The thing about the NMS is that it’s only the messaging system for navigation. It’s only as good as the input and output. Interestingly, the NMS has actually been in ARC since around 2014 but it was only called Messaging Service until it was renamed and used with the realsense.

The reason the NMS didn’t get any spotlight was because there haven’t been a lot of advancements in navigation sensors etc. I was hoping the realsense would ignite completion in that space, but sadly no.

the main trouble stems about stagnant growth in robot sensors is the cost and application volume. You see, companies that invent a lidar or single sensor are so proud of it, that they feel it’s the heart of the robot revolution and they charge arm and a leg.

so when you add up all of these inflated ego product prices of each sensor product to assemble a robot, you end up with a cost that’s unbearable.

Take realsense for example. Not only is the price unrealistic as a BOM item in a product, but it’s unattainable to purchase. Intel discontinued the realsense after the first manufacturing run. It’s like they made 10,000 units and moved on to the next thing.

other navigation stuff, like industrial lidar makes me laugh. They price these units about the cost of a reliable used car. Meanwhile, selling 1 is a victory for them LOL. Sure, the single application gets some media attention and the robot report writes that the robot revolution is around the corner hahaha. That seems to happen ever few months. Usually when a floor cleaning robot comes out, but now it’s robot arms.

Anyway - I should add that it’s not customer support on the forum that takes a lot of my time. The forum is just a few old schoolers like yourselves that I enjoy talking to. The customer support I spend a lot of time on are the volume license enterprises, like schools and startup accelerators and a few r&d labs. But they are the reasons behind many of the usability and stability updates that you’re experiencing in arc. Also, the support section continually grows based on their interaction.

it’s a blessing in disguise because the manual section always needed some work

Hey DJ, when you had time you could do a hack night with us about improving NMS, and plug-in creation. We could try to do something together. Just a suggestion. I have my beer ready.:)

Beer and coding always results in something fun

the trouble with coding on a live hack is focus and time constraint. It takes many many hours to write simple functionality. That’s why I avoid it for complicated things. Like, it would take a few days to code some path planning into the navigator. Or a week to code some map editing snd saving features, etc..

I have to clear days of uninterruption to tackle development like that

also, since everyone is working from home for the last 13 months, we haven’t even been to the office in forever. I don’t even know why I pay tens of thousands per month for an office. It’s expensive and not even being used. So live hacks take the back burner LOL. I’ll probably shut the office down when our lease expires and move my lab back into my house. Probably do a lot more live hacks that way!

Wow 10,s of thousands! I do get it that you do best work when concentrating uninterrupted. When I had my huge Motor home out in nature, I got right into learning code for the old EZ scripts,nobody bothering me knocking on my door all the time and so peaceful,the good old days. @Alan , hey I was trying to learn guitar last 10 years but I still suck LOL! I have an autograph Paul Stanley guitar from Kiss Fame. I mainly just do power chords and use my distortion box to make crazy death metal sounds.Or ACDC!

@DJ I wondered why you kept that big office after you sold EZ-Robot.  Seems like an expensive way to store pinball machines  Most software companies I know run their business off a laptop and move into shared office spaces where you can meet customers and book a board room etc when you need them, although you maybe better off in one of the innovation Hubs where startups hang out and collaborate and you can partner with other Tech Companies .  Good for visibility, Angel investors, VC's etc (but I assume you probably know everyone in Calgary anyway).

I love that office, that’s why. Designed it from a blank slate. If you had a chance to visit, you’d know what I meant that it’s a reflection of myself

But it doesn’t make sense if it’s empty / even from me. Especially when you consider how absolutely massive it is LOL!

I would always picture your office kind of like Willy Wonkas chocolate Factory-- except wandering robots instead of Midget people and chocolate rivers LoL!

It is a combination of both lol