Unitree Robotics Go2 - New Design!

Spinning Lidar?

Well I just came across Unitree Robotics' latest robot dog.   They've tweaked the design by adding what looks to be a spinning Lidar sensor to the front.  This offering also seems to have greater mobility and position control.  I haven't delved into all the specifics yet so I'll have to take some time to learn more about it, but for now, let's enjoy the video!  lol.

Let me know what you think about the updated design and how it might influence all the other robot dog manufactures..

Well That Was Fast - The Evolution of the Robot Dog

 Just when people were getting the hang of making 3d printed robot dogs at home, here comes a new addition on the design, a spine.  Check out this video that runs through a simulation of a Quadruped with an active spine and then shows the real-world robot in action.  

 

ROBOCUP, We're Almost There! - ARTEMIS Humanoid Robot

It's been a long time since I thought about RoboCup.  For those of you not familiar, RoboCup is an organization with the goal of having humans to compete against robots in a game of soccer by 2050.  After looking at this newly released video of UCLA's ARTEMIS robot, I'd say we are getting there.  I've been a fan of the RoboCup events since the beginning and have had the opportunity to attend some.  It's amazing to see all the teams with their different approaches to building a robot to play soccer against humans.  There used to be only one or two major players in the humanoid bi-pedal robot space, but now we have a plethora.  I'm glad to see UCLA making strides in their development.  Leave and comment and check out the video below.

  

It Takes Something Greater

 

What I’m about to state is something that I believe the general populous is subconsciously aware of but seldom acknowledges, that it always takes something greater to make what exists.  Really profound, right (insert laughing emoji)?   What I mean in simple terms is that in order to create the plastic spoon that you’re using and will ultimately throw away, it required an enormous time and financial investment.  The business person who had the idea, the designer and cad operator who made the models, the machinists who created the dies, the machine operator who oversaw the injection molding process, to packing distribution marketing etc.  All so we can enjoy a cup of soup with a plastic spoon. 

How or why is this important?  I recently watched this video (see below) on the breakthrough of fusion that took place last December.  What occurred to me (and is clearly conveyed in the video) is just how much effort it takes to generate an positive amount of energy from the fusion reaction.  It’s stated that it took roughly 2 units of energy (from the laser) to get out 3 units of energy from the fusion process.  It is later stated, paraphrasing, that the power needed to run the lasers was left out of the previous statement.  So in actuality, it took 302 units of energy to produce 3 units during fusion.  In order to output more energy with the current setup, the amount of energy required would need to be scaled up.  So at no time does the energy output exceed the energy input. 

So I’m of the opinion that whatever it is that I’m making, It will require more energy to create it than it will produce.  This begs the question, is there such a thing as net gain?  If so, then where exactly are the gains coming from?  When I think of this notion in context of business I have a suspicion that gains are ultimately extracted from the laborers, the quality of materials used, or user experience when it's a service .   

What are you thoughts on gains/profits that are claimed in the production of energy, products, or services?  Are the energy gains really produced from the processes as stated/claimed or is it really just smoke and mirrors?  Let a comment below or subscribe to the blog for more food for thought on engineering related subjects.    

First Official Part on the MR-1

 Well here you have it folks, my first aluminum part made on the MR-1 (in combination with my manual mill).  I'm really pleased that I didn't crash the machine or snap an endmill.  I'm really happy with the way it ran and that I was able to remember how to use the probe and perform the tool changes.  Wasn't sure about how to use a drill bit, but the guys from the manufacturer was able to chime in and help me out.  What I am not happy about is the way the coolant has a tendency to stain/discolor any aluminum part.  A HUGE disappointment.  I've been shown a better coolant to purchase, but my question is how do I properly dispose of the coolant I already have?  So right now, I'm just going to bare with the discoloration until it's time to change the coolant (unless someone has a good suggestion).  I will be posting more about this MR-1 journey in the future so stay tuned. 

Top side with discoloration

Bottom side (just finished)

Another view of the top.

TRS/Sci-Bot Worx - Waste Not, Want Not ep1

 Practice what you preach is what I try to live by and I've been screaming from the mountain tops that mankind has become too wasteful.  I believe that much of it is driven by the over supply of goods in attempt to get a return on investment and corporate greed.  Not here at TRS/Sci-Bot Worx!  Nothing breaks for good here.  We go to great lengths to either repair an item that is broken, reassign that item for another purpose, or dismantle it and reuse its components.  Today we will be demonstrating this first hand.  My wet/dry vacuum from 2004 has run into an issue.  The original aluminum fan blade has developed cracks in it due to stress caused by the use of the shop vac as a leaf blower.  The gyroscopic forces generated by the motor and the moment forces caused by the movement of my hand while blowing leaves have proven to be too much for the OEM blade.  

So upon this discovery, instead of throwing in the towel and spending another $139 for a comparable shop vac. I decided to 3d print a new fan blade (that was the easy part).  

Upon further examination of the motor shaft/axle, there appeared to be a large washer at the base that the previous fan blade sat against.  I thought that maybe this had fused to the motor shaft over time because I couldn't fathom how the motor could be assembled with this washer welded on.  So I tried to remove it with plyers, then tried to dremel it off all to no avail.  Some how it was apart of the motor shaft!  The next course of action was to see if I could get it mounted in the lathe so I could clean up the shaft that way.    

Seeing that I couldn't remove the motor from the plastic housing it was in, I knew that it was going to require that I get really creative in order to get in on the lathe.  I thank God that It just barely fit into my chuck and I was able to use a live center to support the free end.  This enabled me to turn what was left after I had hacked most of the washer off with the dremel.  

So back to printing.  I quickly modeled up a fan blade using the original aluminum one as a reference.  Then sent the file to be printed on my modified Ender 7, which made short work of it, and I mounted the blade to the motor shaft.  Mission accomplished, so I thought.  I reassembled the motor housing and flicked on the power switch.  As I had hoped, the vacuum began to suck again.  I actually thought the the suction had increased (I was wrong), but it was good enough for me to return to using the vac.  All of the celebration came to an end though once I began to use the vac as a blower again.  It was short lived as the motor began to heat up, the PLA fan blade began to warp causing it to rub against the motor housing.  

Not being one to give up easily, I then formulated a plan to create another fan blade, but this time it would be printed out of PA-12 CF (a Nylon with chopped carbon fiber filament).  Thankfully, I was able to use my recently finished custom drying oven to dry the PA-12 CF so that I could print the new blade.  The blade came out prefect, expect for one small detail.  Upon revisiting the OG aluminum blade I realized that I had the vanes of the fan blade curving in the wrong direction.  This required me to correct the model and then make another print.  Thankfully all that took place without a hitch.  

This little project was so much fun (not really, I just need my vacuum to work) that I even made a little video of the repair down below.  Thanks for reading and see you on the next repair.

Boston Dynamics' Stretch at MODEX!

 I had a chance to attend the MODEX show this week and was pleased to see that Boston Dynamics was in attendance with their Stretch platform on full display.  I love seeing robotic products going from the prototype (work in progress) stage to the production model phase and boy is this thing a beauty.  The gray and white color choice is clean and non-threatening.  The simple geometries of the turret base and the main body are simple yet elegant.  I also love the wide and flat appearance of the turret mast that houses the vision systems.  All in all, I'm very impressed at the way the design came out and would enjoy picking the brain of the head designer(s) that produced it.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay at the Boston Dynamics booth for long and I did not take enough pictures.  Here are the two shots that I snapped and you can watch an older video of Stretch in action below. 

Hopefully I'll be able to share some more goodies from the MODEX trip.  Stay tuned!