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
Looking forward to seeing how this works. Soon I'll be working on my B9 claws and arms. Along with the info, ideas and help you've already provided me this may be something else that may work.
Does your mind ever take a break from finding new ways to improve robotics? Amazing.
@R2D2 , the joints in the picture appear to be jumbo 1/4 scale servos. They may have modified them for feedback but that is what they appear to be.
@ jstarne1 I read that they were bosch engines somewhere in this thread, but do not know if it is engine and gearbox that can be achieved easily.
@R2D2, you are right these are not jumbo servos (the original arm that I abandoned did have this type of servo), they are now low cost Bosch actuators (worm driven motor and gearbox) out of cars. I needed to develop custom electronics and firmware to make them into ultra high torque smart servos.
Here is a video of the first test trials on the new EZ:1 and EZ:2 low cost heavy duty arm using the specially developed worm driven "Smart Servos". As you can see its operation is virtually silent, while it has the ability to smoothly and accurately pick up reasonably heavy loads.
The development of this arm and the Smart Servos has put back the main EZ:2 Robot development programme by about 2.5 months, but I think its is worth it, to be able to produce arms of this precision and strength.
Tony
Tony, that is a very nice looking arm! They don't appear to sell those Bosch actuators here in the USA and the Ebay UK web site said it does not ship to USA?
When you finish with your arm designs I would like to purchase two complete arms and also talk to you about the A.I. software.
You can email me at: [email protected]
Rex
Tony, The new arm movement is very smooth, quiet, strong, and impressive!
I know you mentioned you can control the claw with PWM from the EZB, are you controlling the arm from EZB in this video? I love big robots and it looks amazing. You are making great progress in the development of the AIMEC EZ robots. We appreciate your updates. Thank You, Steve S
Rex, I can spare some Bosch actuators if you want to try them? I used surface mail for Mel and Dave's delivery, Mel's got delivered in a week and I am hoping that Dave package will arrive soon. The surface mail cost is very reasonable from the UK to the US, so I will cover the cost for you, and of course the actuators will be free of charge, let me know if you are interested.
Steve, yes everything is controlled by the EZ-B, here is a view from the back
Neat thing about the Bosch actuators is that they are reasonably small in size enabling the 2 shoulder smart servos to be mounted outside of the Robots body freeing lots of space internally for electronics etc.
Tony