Nice:)

I'll just take you up on your offer robotmaker. Take another look at Gizmo's head/eyes in the Project Showcase. I have one 5mm LED in the center tube of the "eye". There are six, 3 mm LED's in the bottom half of the eye (making a semi circle) wired in parallel ( all positive leads connected; all negative leads connected). the center 5mm led is also wired to these lower six LED's.The "upper" six LED's are wired seperately, in parallel also. Right now they are connected to a digital (out) pin on the EZ-B, and have a script to make them blink, very quickly off, then back on every 3 or 4 seconds. What I would like to do is put a battery pack in the head (project box) to power all the LED's. What I need is a flashing circuit that will turn those upper six LED's off ( for say 500 ms) then back on every 3 or 4 seconds. The effect I'm looking for is a "eye blink" effect. Actually a random timing would be even better and give a more natural look. What you think? Again, thanks in advance for any help. Lloyd

thats very easy ,using a 555 8pin timer can put together a circuit parts under $5 total

Great news! Can the circuit board have 3 pin servo headers on it? I would need to plug in 4 servo cables. Can you show me how to make this, or can you make one up for me? I'd be more then happy to reimburse you for your time and materials. Let me know please. Thank you so much! Lloyd

yes it only need 3 pins plus 2 output pins,can make the circuit,need to work out a price including shipping ,but under $10

will need to breadboard it first and see if i have all the parts to build it,do have the main chip needed 555 timer what is the total current of leds,mostly it leds x .20 ma

@robotmaker - this is incredibly generous. I know there are many people who will be very greatful for your efforts. You rock!

dont need money, and i just like to building and designing

on led current i see you are driving 6 leds ,so 120 ma to 150 ma for surge current

@robotmaker I've been looking for a good circuit that flashes a group of say 10 LED's whenever the robot is speaking. Sort of voice lights like on the Johnny 5 robot. I have tried several circuits using the LM3914 dot/ bar-graph display but none have the right '"look" if you know what I mean. Any ideas?

@rgordon and @robotmaker - I am looking for the same thing. The chestplate to B9 needs to light up in unison with his speech. I plan on using acrylic rods and LEDs to make it look like the orginal (neon tubes). My first thought was to put an op-amp on the output of the MP-3 trigger and send it to the speaker and a set of LED's wired in parallel. But I was not sure if that would work. Trial and error for me as I do not know how to design a circuit.

thats very easy it needs a vu meter circuit using lm3914

here is the data sheet and has circuit on second page

LM3914 DATASHEET

rgordon i guess you meen lights go into the center like when a mouth opens and close 5 leds on each side,takes a chip like it but 5 leds and you use 2 chips ,will have to look it up,since i bought the parts to make one for my johnny five design

Hey bret check out this very simple circuit using a tip31 transistor, at about 3 min in the video you can see it working.

Will

Sound reactive LEDS

ok found the chip i have AN6884 YOU NEED 2 OF THEM,sound input goes to both chips ,very few parts needed mostly a pot for gain on input like 5 k and one cap for a filter on power supply

an6884 data sheet

chip cost $1.60 from futurlec.com ,about $.30 for a 5k pcb mounted pot,10 k will work too

fxrtst that circuit only flashes all leds to sound

the way bar graph or vu meter circuit works it has op amp used as a comparator for each led and a voltage string,when audio level is apply to the first string input turns on the led set by the threshold of the votage string and the level of aduio as it increases then next led is control by threshold of the next divider value and so on if you need them flashing it needs another simple circuit added to the chip also can be hook up in parallel too

on circuit that FXRST it will work for bret ,if he only needs one led or a string of leds to flash with audio just a simple transistor switch by sound,how it works audio it at the base of the transistor,(also should have a base resistor of 1 k to protect it) ,but as voltage is apply to the base it turns it off or on to sound ,one op amp is better but still will work also any npn transistor will work,that one is 40 watts too high not really needed 2N2222 will work up to 100 ma and more

Yes correct. Bret is working on the B9 robot. When he speaks the LEDS light up in his chest. But, you seemed to have mastered something better there.

This is quite generious to give your time like this. I have several projects, but one that might be able to use your LED circuit. I am making an android head.

The head will have up/down, left right movement and jaw movement, plus eyes will have complete movement. What I'd like to do, if you look at my design below, the area on the back of the head will have translucscent material. I'd like to have some LEDs in there that are either him thinking (random), or when he speaks they light up, kinda like his computer brain working.

Anyways its all going to be rapidprototyped and the skin will be silicone, very silimlar to Irobot. If any one is intereested I may make this into a "Kit" for people to add to their robots.

The design on the forehead will take ping radar and the wireless webcam, so you can have the head follow you around the room!

Will

The design is a quick sketch and will likely change, so its a WIP.

WILL, I HAVE THE VERY SAME DESIGN FOR MY HEAD ONLY USING 2 WEBCAMS on using sonar not really good for follow a person around the room,you need amn22111 PIR ,spot with analog output or they have the same in digital too

i design at home called freelancing for a company i work for ,plus sent on trips to repair my test qequipment i design and make,so i do have free time does take me longer to build a robot ,mostly test it out very well,so no mistakes or buy the wrong parts for it and like buying very high tech commerical robots,looking to get hansons robot for $46000,it one of the best designs you can buy android with his own flubber design skin,alot better then silicone

also on the head designing emotions,using servo's to push on the silicone,so it really looks like a person moving, talking,and showing all types of emotions including eyebrows

I work in the film industry as a make up artist and his Flubber, I bet does not come close to what I use to transform someone using silicone parts. People think of silicone like caulking, my silicone feels like real skin.

But, I not interested in crossing the uncanny valley with this guy, I want him to look more robot than human. Some of the youtube videos of human robots are creepy. I do think people respond to humanoid robots though.

What kinda of designs and equipment do you make? PC boards or other? Do you write code for robots?

Will

PS I was thinking the sonar in the head , for use if you installed the head on a mobile robot.

in-house test equpment ,very high precision,sensor sensor tester,plus pcb pins and nails tester for testing finished pcb's,,company makes all types of meters,A/C electrical depth devices and circuit tracers silicone is used alot mostly (adult toys) and real life feel baby toys and many other stuff that feels like real skin ,hanson is talks about silicone and fubber is based out of it but better hansonrobotics website

you can buy ALBERT EINSTEIN HUBO at robotshop.com for $46,000you need to really check it out i am buying it in about 6 months or less,right now buying a bigger house with land,have 2 rooms ,need 5

then went down in price $42,500.00

here is some info website has video and more RoboKind robots are your gateway to the next generation of research. The new "HANSON ROBOKIND" robots have been miniaturized and operate with a 2 foot body and 4 interchangeable heads. They walk, talk, sit, dance, pick up objects, avoid obstacles, jump and kick. There are 4 interchangeable heads (Einstein, Zeno, Alice and Geo), with motors that are as easy to change as a light bulb. The manufacturer has also created easy to use open source coding engine, and their own robot animation system in order to facilitate the development of advanced functions.

The Hanson Robokind bodies are built stronger and faster than any robot on the market. They feature the powerful dynamixel servos. For those models that walk, they use RX-64 servos in the legs, allowing quick movement and consistent performance. Models with gestural arms use RX-28 and RX-64 servos in the arms, allowing for strong movements, as well as fine precision. The bodies also contain an amazing sensor array, including an IMU with a 9 axis gyro/accelerometer/compass, temperature, torque, and touch sensors, and many other sensor options. It is all controlled by the on board computer.

also fubber info on it The Hanson Robokind robots are capable of the full range of human expressions. The key is skin, made of Robokind's patented FrubberT material. FrubberT is a biomimetic polymer that contracts and folds just like human skin. This allows the robots to achieve life-like expressions in a low power, robust package. Because of the skin, Robokind's knowledge of anatomy, and sophisticated robot engineering, RoboKind robots can accurately simulate the action of over 32 facial muscles.

Wow your job sounds interesting. Looks as though you know what you are doing.

Hollywoods Plat-sil is better than Flubber. I stake my reputation on it. Hanson is a good showman, but i am unimpressed by some of their execution of sculpture, mechanics and Flubber?!.

This video proves it:

Singing

Talk about a walk into the uncanny valley. Compare to this silicone head (thats a fake head made of plat sil, silicone)

In regards to his robokinds, I feel those are over priced toys. I did not see the robot do anything but walk. Any biped robot can do that. I'd be interested to hear what you say when you get your robot.

Just my 2 cents worth.

mostly i hear is hanson is the best in robotics from so many replys on the internet i dont really turst anything from youtube unless the inventer added it how many emotions will your design have

here is his bio

david hanson emotions is what i am looking for the most,as in telementry suit i am designing ,that will be i biggest design ever,full contact suit like in FX2 MOVIE,now where near the toys (i call them)on instructables using EKG AND EEG monitors and force sensors and so much more

his bio is so unreal

That link to the video is on his home page under "Alice". I think his background is more animatronics. If he has a solid platform for his software and hardware and its opensource it could be be the way to go.

I'm not putting in that many emotions in because I am trying to stay robotic and not "uncanny valley". But if this were for a film I could throw in as many emotions as I had room for servos in the head. Also if i sell this as a kit "full size", I want to limit the complexity for the average joe to assemble (and in least amount of parts)

Will

how much will the silicone sell for.i found some a video on the film industry that was using it and compare to his ffubber material and he says its much more advance,so i would love to compare both of of them,never heard of yours used in robotics i like only real life feel and full emotion robots they more human thats why i am into advance AI SOFTWARE THAT PHOTO looks like a real person,can tell by the eyes its not silicone can i see it with the mouth open or part of skin removed is this the platsil silicone

platsil silicone

That is the correct material or a variant thereof. That is a real silicone head made by a company here in Hollywood called ADI. I saw it in person. It probably cost $250k or more. Hollywood throws away tons of money for effects like that. Some budgets can grow to 250 million dollars or more. You can build anything for that kinda money. Discusting when there are starving people in the world. Anyways look it up on the internet there are works in progress photos. As a make up effects artist for 25 years I have made hundreds of fake heads for film and television. It's part of the job.

I had posted earlier on a thread that my life long interest in robotics would hopefully cross over from my film job. I want to create a robotics company using 3d scanning, rapidrototyping to put new skins on robots and create movie type exteriors on new robots.

The making of this head can be found here:

Click To Watch Video

i see it for $35,when i get a chance will email david hanson again to see he know about it andd how it compares to flubber,i am thinging it too cheap,witch is good for robot builders like us ,most likely he would use in his robots if it was any good

and what about the photo you put up its not silicone at all,can tell by the eyes and around the eyes and more ,i would like to see a cross section of it

if you are looking at very good 3d scanning then look at ROS software well over 1000 modules but only in LINUX my JOHNNY FIVE ROBOT is a wooden prop from the movie,BOUGHT IT FOR $500using is and plans from input-inc to build a full size JOHNNY FIVE ROBOT ,like others have made full size R2-D2 IS MOSTLY ABOUT $5000 TO BUILD IT ,mos t r2d2 builder clubs by parts a little at a time mine i think will cost the same,mostly since i have more funds i would ever need ,will mostly all parts at once or make them

have to buy some of that silicone to see how well it will work for my head design after is done ,not looking to sell it many dont need money now and like doing stuff for other for free,just post plans on how to build it,since it will be alot cheaper for the average robot builder ,that cant spend to much money boulding a strong bench for my lathe and milling machine set up,but i dont think any part needs to be made,only hard is the head shell

Did you watch the link for the making of the fake head?

i did now,i looks like it will cost about $100000 to build that head i dont think any one will pay that much

i think a good real life animated head for the average robot builder should cost under $400 ,only servos,aluminium frame,shell and covering (silicone) or something like it

everything should open source and free ,like plans ,circuits,software and more

Oh wow fxrtst ! When I saw the photo first I thought it had been Photoshopped. But after seeing the videos that is amazing.

The head I want to offer would be about 400 to 450 dollars, I won't know until I make the prototype. That would be base head with silicone face, articulated eyes, but without servos and LEDs. Each head could be painted and modified to suit your robot.

As a note the skin will be translucent like the face on IRobot, so you can see details underneath.

That is really cool stuff! Amazing video!

That's amazing work right there!

Yeah great stuff. Lots of fun making this stuff, until you are doing 100 work weeks onset..quite the drag....especially after 25 years!

mine will be about the same except for the eyes, but alot less because you can make the parts your self on the eyes i got parts in,and looking at some clear acrylic lens to put a camera inside each eye camera will need to be bought seperate,simple hand tools can make the frame there is a animated frame on ebay ,that goes for $150 with eyes that look very good, and can put a led in it,plus has a plastic shell, with all servo's and all parts needed only need to buy the silicone for about $35,i guess other companies will have it cheaper,since i pick the first link so that another idea for low cost animated head animated head very low cost

so thinking can be made under $200 with everything

plus there is the wowwee ELVIS head you can get used on ebay complete with servo motors and more for under $100 and instructables there info on upgrading it and taking it apart plus add the silicone for very little money

i have so many links to animated head designs like the rodney animated head using web cams for eyes(logitech)

@robotmaker

I don't have any current need for design (although I am not ruling it out as I begin to build my big bot), but I just wanted to say thanks for your very generous offer!

Alan

@robotz since some of this thread was off topic ,posting the info on the johhny five circuit again

USA
Posted at 4/24/2012 12:00:52 PM #3

ok found the chip i have AN6884 YOU NEED 2 OF THEM,sound input goes to both chips ,very few parts needed mostly a pot for gain on input like 5 k and one cap for a filter on power supply

an6884 pdf

chip cost $1.60 from futurlec.com ,about $.30 for a 5k pcb mounted pot,10 k will work too

fxrtst that circuit only flashes all leds to sound

the way bar graph or vu meter circuit works it has op amp used as a comparator for each led and a voltage string,when audio level is apply to the first string input turns on the led set by the threshold of the votage string and the level of aduio as it increases then next led is control by threshold of the next divider value and so on if you need them flashing it needs another simple circuit added to the chip also can be hook up in parallel too

on circuit that FXRST it will work for bret ,if he only needs one led or a string of leds to flash with audio just a simple transistor switch by sound,how it works audio it at the base of the transistor,(also should have a base resistor of 1 k to protect it) ,but as voltage is apply to the base it turns it off or on to sound ,one op amp is better but still will work also any npn transistor will work,that one is 40 watts too high not really needed 2N2222 will work up to 100 ma and more an6884 pdf

I will give both of these ideas a try. Looks simple enough. Thanks for the info. and advice.

rgordon anytime you need any electronc design just ask ,it is free made so many for my work,but cant use the complete design because of legal problems one design i made was so advance got a bonus of $70,000

@robotmaker,

That is an awesome offer thanks so much!

v/r

Kevin

anytime kevin i lack in programming ,except in LEAF AI software LISPWORKS getting fairly good at it

Hey thanks, I think I see about your design for the LEDs . That is a way cooler way to light up LEDs to sound. Id love to see an array of LEDs working like that. Very neat!

Will

might use them also in another robot design the rad 4.0.but my main use is JOHNNY FIVE ROBOT,TO LOOK LIKE IN THE MOVIES,you face them in so when you use sound it opens slowly and as you increase it ,more leds open like a mouth,works just like in the movie

Very cool. I have to watch that movie been a very long time since Ive seen that film.

Hi Robotmaker Looking for a circuit to give the the Sparkfun mp3trigger card a line output level, it comes with low level suitable for small speaker.I require the output to feed into a high power audio amp. Any assistance would be much appreciated. Thank you in Advance Pat

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11029

@robotmaker

On the application schematic shown on the PDF for the an6884 chip the audio would hook to the 2.2uf capacitor?

@rgordon yes,that is where the audio goes

@bravia you need a audio boost amp,mostly all it is a gain amp using a chip and few resistors

Thanks. I am ordering the chips today.

@robotmaker

On an earlier thread in the Hardware section of this forum I posted a link to a site that talks about controlling dc gear motors like a servo. Turn DC Gear Motor into servo

Do you have a step by step tutorial for something like this?

@RGORDON not really good at that,but pretty simple made so many of them ,all you need is servo board from a cheap FUTABA S3003 FROM china,remove the motor and pot and add your own motor and pot a attached to motor,now if need more ams then the chip on S3003 ,take 2 chips and add together in parallel if need more cicuit use a h-bridge,if you have problems wiring the h-brigge i can help you

@ Bravia,

Sparkfun has some.....are these still too little gain?

Audio Amp

If they are too weak... look into some car electronics boosters. I have line level audio signal booster I bought from Radio Shack several years ago, 12V Power supply of course but works pretty good. I think it was less than $20.

v/r

Kevin

KEVIN thats not what he is looking for ,most stereo iputs are 1 k impedance and speakers are 8 oms so you need a matching trasfomer 8 ohms to about 1k radio shack has one for it,i alsmost forgot about it audio matching transfomer

it matches speaker to audio input if stereo you need 2 ,one for each speaker

@robotmaker,

I must be missing something from above then....I thought he was going from line level out on MP3 trigger into another amp (should be same impedence)....Bravia is saying the line level out on the MP3 Trigger is too weak..and as you say above....he needs an 'audio boost amp'.

Boost Amp

Also need to watch out for ESD...There is a guide on sparkfuns site to ensure you don't damage the MP3 Trigger as well called VS10XX AppNote: Connecting analog outputs

KEVI TJHS IS WHAT IT SAID

Looking for a circuit to give the the Sparkfun mp3trigger card a line output level, it comes with low level suitable for small speaker.I require the output to feed into a high power audio amp. Any assistance would be much appreciated. Thank you in Advance Pat

mptrigger has a 8 ohm output and wants to feed to amp with ik impedance ,to do that you need a coupling transfomer at 8 ohms to match the speaker output on the mp3 ,the 1k output to to a amp our your choice,so he needs a matching transfomer and amp like the one you listed,or there are many others on ebay.cant connect 8 ohms to it wont work that well.needs to me matched

also if you look at the vs10xx app note near the bottom they are using a 10 -1 matching circuit ,witch is also 8ohm to 1k matching transformer also specs on the transformer says 10-1

Re Sparkfun Mp3 Trigger My main concern is when I connect the card output to an external amp I have total isolation as there is an issue with GND ( The shell is connected to the GBUF line on the VS1053 Audio Codec Chip. GBUF is NOT ground and is biased at 1.25 volts (as well as the Left and Right outputs).
I was hoping to purchase a ready made adaptor,or would an independent power source to MP3 Card suffice. Pat

pat take a kook at the vs10xx app note it talks about using GBUF and you do need a isolation matching transfomer ,the GBUF goes to GND with a cap and also same with outputsf the mp3 board to transfomer

@robot maker Where in the docs did you find this has an 8ohm output? Trying to find the specs on the low level audio signal?

it says it takes a headphone input

@robotmaker I want to add cliff/edge detection to my Wall-E, i know i need Sharp IR sensor, but where to mount it, how do I connect to EZ-B and setup in ARC? Thanks

mount on bottom,measure the wall-e to floor and sensor you want at a angle like about 2 inches in front,doesnt meen to place the IR sensor in front just the detection light ,use adjustable digital IR MY AVATAR PHOTO above my name has some on brackets about 45 deg brackets,can see about getting a bteer photo of my IR for edge detection,then a simple script to control or stop motors

Im gonna need a bit more details, what model of IR sensor? i can't visualize what you're saying, and how do you wire to EZ-B? example of script would help too or just post a EZB file if easier for you.

on the sensor is this one

sharp gp2d15 then since you are using a wall-e need to change to the lowest 10cm setting

adjusting sharp gp2d15 IR SENSOR

SCRIPT NEED TO WORK ON IT,NOT VERY HARD

to use it on wall-e place in about the center on front edge at a angle using a rule so that sensor is about 4 inches (10cm) to the floor reason to set at a angle so the robot will stop in time before fall off a cliff or stairs also on stopping the motors its not STOP you need its BRAKE command

What if I already have the hcsr04 sensor at the bottom of wall-e? Can I mount the ir behind it pointing down 45 degree? Also do i need to mount vertically or horizontally? Also I'm running servos for wheels not motor so I think stop script will work.

horizontally,widest distance,vertical is for wall corners and like small detection ,like a chair leg place behind it ,but make shore it doesnt hit the sensor do you have the sonar facing forward or down to floor,down to floor not great read the post on using sonars and IR sensors

I have the SR04 facing forward for obstacle detection. Basically all I want wall-e to navigate himself without bumping into things and without dropping off a table.

that sounds good,i am doing the same with my WALL-E,but only have it apart,and bought parts working to finish first my orobot roomba project,then brookstone rover project both have up in forum,then omnibot 200 design,bought over 20 robot toys to hack,have 10 EZB and 6 bluetooth camera's

wow looks like you are going to very busy, so many bots so much investment, i got Wall-E, R2D2, Buster, Robie SR, and Omnibot 2000 and i think i have way too much already, need to sell some other R/C heli stuff to recover costs...hehe.

What about this ir sensor? small size, 5ma, good price, perfect range for Wall-E.

www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1134

Still needs help with hook up to EZ-B board and scripting part. What if I want obstacle detection when wall-e goes reverse as well, is this unnecessarily? if not, what do i need?

thats one i am using ,couldnt remember the part # at the time,it does take one screw witch is kinda bad,pololu is where i get alot of parts from,i think i have 8 left from a batch of 25 super simple to hook up one pin is gnd ,one pin is 5 volts,one goes to digital pin for reverse you need one in back of the robot

i also have robbie SR,3 types of R2-D2, 2 types of omnibots,plus rover AR DRONE PARROT ,3 types of RAD robots and alot more

ok just to make sure, im gonna need two of those polulu IR sensors, one for cliff detection and one for back of wall-E, in front i will be using Sonar SR04. Sounds good? Also can you post a script example when you have time?

You have an army of bots, post a pic with all of them together, would be a cool avatar pic too :)

most taken apart ,boxed and label with parts i bought for them,some i can post

F.... I may also take you up on that. I will need some sort of board that I can hook up Spykee's base, there's some hacks on-line that you can hook up robosapien and I have a head that I will be adding some servos to.

Hahahaha... Louis I did the same thing. Selling some sculpting stuff and other craft stuff to get more stuff for robots.

robotmaker...i gotcha, i dont want to do that until i finish wall-e, no space for everything apart.

sfoy...good to know im not the only one :)

i have 3 large area,tech and computer room,storage 12 by 12 feet and work shop 12 by 40 feet

@SFOY hope to send you my robots tail so you can fix it ,by monday have to remove the rubber glue inside and measure the tail complete

F.. we all wish we had your space. Jealous....

L... You are definitely not the only one. Lots of help here.

hurt my eye and elbow a little wednesday,fell off the ladder doing work on my roof i am ok,just very sore and black and blue eye,so not much robot work for a few days stress

Ouch..... glad you are ok