aluminumwelder
HI I'm a newbie and appreciate any help I can get. I already did a search for photographer and sony party shot and did not see any previous discussion. Here is what I want to make.
Basically it is an Irobot Create with a light 4.75 ft tall aluminum pole on which a sony party shot module is mounted on top of. If there is a better robot base to use let me know. I would like to keep the total project cost under $600. I already have $100 invested in the sony partyshot+digital camera. the sony party shot is basically an automatic camera system that has facial detection that will automatic scan and rotate the surroundings looking for people to take photos of. I envision using it at corporate parties, weddings and just random stuff for fun.
I have never done any robotics work, but I am very techy. My programming experience is very small. I took a BASIC class about 12 years ago in college.
I may add a R2D2 Skin over the unit to give it a starwars theme, but I'm worried about weight and balance. It maybe too top heavy. It needs to be around 4.5 to 5 feet tall total so the photos look like they were taken at a normal angle. I will probably add some kind of bumper system at the top, because it's bound to get knocked over. I may also weld up some aluminum tube anti tip extentions so the unit is harder to knock over.
OK, that's the background here is my questions. I want to program it to randomly go around a room and pause for say 40 seconds , scan and take shots, then move around 10 to 15 feet in any random direction and start all over. I think the Create base will need to stop or the camera will get too confused and not do a good job. I have never used either device so perhaps this hypothesis is incorrect. I looked at the Create Module's instructions and see that it has some demo modes
"MODE 0 Cover Create attempts to cover an entire room using a combination of behaviors, such as random bounce, wall following, and spiraling."
I like mode zero, but I think I would only want random bounce, not spiraling. Can anyone recommend a programmer to do this?
I also want some kind of sensor so that it does not run into objects and people. I've seen the roomba hit things before they change direction. I'd prefer the sensor be used to avoid hitting things; i was thinking a 2' proximity would be fine.
Should I jsut buy the $235 ez robot kit with the Create module from irobot? Has someone already made a robot that does this sort of thing I can just buy? Seems like a pretty basic function set, but I've never built a robot.
Any other suggestions will be appreciated. thanks for your time.
PS originally posted this at the robotreviews.com forum, but someone suggested this set.
if all you want to do is tack and you are only doing it a few times a month just buy a rosebud propane torch (do NOT use the older style torches they do not get as hot) and some aluminum brazing rods at harbor freight https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brazing+aluminum&oq=brazing+aluminum&gs_l=youtube.3..35i39j0l5j0i5.253.1301.0.1479.6.6.0.0.0.0.222.697.2j1j2.5.0...0.0...1ac.1.0P-k-gqv9sU watch the first few videos.
Here's the thing about brazing, it works best on small pieces less than a foot in length. Large pieces of AL simply act as a heat sink and move the heat away from the brazing zone. If you have to do large pieces you can put the pieces on top of a stove with burners on to give the pieces heat or put insulation around the pieces so the heat keeps the metal hot.
also don't heat the brazing rod, you heat the base metal and when it gets hot enough the rod simply melts when it touches the hot AL.
search weldingweb.com for aluminum brazing in the TITLE ONLY and there is a lot of good tips as well.
Well I figgured out that you have to have a pc for ez robot to work so I've modified my design so that the pc is part of the robot.
And since I have to have a pc, I might as well use the screen to play a slide show of the images that the robot takes via a wifi SD memory card. Furhtermore I might as well add a small battery powered dye sub pritner so that guests can take home a print. Might as well add a professional quality flash on top so the pictures look good too.
Luckily I have all of these things, other wise the cost to make this would of just quadroopled.
eekThe camera you are using does it have a hotshoe or sync output,thats another place you can make a tap point to turn on MP3 file using a digtal input and script.
you what the mp3 say cheese or smile before the flash not when it flashes.
Wow, now that's some good thinking. When I first read this thread a few days ago I thought it would be kinda creepy having a robot moving around the room snapping pictures of people. However now that your've given the subjects of the roving photographer a way to interact with the robot snapping their pictures and a way for them to benefit it seems less invasive. Could I suggest that you include a "Opt Out" button that a subject could press before their picture is taken? Some may consider it a invasion of privacy if not given the choice. sick
Other then that I think this is a very cool concept. Please keep posting on your build and progress.
i have seen this design been done before on a irobot platform,thaey wasent using EZB need to find the link
here is one link i found
robotic photographer
check the video it says cheese and smile for the camera and then takes a picture then uploads to to flicker or i guess you can use a wireless (wifi) printer
Actually that's pretty cool. I can see this being used at wedding receptions and office parties. Of course it really takes out the human factor of choice and angle. The artistic and stealth elements of photography are gone. For example; how can this little machine capture the loving first kiss and that look in the eyes of a bride and groom as they dance their wedding dance at the reception. It could be a nice addition to a human photographer at one of these functions or even at an entrance of a amusement park like Six Flags or Disney Land.
yes you are correct,i bought so many digital camera's and i have a pro slr digital camera and another for underwater, so it is hard to capture the right photos ,plus able to set the F stop ,aperture,ISO setting and more on point and shoot its a lot easy. \i think at parties and some wedding photos would be ok,it wont give you professional photos