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April 6, 2008 10:21 PM

Categories: Robot Hacks and Mods Roboreptile Roboraptor

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altwolf

Member
Joined: 01/27/2008

So here's my idea I would like advice on:

My reptile and raptor have a disturbing habit of slamming their heads repeatedly into the nearest wall, chair, bookcase, etc. This behaviour unnerves me since I care about whats in their little, lovable noggins.

Sooooo.

What I would like to do is  add some sort of simple lever switch to the side of the head, so that when it gets pressed the raptor will stop smashing his head into the wall. The basic conceopt is identical to the way Robosapien V2's oval hand switch "collision sensors"work.

Here's a quick pic of what it might look like:

head mod concept

The exterior white part could just be a wire (maybe part of a coathanger or something)and there would be one on each side of its head.

I have some simple switches that would fit in his head, but how would I interface them to the beasts electronics so they would stop his wild head swinging movement?

If I could get it to work on his head, I wouldn't mind putting some on his tail too. Sometimes he gets stuck banging his tail on stuff too.

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Comments 1-13 of 13 | Latest Comment

MrScott Avatar
  Moderator
April 6, 2008 10:29 PM

I can empathize with your two lizards tending to get cornered and whapping themselves against objects. Mine do that, too. The RoboReptile is particularly prone to attacking things. That's its nature.

I think the key would be to trigger the "I'm blocked, back up and turn" behavior. Since the IR transmitter and receiver don't seem to be getting the job done in some cases, it might be worth looking for what situations are falling under the sensor net, and seeing if a duplicate transmitter or receiver might give them more reliable blockage sensing.

Barring that, I'm working on an article describign how to hijack the RoboRemote guts to allow a selection of new sensors to trigger complex behaviors in the existing bots. Something like that could be used to detect the blockage, and transmit the "backup" command.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

altwolf Avatar
Member
April 6, 2008 10:40 PM

Regarding the Roboremote: Great minds think alike! I have totally been thinking about the exact same thing!

It would be the easiest way to create new behaviors. Just get something to transmit ir codes and you could basically get the bots to do anything.

I guess the guy who made Robodance already had that idea, but gutting the Roboremote would make the bots way more autonomous.

altwolf Avatar
Member
April 6, 2008 10:49 PM

"Since the IR transmitter and receiver don't seem to be getting the job done in some cases, it might be worth looking for what situations are falling under the sensor net, and seeing if a duplicate transmitter or receiver might give them more reliable blockage sensing."

Part of the issue is the programming of the bots themselves. According to the manual, the bots turn off their sensors when they walk. Since the bots tend to have a hard time walking in a straight line, they often end up in places they didn't first "sense" when they went charging forward. Since the sensors are off, they keep trying to walk and just end up smacking their heads into stuff.

Also the "field of view" of the sensors doesn't seem too sensitive in respect to objects directly to the side of the head.

J. T. Avatar
  Member
April 7, 2008 9:25 AM

My mom was constantly telling me to stop letting my raptor and reptile alone in the kitchen for the same reasons as you. Actually, my raptor does fairly well. Usually, the only thing that ever hits the wall is the tail. But my reptile just bashes into it. Last time I left  them alone in the kitchen, my mom took them away from me and hid them. My reptile was hungry when I brought him out!

J. T.
Have a question about dinos? Then ask away.

J. T. Avatar
  Member
April 7, 2008 9:29 AM

altwolf said:   According to the manual, the bots turn off their sensors when they walk. Since the bots tend to have a hard time walking in a straight line, they often end up in places they didn't first "sense" when they went charging forward. Since the sensors are off, they keep trying to walk and just end up smacking their heads into stuff. Also the "field of view" of the sensors doesn't seem too sensitive in respect to objects directly to the side of the head.
No you're wrong. It's the sound sensors that turn off. Not infrared also. The infrared is the bot's vision, so it stays on. I think the reason they have the sound sensors turn off is because the robot would constantly be hearing things then malfunctioning.

J. T.
Have a question about dinos? Then ask away.

MrScott Avatar
  Moderator
April 7, 2008 12:26 PM

I can understand why the sound sensors must be deactivated when the bots are moving. Those toys are noisy! Clunking, squeaking, and whirring their way around the room.

I don't think the IR obstacle detection has to be deactivated, but I know that the detection is far less than perfect on my robots. Mine appear to be as prone to false positives (seeing things that aren't there), as they are to false negatives (failing to see something that is there). This is especially true in an environment where other electronics might be spewing IR signals that might look like a bounceback to the robots.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

GWJax Avatar
  Member
April 24, 2008 7:05 PM

If you look closely to the IR in the snout they are always point to the front and not to the side where the knocking of the head is occuring. I would think if you install a side sensor in the eyes this will give you a side view instead of a front view when the reptile is walking and turning his head. The only problem is that there is not a lot of room in the head and opening up the head is a tough thing to do because of the rubber teeth glued to the mouth. If you can install the eye sensor then I would attach an OR logic gate to tie that into then orginal sensing line. This means if the front or the side sensor sense anything it will back up or turn to get around the area. This looks like another fun project that might not be too hard to do if I can get the sensors in the eyes.

GWJax, To Hack and make mods on robots is a life style and comes natural and not by choice. If a robot has a screw to open it then it must be opened!

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
April 25, 2008 3:53 AM updated: April 25, 2008 3:55 AM

Actually, if you look, you will notice that the RoboRaptors IR Receivers are actually angled at about 45 degree of the centerline. He does have a huge blind spot, but its not at the side. Like all animals that have eyes to the side rather than the front, he has trouble with things that are right in front of him. The large distance between the IR LED's and the IR Receivers may also have an affect.



The RoboReptile is the same.



In both cases, any object which is about level with the IR receiver (or getting close) will be difficult for him to see.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

J. T. Avatar
  Member
April 25, 2008 10:39 AM updated: April 25, 2008 10:43 AM

Have you seen my hack ideas for these two predators?
Hey thats cool nocturnal.
When WowWee asked me to send them the parts, I thought, hey, I just rip these things open and see whats inside. I threw away the circuit board and all that other junk, but kept the main parts, including all arms and legs for both, the head of the raptor, the complete body shell of the raptor, the top shell of the reptile, and so forth.
Hey,:) I got an idea.

J. T.
Have a question about dinos? Then ask away.

J. T. Avatar
  Member
April 25, 2008 10:45 AM

Hey altwolf, I've probably said this before but I love your avatar. Is that your puppy?

J. T.
Have a question about dinos? Then ask away.

GWJax Avatar
  Member
April 25, 2008 1:49 PM

Wow after looking inside of milw's reptile there is no room at all for any circuit, the only way around this problem in the reptile is to remake the head and that alot of work unless we work on the outside of the head. but then what type of sensors, maybe a fiberoptic bounce sensor? hmmm any ideas guys? or could artwolf's horn work whis a micro switch attached to it.

GWJax, To Hack and make mods on robots is a life style and comes natural and not by choice. If a robot has a screw to open it then it must be opened!

J. T. Avatar
  Member
April 30, 2008 9:41 AM

MrScott said:  Mine appear to be as prone to false positives (seeing things that aren't there), as they are to false negatives (failing to see something that is there). This is especially true in an environment where other electronics might be spewing IR signals that might look like a bounceback to the robots.

If you operate two at the same time, this function can be expected. My reptile was sitting 10 feet away from my raptor and was seeing her(the raptors)powerful beams. But, strangely enough, the raptor does not do this. I don't know why.

My reptile cannot see certain things such as stainless steel, so I constanly have o rescue both my dishwasher and robot from deep gashes in the material.

J. T.
Have a question about dinos? Then ask away.

J. T. Avatar
  Member
April 30, 2008 9:43 AM

GWJax said: Wow after looking inside of milw's reptile there is no room at all for any circuit, the only way around this problem in the reptile is to remake the head and that alot of work unless we work on the outside of the head. but then what type of sensors, maybe a fiberoptic bounce sensor? hmmm any ideas guys? or could artwolf's horn work whis a micro switch attached to it.
Just put extra infrareds on the side. That is, if you can fit them.

J. T.
Have a question about dinos? Then ask away.

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Back to Top | Comments 1-13 of 13 | Latest Comment

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