Everything You Need to Know About the Raspberry Pi

The online tech community is wild about the soon-to-be released Raspberry-Pi. The cleverly named device is a $25 Linux computer that is the size of a credit card (right). With impressive specs and even more impressive performance, the Raspberry Pi has been seen running Quake 3(bottom), XBMC, and Air-Play, without lag. The R-Pi is due to start sales to consumers later this February, with the construction of the first 10k finishing on Feb 20th. Only the 'B' version will initially be for sale and will be priced at $35.

The device has an 700 MHZ ARM11 processor, and 128MB of RAM. The upgraded ‘B’ version sports a 10/100Mb Ethernet port and 256MB of ram. For the less-techy people out there, the specs are just short of a modern smart-phone (but can easily outperform the newest iPhone4s). The R-Pi is capable of HD video playback, and outputs through HDMI and RCA (the circular yellow plug on older devices). It has 2 USB 2.0  ports which share the same USB Controller. On the ‘B’ version, the Ethernet port also shares the USB controller. R-Pi will boot off of an SD card (sorry, it will not be able to boot off of USB) and will be powered by micro USB cable. The picture below shows the board’s layout.

On a more technical note, the board also has 16 accessible GPIO (general-purpose I/O). All of the pins are unpopulated and will be digital only. But chances are if you plan on using them, then you probably have a spare A/D converter laying around anyways. Another board referred to as the GertBoard will be released at some-point soon as well. This will allow users to more-easily drive high-power motors and sensors on a shield-like board (the GPIO do not have pull-down resistors or diodes to prevent reverse current attached. It is assumed that users using this will have enough common sense to not fry their board). Because of how easy the GertBoard will be to use, the Raspberry Pi may be able to start a new revolution in the hacking community; the same way Arduino has. The most popular Arduino board, the Uno, currently sells for ~$30 and doesn’t have nearly the speed of the R-Pi.
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The Raspberry Pi is being developed with the purpose of bringing computer programming back to schools, and not languages like HTML, that most schools currently consider adequate. With a low cost, the R-Pi may be treated as a form of textbook in some tech classes, and will finally allow students to bring home a computer to learn with (without worrying about bricking their parent’s). More high-end languages will be able to be taught like C, or Java and students will also be able to learn more about the structure of operating systems - because the Pi will be completely Open Source and un-brickable. Hopefully, schools will be able find space for Raspberry Pis in their curriculum and buy a few. A $25 computer is a lot cheaper than a $100 textbook...and a lot cooler.

One of the most recent pictures of a Raspberry Pi. The
final version will most likely look similar.

The hacking community is expected to be the main buyers of the first batch of R-Pis. With projects seen on the forums like a a cheap media station, a car PC, an Android Emulator, a robotics micro-controller, and home automation. I plan on buying one to make a multi-media station for my [parents] HDTV (network media streaming, Netflix, YouTube, Interwebs, picture sharing, music, etc). The reason that the first batch is not going to schools is because the R-Pi foundation is hoping that the hacking community will help develop the learning materials, software and tutorials for the less-advanced users. Within the first month I can guarantee that you will see thousands of easy open-source projects using the Pi...Maybe even here on RoboTechEd!

If you plan on getting a R-Pi then I recommend you follow the organization on Twitter and forwarding their tweets to your phone. They don’t expect their inventory to last very long (I give it 10 minutes), even though they are limiting initial sales to 1 per person. The store will open at some point after Feb 20th and before the end of the month. The foundation also plans to ship world-wide from day one. If you want to get a few of these for your school, then you will have to wait for a little later in the year, the foundation will be selling bulk to schools at some point after they get a feel for their sales. Either way you should hop onto the R-Pi forums and check out some cool project ideas, and contribute to the development!

My Robot Nation - After My Own Heart

Not everyone has access to a 3D printer, and the people who do, rarely offer their services at reasonable prices. Now a company called ‘My Robot Nation’ is offering custom 3D prints of custom made robot figurines! And the prices are reasonable too! The prices are as follow; $17.99 for a 2” model, $24.99 for a 3” model, and $169.99 for a 6” model (alright, the 6” model isn't a great price, but is understandable why).

My Robot Nation offers a free online CAD program where users get to choose predefined shapes and body parts to design their own custom robot. The amount of available parts is actually quite impressive and some of the already-built robots are even more impressive. Robots like the one pictured below were all made using My Robot Nation’s WebGL based program and can be viewed/rated under the ‘The Nation’ tab at the top of the screen.

The concept of My Robot Nation is really interesting, and the implementation is absolutely extraordinary. The program has run completely smooth for me so far and I have yet to make a robot which I’m not tempted to buy. The coloring options are in-depth and very responsive. Now to just pool up some money and get a RoboTechEd robot look-a-like (RTE’s background); the last part I need is a one to replicate the antennae in some way and the model will look very close. If you’re able to replicate it shoot me a pic on Twitter and feel free to post any of your creations below and make sure you also follow @MyRobotNation for all updates to the service!

Check out My Robot Nation's photo gallery HERE.

Updated Petman -World's Most Realistic Humanoid

Boston Dynamics just uploaded a new video on youtube of their newest revision of ‘Petman’ which is a robot used to replicate human movement for military testing. The newest revision of Petman broke Boston Dynamic’s history of making really creepy robots. Petman actually looks realistic and doesn’t give me goosebumps like their first versions of BigDog. Instead I am rather impressed with Petman’s capabilities - and looks too!

In the video (below) you can see Petman replicating human motions almost to the tee. Petman is seen running, doing push-ups, and walking exactly as a human would and to the upper right you can see what appears to be Petman doing jumping jacks (or some thing like that) from Boston Dynamic’s website. All of these movements make Petman the worlds most realistic humanoid - a title which you would expect to be given to an Asian company. With innovative robots like Petman, BigDog, and the in-dev ‘SquishBot’ I’m confident that we will be seeing a lot more from Boston Dynamics.

Petman is capable of running at similar speeds to humans, jumping, doing push-ups, and even sweating. All to make sure that soldiers are provided with the best gear possible. Research like this really makes the program look good, and (I hope) helps to increase Boston Dynamic’s funding. Be sure to check out their website HERE for more info, and let me know what you think about Petman in the comment section below or on Twitter.

Roboweek Day Two - Technological Overkill

I’m not sure if you’re subscribed to Robot Magazine (if you’re not, you should be), but if so then you’ll recognize our second Roboweek #robotofnote - DARwIn OP. The OP in this little humanoids name stands for Open Platform, meaning everything about him is available to the public. The code, the parts, and even instructions on how to make one yourself. So if you have tens of thousands of dollars of machinery, you can make a lil’Darwin yourself...Although I doubt most people have the tools/materials to do so.

What makes Darwin so amazing though is the amount of technology packed into such a little bot. He has multiple speakers, mics, an HD camera, built in wi-fi, a mini SD card slot, a 3 axis accelerometer, an ethernet port, 2 USB ports, HDMI out, and many more ridiculous features (I think that list is sufficiently jaw-dropping). The only thing that Darwin is missing are lasers - but I think everything currently crammed in there is sufficient for a little humanoid that stands just under a foot and a half tall. Darwin was made at Virginia Tech, and according to the video below, the project started in 2004, and has had many versions until their success (maybe my school should start something soon, so that by the time i graduate I’ll have a cool little robot to play with). To find out more information about Darwin-OP click HERE.

Which robot is better? DARwIn-OP or NAO?less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Are you celebrating #roboweek? What are you doing to celebrate? A good idea would be to download the RoboTechEd Chrome App! Check it out, and tweet @roboteched or @roboweek with any #robotofnote!

Roboweek Day One - Robotic Teamwork

Roboweek is here! A robot’s equivalent to Hanukkah (or something along those lines). And that means I have the first robot for RoboTechEd’s roboweek celebration! These robots were made at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control in Switzerland. They have been featured on tons of other technology blogs, and even on the news. Pretty sweet for two robots with one of the simplest concepts ever - playing catch. Yeah, you remember playing catch in the backyard with dad? Seemed like a thing that epitomized life, something that separated you from your computer...Until Now.

These two robots in the video below do exactly what you think but better, they fly. Pretty crazy right? While watching the video you see that they sometimes loose control of the ball, which is bound to happen when your already flying and trying to hit the ball up. But what I really think is cool about these two is that you often don’t see robotic teamwork. Multiple bots speaking to each-other to complete a task isn’t a new idea, but implementing it successfully is pretty rare. Overall I give these robots two thumbs up for their awesome teamwork and simple nature. Happy Roboweek guys, keep up the teamwork!

Happy #roboweek day one! Do you know any robots worth celebrating? Tweet me any #robotofnoteless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Are you celebrating #roboweek? What are you doing to celebrate? A good idea would be to download the RoboTechEd Chrome App! Check it out, and tweet @roboteched or @roboweek with any #robotofnote!

Roboweek is Here! Are You Ready?

Today’s pretty exciting, for a few reasons. First of all, the second annual #Roboweek starts TOMORROW. And no, I’m not messing with you. National Robotics Week is a real event (nationalroboticsweek.org), and is a week long of celebrating...well you know...robots! I don’t know about you, but I plan on celebrating all week by the only way I know how - blogging! Everyday throughout #roboweek I will be posting solely about robots, so make sure to check back here daily! To find out about local #roboweek events, follow @roboweek and tweet all of your traditions and news to them using the #roboweek hashtag. Robots everywhere are begging you! They need a week of appreciation (you would too if you worked over 100 hours a week)!

The second big announcement is that I have developed a Chrome app for RoboTechEd! That’s right, you can now get easy access to your favorite indie blog! Click HERE to download it, and don’t forget to rate it! Feel free to give any help and suggestions by tweeting @Roboteched or emailing me HERE. It only takes 5 seconds, and will guarantee you never miss a #Roboweek post!

Are you ready for #Roboweek? What do you have planned?less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Google's Self Driving Car - Hitting 40 in Parking-lots

For years now DARPA has issued a driver-less car challenge, which colleges and companies across the country have entered. Most contestants never finished the competition because they break or crash midway, which is understandable. But these cars were just on a long dirt road, with no other cars nearby; something completely different than real world driving (not saying what they did wasn’t great). Of course the leading technology company had to get a piece of this, sponsoring some teams like Stanford, but never really entering themselves.

But why wouldn’t Google enter their own team? They clearly have the resources, and the brains to dominate in the competition. Well, apparently they didn’t need a competition to make a driver-less car. And skipped all of the testing in remote areas (publicly at least). Google now has a self driving car that they claim can easily navigate through busy streets by itself. Just give it a destination, and it’ll get you there.

In the video below a Google Prius is driving, with limited sensors (keeping the car from looking odder than it already does). The driver does nothing but make sure the car doesn't malfunction, while the aggressive driving is just to show the cars extreme capabilities (so don’t worry about Terminator cars...yet). Google currently has testers driving these cars on the road, who get paid to sit there essentially. So expect this to catch on quickly, although I doubt it'll go into production for a bit; no one wants to hear that a robotic Prius hit some kid chasing after a ball...then again, no one wants to hear that without the car being robotic.

To find more out check out the NYTimes article HERE.

What do you think Google do next? What do you want them to do? #ilovegoogleless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyTaylor Niver
RoboTechEd

Sony Rolly - Rolling Into Our Hearts

If you think Roombas have infiltrated consumers homes, as nothing more than a ‘cool-to-have,’ then you just wait until you see the Sony Rolly. It should be rolling into your neighbors home (Yes, pun intended) in no time. The Sony Rolly is a portable robot, that plays music and even entertains guests. It does this through its awesome dancing skills, and its high quality sound. Yup...A Boom-box that dances, changes colors, and wins over my heart. Too bad you didn’t think of it first.

What makes the little Rolly so amazing is the amount of technology packed into something that can fit in your palm. It has high quality speakers, multiple actuators which allow it to move, and flap its ‘wings’ in synchronization with the music, Bluetooth audio streaming, and my favorite feature: sharing dances with your friends. (I don’t have one, but I presume if my friends and I did, we would have choreographed dances to the Star Wars Imperial March or something).

These adorable robots, have a rather limited market; music lovers. But not just all music lovers, music lovers with money (an even SMALLER market). Sony has sold these for a little over $200, and they cost up to $300 on eBay. Yet somehow since I started to look them up, Sony has been sold out...

Robotic Gripper: Replacing Fingers With Balloons

You wake up every morning and pour yourself a hot cup of coffee, probably ignoring the physics behind what you are actually doing (I don’t blame you, the only thing i think about is going back to bed). Well had you not, you could have had the next million dollar idea that is revolutionizing modern robotics. The main ingredients consist of two things, coffee grounds, and a balloon. 


Cornell University invented the idea as a replacement for robotic hands. The problem with previous robotic hands are that they had to be extremely articulated; something which had proven a challenge when doing tasks that require grace, or precision. The balloon (as seen by the picture) is able to lift objects, as well as carry them with a very high success rate. These robotic balloon hands were able to lift objects as delicate as an egg, or as small and difficult as a coin. “So how does this work” you are asking, “how are coffee grounds, and balloons able to do all of this?” 


Well, the balloon stretches, allowing both the coffee grounds, and air inside. When the balloon is partially inflated, it can stretch around objects (much like when you were a kid, and shoved your face into your balloons because it would form to your face). But when the air is removed, the shape stays, and contours to the object that is being lifted. The coffee grounds act as ‘small gears’ that lock together; so the conformed shape stays. This also creates a vacuum between the object and the ‘hand’ so that there is almost no chance of slippage. Pretty simple idea, no?


So next time you do something simple like, make coffee, or blow up a balloon, think about what it’s actually doing - because who knows what will revolutionize the robotic world next. And I bet whatever it is, it won’t top the weirdness of a humanoid robot with balloon hands (seriously, it’s a pretty creepy thought). 

Mech-Warfare: My New Hobby

The RoboGames (formerly known as the Robo-Olympics) is held once a year in California. The nerd metropolis holds over 50 events, each with a special robotic niche. From climbing stairs, to kung-fu, the RoboGames has it all. But by far, the best competition at the RoboGames is Mech-Warfare. Ever watch one of those crazy cartoons as a kid, where a human would sit in a massive robot, and fight other robots around a city? Ever wish you could be that guy controlling the giant robot that’s destroying the city? Now you can. Mech-Warfare is a competition where the robot's controller can only view the competition field on a camera that is mounted on his robot. The robots fight in a miniature sized city, shooting airsoft based weaponry at each other; and in the upper classes, even miniature missiles. Now before you go buy your ticket to California (which I should be doing ASAP), you should know that the robots are limited to a few inches high, and the fighting isn’t quite as fast-paced as anticipated (yet). But regardless, I would recommend checking it out; definitely has potential for a future hobby...or profession.

Robotic Exoskeleton by Sarcos - Real Life Halo?

Ever play a tad too much Halo, and step away from the Xbox wishing you were in one of those Super Suits? Well so has our military, and it’s already in construction. Sarcos, a military funded company, is building a robotic exoskeleton. With the current model, the user is able to do almost anything they can do normally, but with 10 times more strength. Ever wish you could lift 200lbs, for hours, without breaking a sweat? Well you can now (which might not impress the ladies as much, considering you’ll be in a massive metal suit). The suit also allows the user to run for miles, as well as allowing the user to have enough grace to play ball. Sarcos later plans to fully encase their exoskeleton in armor, to give the soldier better protection. But first-they have to find a way to un-teather it; and still allow it to have enough battery for more than a few hours. Once they figure that out they should probably send that info to my laptop manufacturer, because I’m lucky if I can get the battery to last 2 hours.

Petman - A Less-Creepy BigDog

Have you ever stumbled upon this scary looking guy while surfing on Youtube? With over 4 million views, just from Boston Dynamics (the robotics company who made it), and many more from other users, BigDog has gone viral. But since then what has Boston Dynamics been up to? Well “BigDog got a Big Brother”, and luckily this time its legs don’t scare me (as much). Petman is a walking biped robot, with the stability of BigDog. It’s currently being constructed for the US Army; so what sweet thing could they be using this technology for? Maybe some cool autonomous drones or an awesome video-game looking fighter suit!? Nope - Petman is currently being used to test chemical agents. By wearing Army issued clothing, and moving realistically, it can test the clothing under all conditions. It’s not as amazing as I thought, but it defiantly has a purpose. At least its massive funding and technology is used to save our troops. Although, I still think they should attach some type of weapon to the thing and see what it can do.

Boston Dynamic's Website

Vex Robotics

Vex Robotics is a cost-efficient way for any school to experience the excitement of a large robotics competition. Each competition requires teams to use prefabricated “Vex Official” parts, which levels the field for schools with all budgets. Each competition allows an unlimited number of teams; with a pre-made format, making each competition the same and understandable to new-comers. Above all, Vex is easy to learn, but doesn’t have any limitations. It will challenge an experienced student, and allows less experienced students to develop essential problem solving skills. Vex offers a variety of different parts, they especially allow a lot of freedom with equipment like sensors; ranging from digital push sensors, to analog accelerometers. The metals provided are steel and aluminum allowing for many types of design styles, combining strength and flexibility. The programming can be both block based, and written in C-Script, and gives multiple tutorials on how they can be written. Teams can be formed through Robot Events and all competition rules are posted on the Vex Robotics website.

HRP-4 Robotic Servant

"Graceful, Slim HRP-4 Humanoid Robot Unveiled; Destined for Menial Labor"

A Japanese company recently unveiled their HRP-4 Robotic Servant model. This robot can help you with many tasks around the house from doing dishes, pouring drinks,and doing other jobs around the house. The HRP-4 has 34 degrees of freedom allowing it to mimic human movement very easily. It is also a lot lighter and smaller compared to its older HRP-2 version, and also has the ability to have a laptop mounted on its back for additional computing power. Overall the HRP-4 robot should be available next year for just over $300,00 USD.

PopSci-Robotic Servant