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
I would like to be a Beta Tester. But, I have to bow out because I don't have any money.
But I am sure that the other guys are going to be good beta testers.
:)
WHO said they didnt like it.
Will we be able to upgrade as we go, i mean if i by the kit with 3 DOF could i later buy the 5's and install them?
I WOULD BUY 5DOF so dont have to spend more money on it,and would buy is a kit a lot more fun to put together
Also by getting it ,its a learning tool and like how the servo design are to make changes to my robots and more
WHAT is the shipping weight ?
@toymaker I have a couple of good question on you only,its about the your very good software and how you interface to EZB
DID you rewrite all the codes in used in ARC using EZ-SDK plus a code for your software ? SEcond or did you just made a interface to ARC using SDK ?
And last question DJ makes a lot of updates for ARC how does that work with your software ?
CANT wait till it comes out and selling it ,looks very good from your site and video's on it hope very soon
I also offer my services as a beta tester...
I am really excited about this robot. Just think of all the promotion we could drum up for you by touring these around to different locations. The world is ready....robots are my life...it's all I think about from the time I get up till I go to sleep.
I would like to see your design (toymaker) in a lot of maker fairs it would really sell very fast i would think. I did now you have a lot of great programmers and robot builders in with you ,until i found your site in youtube
LOOKS LIKE THEY are very good at their jobs.
@Rural Yes the whole EZ:2 design is modular so provided you have enough spare ports on your EZ-B you can easily upgrade to a 5 DOF arm.
@robotmaker The EZ:2 is still being developed so it is impossible to know shipping costs at this time. Shipping costs are actually the one thing that worries me on this project as we expect that most of our customers will be in the US and shipping a robot of this size (from the UK) is going to be expensive. Typical dilemma if we sell direct we can keep the retail cost right down as there is no distributors (in the territory) markup, but single product shipping of a robot this size will add greatly to the end cost. With distributors we can ship in bulk for them to warehouse or we get them to get bulky components made locally, but again this adds another markup so it is a difficult decision that has to be made at some point.
On beta testing, the first beta EZ:2 robot to leave the UK will probably go to DJ who has said he will do some custom controls for the robot, so most of you will first see the EZ:2 moving around DJ's office.
We want to sell the EZ:2 into schools and Universities where an advanced modular kit robot can be built, dismantled then built again by many students and they should learn a lot about electronics, mechanics and programming. Maybe one day robotics will be added to the National Curriculum here, do any of you know if US schools run robotics classes?