-635353562186322812.png)
Hi all,
I'd like to share a video I just took of my full size Lost in Space B9 robot that's controlled by two EZ-B controller boards. Right now they are controlling limited movement and voice response of a few motors, lights and sound files played from a Sparkfun MP3 Trigger board. Although I'm just starting with the animation and have more building on the actual robot the result (mostly thanks to the EZ Robot controller board) is shocking. Please have a look at this (4 minute) You Tube vid and enjoy.
Please excuse some Technical camera lighting and sound issues. This is the first time I'd made and posted a vid online.
EDIT 8/2/13: Just realized I have no good pictures of how my B9 will look when complete. Here's one of the actual TV robots from the 60's TZ show Lost in Space and one recent shot of where I'm at with my build over 1 1/2 year after I started. Enjoy:
Thanks, Dave Schulpius
Other robots from Synthiam community
Rich's The Testbot
Redzone's Mo, My Inmoov
Exactly R2D2! I am wondering if Dave is a retired Space engineer!
Ha, ha! I wish! Neither retired, space engineer or even an engineer. I'm just a High Voltage Distribution Power Linemen for a US Midwest electric company. I've been setting poles and building power lines all my life. I did however want to be an astronaut when I was a kid but didn't have the smarts to mussels. I didn't miss a space launch by NASA or a episode of LIS or Star Trek either.
How interesting Dave, My father was a High voltage lineman who worked distribution and constructed high tower lines specializing in "stringing" using helicopters over the very mountainous terrain here in British Columbia. He has passed away 3 years ago now. He taught me how to climb poles which I then went on to be employed by the phone company working a mainframe for half my career and then "climbing poles". I highly respected him. So yes I can identify with your job ......and......your astronaut desire and Nasa launchs,Star Trek etc!...kindered spirits for sure!
I work for a company thats makes equipment to company like yours ,high voltage sticks. I design and made high voltage testers,safety is my biggest item,each item has to be fully tested before it leaves the plant. Also very high current testers up 1000 amps i design and made
Very cool robotmaker, your skills are really amazing. Yes I do remember my father using "hot sticks" on many jobs. When the power goes out we all rely on hydro lineman to restore it,often under adverse conditions! When I was working for the local phone company, testing for foreign voltages was important and we all carried yellow voltage testors that would turn red or green depending on the tested item. I do forget the company that made them
we made all types buried line testers, and almost every type of electronic testers and i had to make pcb testers,final testers and qc testers for all of them and all have to very high precision
Back to DAVE'S project cant wait to see it finished is very cool,i lke B9 and R2-D2 but JOHHNY FIVE is my favorate DAVE to need when its done to place in a show or if another lost in space movie comming out like i hope to do with mine,but so many projects to build dont then i will start on him.
BUT good news after my last trip for work ,going to retire very early to work on robots full time.
Congrats robotmaker about your early retirement..I had to wait for 36 working years! As far a what is my favorite robot, I think R2D2, Johhny 5 B9 Wall-E in that order but really only separated by .00001
We should bug Josh to make an oppinion poll on this forum to post various things...what do you two think?
Yes, testers are very important in my line of work. Gotta know the powers off before you can take off the rubber gloves. On the higher voltages I've used "Hot Sticks" very often. It's a real art to be able to insert a bolt onto a little hole and then ratchet it down or tie a cable in with another wire at the end of a 10 foot fiberglass rod. Sorry to hear about your Fathers passing. I know he must have been a special kind of man. I've just passed 30 years climbing poles and probably have another 10 ahead of me. Just last night I was called out in a wind storm with the temp around 13 degrees Fahrenheit not including the wind chill. Brutal but kinda fun in a sick sort of way. eek