
We are in discussions with DJ to produce a special version of our AIMEC (Artificially Intelligent Mechanical Electronic Companion) robot for the EZ-B, this will be a very advanced robot that will be made available in kit form, which will probably be by the end of this year.
Some history, the first AMI (Applied Machine Intelligence) robot was the AIMEC:3 which is a "hyper-tech" toy and we were very close to licensing this design to a large US toy manufacturer, but the deal fell through. Our most advanced robot is the AIMEC:4 which is still in development, this robot has advanced voice recognition (Dragon 11), face recognition and eye tracking and object recognition the robot has an advanced Ai core and is capable of self learning. When we came across the fantastic EZ-B system that the genius DJ Sures produced we immediately thought that it would be really cool to make a EZ-B version and this is what we are currently developing the AIMEC:EZ1. This robot is the development platform for a ground breaking robotics kit that we plan to sell to the general public, for the first time a highly advanced robot will be available (in various versions) at a price that hobbyists would be able to afford.
I have been building robots for over 30 years and some of my designs are recorded on Cybernetic Zoo
http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=2280
http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=3984
On our team we have the brilliant model maker (and engineer) Steve Cole (Articole Studios) http://www.articolestudios.co.uk/ who is also a member of this forum @ukrobotman, with Alex Cole on 3D design and (the incredibly talented) Mike Hodgson on software development. I am doing mechanical, electronics and sensor designs and firmware development for support PIC microcontrollers that enhance the EZ-B boards operation over the I2C bus.
We are all looking forward to working closely with DJ and his team in the new future!
Tony
-- Conceptioneering Ltd - Inventors of the Award Winning Cube World To see Product Innovation - visit our website at www.conceptioneering.co.uk To see Robotic Innovation - visit our website at www.appliedmachineintelligence.co.uk
Here is the latest news for the new smart servo EZ:1 arm. I have now built the shoulder servo by combining 2 of these amazing Bosh servo motors, here is how it now looks
These servo motors are incredible, I have tested the new arm (fully extended) by picking up a full 750ml bottle of liquid with no problems at all (or noise), but the most amazing thing about this is that the drive peak current taken by both motors is only 510mA!
The servo driver board has been updated with an opamp in the motor current sensing stage, this is to allow for a really low value sense resistor (0.1R) to be used. Here is the servo driver board housed in the top enclosure of the shoulder servo.
Very exciting! Cant wait to see the final product.
Tony, did you see my last post to you in my B9 thread? I'll get to you in a private email as soon as I get a little free time. I hate it when life gets in the way of fun! mad
Tony, I sure like the new arm, smart servos w/controllers. Amazing strength with safety built in. Your comments about IR sensors on your robots (right, center, left) that allow the robot to respond if someone approaches, sounds great. Full size robot with face recognition, AI, working on EZ Robot. Keep up the awesome work. I can't wait to see more on the AIMEC EZB-2! Especially how it looks. Any additional available info. [email protected] The new EZB4 sounds great, can't wait. Steve S
Tony That brilliant what you have done with those motors ,I suggest you mass produce your controller card there has to be big demand.As for using two motors to increase the arm lift power thats unique,maybe you should have a see through cover on the arm to show off your robot building talents.
Pat
Ya, sometimes its hard to cover up call our hard work. That's why I installed lights in my robot. I can turn them on and not only see to work but also show off his insides.
I agree, Tony does awesome work.
Dave, I have put 3 PIR sensors in your package, you will need a simple single transistor buffer stage from the output of the PIR to the input of your controller. I will put a circuit diagram of this into your package with some transistors. I have set the package aside for you and its ready to go when your ready.
Steve, The EZ:2 (commercial version of the EZ:1 robot) is looking awesome, I so wish I could share this with you all at this time, but we have made a decision to keep the body design "under wraps" until we go into the beta testing phase. The EZ:2 looks totally different from the EZ:1 shown in this thread as its not humanoid looking, the EZ:2 looks like something from a futuristic film set!
Pat, Yes I plan to make the smart servo controller available when its fully tested and the PCB is designed, then I would be happy for you and Dave to have a few to try out with your Bosh servo motors.
Tony
Thanks Tony, I'm overwhelmed. Your truly a great guy! I'm really looking forward on working with all the new toys your introducing me to. I've been thinking about these sensors and thinking that this is one of the "dream" features I've been looking to install in my B9 but thought I'd never be able to.
I feel bad I haven't had more time then to blurt these short posts to your thread. I've been putting in long hours in the real world. Worked 19 hrs through the night last night till 6am this morning. I'll contact you through your private e-mail with all the details you've been asking for in this package and other things.
Dave, no problem I know what its like working long hours! Make contact when you are ready.
The 3 PIR sensor array is a neat addition to a robot as it tells the robot where to start looking for humans, also in my algorithm it constantly monitors all motion in the 3 directions and computes actual activity levels at front, left, right. This end up as 3 variables, the higher variable value tell the processor where the most activity is. So say if 2 or 3 people were on the left side and only 1 person was in front and on the right side, then the robot will take more interest in the left side as that is where the most activity is.
Here is the test rig I built for developing the algorithms for the 3 PIR body heat direction sensor array. The PIRs here have covers to restrict their viewing angles, you will probably not need these on your B9 as the robots torso is so broad, but on a small rig like this they are necessary. On the microcontroller board you will be able to see the 3 x transistor buffers required for the PIRs and a good old SD20 servo driver.
The round part in front of the board is the new EZ:1 robot ear, you will see the PIR protruding through the perspex.
Tony