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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
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Hello Dave, I again watched your videos and appreciate your attention to detail and patience. Thanks for sharing. I feel bad you are experiencing what looks to be an encoder issue. I hope it will not be a major issue to resolve the problem. About 6 months ago you had mentioned your desire to get a mini computer to run your B9. Have you considered anything? I continue to look at a Latte Panda with maybe the display and touch screen. Let me know what your thought have been so far.
Ron
Hi Ron, thanks for your interest.
I've nerrowed this latest issue issue down to the encoder. I've replaced the connection to the device and the problem remained. When I physically took my finger and applied upward pressure on the connection the issue dissappears. I'm not really sure what happened to the encoder but it skips counts every rotation. Either there is a crack in the circuit beyond the header pins or the opto circuit is miss counting the flash interrupt for some reason. In short I have a new encoder on the way. I'll replace it and see how things work.
As far as a mini computer, I still want to go that route. However I've been so possessed by getting these arms working and functional I have given it little thought. I actually see delaying this decision as a good thing. Everyone knows how fast computer technology advances. The longer I take to get to this point, the better mini computer I'll get.
Over the next few weeks I'll be upgrading all my EZB's in my B9 to the /2 and adding a LoTiny inside the brain. Stay tuned! !
Yeah, From what I saw it looked like the encoder is NG. It seemed to be at the direction change and at about the same location further out. I had similar issues when I worked on similar circuits. I hope it isn't a major change out, meaning you have to pull the arm all the way out again... to repair it.
Wishing you well, and hope you are feeling better,
Ron
Thanks again Ron. Actually it is a pain to get to. I've got the arm and rail system pulled and the old encoder already removed. Just need the new part and it's full speed ahead again.
Just a short update. So the problem turned out to be a bad encoder. I received the new encoder from Mouser yesterday. I spent the evening installing it, doing a couple upgrades and fixing a couple problems I found while I was poking around inside the robot. When the work was done and I powered up I was so releaved to see a smooth and precise movement to verious command points. Hopefully a couple of the upgrades will keep any future problems from popping up. Full steam ahead now! !
YEAH..... Sound like Will Robinson will be having his friend around soon. The doctor will have to put up with the Mechanical Ninny!
Ron
:P lol!
Hi All, I'm having fun today making arm animations for my new B9 arms with ARC's Auto Positioner Control. He's looking spookily real. Have a look at a few of the pictures.