Shlomo
Canada
Asked
— Edited
is there any way to connect with someone experienced with building and remotely controlling a large robot for collaboration on a commercial project?
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If I could give one piece of advice @Shlomo search to see if your idea already exists. If it does not exist request who ever you talk to, sign a patent or invention non-disclosure agreement before you discuss anything. You need freedom of movement to file a patent in future. Also a search maybe very eye opening as you would be amazed at what is already out there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3mPMQbJs6Q
In reality there are a two (main) reasons robotics companies fail:
1. Over promise and under deliver.
2. Too much money sunk into trying to "do it all".
The examples you provided promised the world, built massive dev teams with expertise in every aspect of the product so they could own all the IP and got lost in development, forgetting what was truly important - meeting buyer expectations. Jibo sold a ton of units in their pre-sale. That showed the demand was there and the reason they were able to raise 70+million. Once people got their hands on Jibo, they were all disappointing at the result. I would wager the majority of their funds were spent on software development. Maybe the outcome would have been very different if they integrated 3rd party tech rather than building it themselves? Maybe they wouldn't have burned through 70+million. Maybe they would have met user expectations and would still be alive today.
The industry is evolving quickly, learning from the faults of the past is a great way to progress. These historic failures shouldn't be seen as a dead end to people and companies with great ideas today, but rather an opportunity to learn from and change the way they bring their products to market tomorrow.
Don't ever let them tell you it can't be done. Just find a way to make it happen. The Altair project that our good friend Nink mentions as being troubled is not dead or even that troubled. I just chatted with Tony a couple days ago. His little robot has found a now possible life as an assist robot to people that needs a hand or companionship. Will's (fxrtst) Male and Female Alan heads are alive and kicking (well maybe not kicking. They have no legs. LOL). Both these guys have the same thing in common that are making them successes, They keep trying, didn't listen to the ones that said "can't do", found help and adapted to the market. Also like Will said; "timing is everything". My two above examples above by not be "mainstream" right now but I know if the inventor builders keep with their vision their work will soon be.
Good luck and keep going.
I like your posts they are always positive.
Code:
Only to clarify I'm firmly believer you should follow your dreams and ideas, I've been following my dream: Creating, integrating, solving software problems for more than 15 years and when someones says it can't be done... I'll try my best with the available time to help and find a solution.
**** EDITED ****
The previous post content reflected my thoughts. I erased the negative part to focus only on the positive side.
I would also like to contact those with established projects to see if we could work together but can't find anyone current via cruising this website.
Meanwhile, a question bubbled up. If I made a life-sized robot using Synthiam's servos, would the arms be capable of lifting 10 lbs? Or, what is the maximum weight that servo can lift? (I am probably asking the wrong way because I am not conversant with the technical terms).
The technical term is Torque https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque the standard unit is Newtons Meters but you can use Kg/cm, In/lbs etc.
To compare torques you will need to have the same unit e.g. N/M, kg/cm, etc.
Online converter tool:
http://www.onlineconversion.com/torque.htm
Very subjective, let's imagine your robot arm length is 80 cm and has one servo only in the arm extremity. If you add more joints/servos this servo will handle all the weight.
EZ-Robot/Synthiam HDD servos torque are 19 Kg / cm
source:
https://www.ez-robot.com/Shop/AccessoriesDetails.aspx?prevCat=104&productNumber=1307
There are other factors like the arm weight, joints placement/rotations, but to keep the exercise simple the Torque formula:
source: https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/torque.html
Torque = Force * Length * cos(Angle) => Force = Torque / (Length * cos(Angle) )
What we know:
Torque = 19 Kg /cm (EZ-Robot Servo)
Length = 80 cm
Case 1: Arm resting, Angle 0 deg.
F = 19 / (80 * cos(0)) => F = 19 / (80 * 1) => F = 0.23 Kg
In theory the arm can hold 230 grams
Case 2: Arm at 90 deg = 0.785 radians
F = 19 / (80 * cos(0.785)) => F = 19 / (80 * 0.70 ) => F = 0.335 Kg
In theory the arm can hold 335 grams
Bear in mind there are other factors, but this will help you start.
ROBOT ARM CALCULATOR:
https://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_arm_calculator.shtml
So what kind of motor so I need to lift/support 10 lbs or 5 kg
for benchmark purposes a collaborative arm 80 cm 5 Kg payload (URM5) https://www.universal-robots.com/products/ur5-robot/ costs 35 K then you will need to add some addons, services, support etc.
maybe some other members can chime in and contribute their "bits"...
bear in mind we are DIY members, for a professional opinion take Synthiam/Alan's suggestion.
I will also follow up with Alan, as you correctly suggest
Still looking for someone to help build the life sized robot -
Great to see the engagement...and the NASA Research Chart is supercool!!!
Why dont you start to develop the system on a smaller scale, to develop the software and scale the mechanical parts later?
Just an idea...great to have you on the forum!!
In any case, my mech engineer friend will be the one to guide me through that. As for the last question about starting development....
Haven't you guys guessed yet? The software is mostly developed! It is waiting for final tweaking according to whatever features must be built into the mechanics. As in any marriage, you've got to start living together to work out the kinks:).
Still looking for someone to help build the life sized robot -
Are you aware of the problems involved ? You will need many motors with very high torque and cost, large and heavy batteries, a sophisticated control system, including accelerometers and gyroscopes , a rigid frame to hold all this, etc.
i'm working on a 80 cm robot and have a lot of problems. I use Hitec servos D845WP, that seem good enough for that. To make a larger one would be very difficult !
In fact, I have begun wondering if lifting 10 lbs/5kg could be done using a hoisting wire that would be powered by the same motor that turns the wheels axle and would only engage when wheels were disengaged (type of transmission??)
For the arms you might use cheap geared motors adding position sensors for feedback, or linear actuators (Servocity makes many types, with their own control system) or rotary servos with very high torque (I saw one with 280 kg.cm).
Leonardo is my first name.
Here's boston dynamic's box stacking robot... Notice the counter weight to assist with it's inverted pendulum balance.
All the applications I envision need primarily an app that can control the robot device (of whatever appearance), as you have achieved with your EZ stuff. One of these applications doesn't need a humanoid body, but does need to exert more torque than 19 kg/cm. My business plan for only this one application predicts that, with only a 1% penetration into existing installs in the US, the net revenue stream would be $112M/yr., ongoing from just that penetration. As I have said before (and demonstrated) I do not have the knowhow or inclination to build the necessary hardware. But, I do have the software ready to go and need a partner to fill the missing pieces, ie. construct a working prototype (if need be with only temporary fixes such as Nink's suggestion of "hacked battery drill and booker rod") that can be shown to prospective buyers, get whatever feedback to tweak and off to the races.