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Vader, that's his program bro :)
Check out my site http://computersnmore.dyndns.org/
Hi all
I am new to the RS Media. Well when I say new, I mean my son and daughter have both had RS media’s for 3 year. Only now since my daughters robot stop working and I asked for help from this forum have I learnt so much about the robot. It is only now that I can seeing so much potential and possibility of the RS Media Robots.
I really have to thank the members of the forum for giving me so much help, time and advice in trouble shooting the Broken robot and learn about the program aspect of the RS Media. A quick thankyou to Jamie, FreddyA, Helibot, Vader and anybody else who has given me advise so far. (Currently the broken robot is still dead but I am really hopeful that I can repair it. The broken robot has now been named Frankenstien Monster as I am sure he needs a bolt of lightning to get him working again)
Anyway back the reason for this thread. My background is software development and I have many software and hardware idea I am going to develop in the near future to do with the RS Media. Some of which are:
RS media Musical instrument
RS media Auto dancing machine
RS media live video streamer
RS media robot Wars battle game.
RS media charging and Auto homing station
(I have many more but these are the more sane ideas I have had)
To start with I am just getting to grip with Linux and the command for the robot itself. I have however started working on my first project which I have called the RS Media Control station. Basically at the moment it is just a remote control to operate the RS media from the PC in realtime. This software will evolve over time and be that base station for all me software projects for the RS media.
Below is a screenshot of the “RS Media Control Station” software so far
Currently the software is quite crude and very basic as you control the robot in realtime by moving the scrollbar on the screen(but then again it did only take me half an hour to write)
Currently the software will only make the robots perform the basic movement but I will be adding all the other functions of the robot to the control panel. As it stands the software works quite well even though it is basic.
I will be getting rid of the scrollbar and to move the robot you will only have to drag the body part of the robot on the screen. I want to try and make the robot image 3d but as I have never written anything using 3d graphic I’ll have to do some research first.
Current Software issues
Problem 1) I have to switch off the robots vision and hearing from the RS medias remote control before I can control the robot from the software. However from previous thread that @Helibot and @Vader have sent I should be able to do this from within my software.
Problem 2) The other issue and more annoy I am have is that after a minute or 2 the robot go into a sleep mode then after about 5 minutes it powers off. FreddyA has advised me to look at the AUTONOMYV1 download to overcome this issue.
The software is fully working as it stand currently, but before its worth uploading, I think I need to do a lot more work to improve its functions and make it more use friendly. I do however promise I will be upload it for everybody to play with in the near future and I will keep you all up to date with my progress.
Oh yes, I have just received my serial hack in the post an will be install it on the media board next week
All the best
Gerber
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
March 29, 2011 5:13 AM
March 29, 2011 5:15 AM
Gerber, your program looks great, keep up the good work. And Vader, I would like to see RSMM done by end of April, it looks so cool. Don't use homework as an excuse ;)
Check out my site http://computersnmore.dyndns.org/
March 29, 2011 5:38 AM
updated: March 29, 2011 6:07 AM
Hi Jamie/Vader
Glad you like it. Still got loads to do before it's ready for release.
The way I am doing it is that I am using 2 VB.net forms which are:
- The first is background form (or robot playground as I like to call it). This isn’t the windows background it’s a form. With this you will be able to change the image to what ever you want to represent where your robot/ robots are in the real world (As you can see from the background image I am using I keep my robots in a meadow
.) - The second form is the robot itself which when I click the add robot button duplicates the robot form.
Eventually there will be load more button other than just the link feature button and connect button on the robot form. Like the link connect button, when you hover over the new buttons another window will appear to show, say for instances the media controls function, or text to speech controls, Etc. but that will be for version 5 release of the software which I would hope to have done by end of July. I am just concentrating on the basic features for version 4 of the software.
I have changed the way I have done things about 5 or 6 times since I started on the multi bot module to make the source code simpler and the interface easier to use and it will probably change again before I actually release the software it to the forum.
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
March 30, 2011 3:47 AM
Hi Gerber
This all looks great, but hows it going to work for people like me that only has 1 Robot. I am looking for any more for sale at the moment, but there is not much around here in NZ. Also i am just waiting for my USB module to arrive and then I will be able to do the hack
Regards Curtainmaker
March 30, 2011 5:33 AM
updated: March 30, 2011 5:37 AM
Hi Curtainmaker
Thanks. I have done some more work on the software since I posted the last video and have made some improvements.
Glad to here your going to do the serial hack you'll find it much easier and less hassle to communicate to the robot than the serial hack.
You asked "but hows it going to work for people like me that only has 1 Robot"
Its not a problem if you only have one bot. You can add one bot to the robot playground and control it live from the software you were able to do on the previous release of the software with out any problem. However that bot will be quite lonely on its own, so even if you only have one bot you can still pretend you have 5,10 or 100 bot by just adding as many virtual bots as you like to the screen and controlling them in the software. I have design the software to enable everyone, not just the people who are lucky enough to own the RS media robot, to be able to have the experience of controlling the robots in a virtual environment. One thing I am really keen to do now is make a fully 3d graphic of the bot as this will make thinks a lot more realistic in the software. Eventually I will be adding other robots to the software as well such as the RSv2 RSv1 Robopet etc. but that will be for a later release and I need to do some experimenting to be able to achieve this.
If you do decide to add 100 virtual bots to the robot playground it would be quite difficult to tell which one is which one in the real world so I will be adding a feature on the software to customise the graphics of the robots to make it easier to identify the robots.
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
March 30, 2011 5:58 AM
hi , this software doesnt look the best to mee, i am not rich like you and I only have 1 bot , broken. i think I saw another software called rsmmm or something on wikipedia, looks better tome. software looks weak, not gooood.
p.s sorry 4 bad english...
March 30, 2011 9:57 AM
Hi robolover81
Your English is fine.
Sorry to hear about your robot hope you can get it fixed. Your in the right place to help you fix it. It might be worth starting a thread to explain what is wrong with you bot so others on the forum can help you get it working again.
I wrote the software for my 2 disabled children as they find it difficult to control their robots with the remotes. As I said on the post above you don't have to own a robot to use the software and you will be able to add as many virtual robots as you like.
I can't please everbody. The software is free to download and its easy enough to delete if you don't what to use it.
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
March 31, 2011 1:44 AM
hi , i am from eygpt still laerning english , no so good yet .
if it 4 ur chilld why release it then ? i will thinkof expaling my problem .
who is maker of rsmm? i like it . when are u releaaseing it for us ?
thank u all
March 31, 2011 1:47 AM
Hi robolover81,
This is a community for sharing ideas and software made by others. Please don't tell gerber bad things about his software. Gerber's software is good and please don't be mean to him.
Check out my site http://computersnmore.dyndns.org/
March 31, 2011 2:03 AM
You'll need to use IR for that, which can be particularly tricky with Wowwee bots, especially with the timing. Apart from that it's pretty simple, all you need to do is send a few hex values over a serial port.
I am the maker of RSMM. There's no real ETA for it at the moment.
gerber: If you end up adding 3D models of the bot, it'd probably be a good idea to limit how many you can have onscreen at once to prevent your program from slowing down too much. Also consider that people need a graphics card that supports at least DirectX 9. This won't be a problem for newer computers, but it can be for people who have an older computer or run Windows in a virtual machine (like I do). Again, if they have decent virtualisation software this won't be a problem.
Eventually I will be adding other robots to the software as well such as the RSv2 RSv1 Robopet etc. but that will be for a later release and I need to do some experimenting to be able to achieve this.
You'll need to use IR for that, which can be particularly tricky with Wowwee bots, especially with the timing. Apart from that it's pretty simple, all you need to do is send a few hex values over a serial port.
March 31, 2011 2:06 AM
Hi guys,
Gerber, I am planning on making a 3D model of RS Media, as I am particularly good at 3D modelling. I can give you the completed model when I finish it
Check out my site http://computersnmore.dyndns.org/
March 31, 2011 2:08 AM
hi , vader how old are u ? u make very good software , hope for relaease sooon. .
March 31, 2011 3:30 AM
Hi Vader and thanks for the advise
With the 3d models of the robots I haven't done any work on it yet but as you said it could slow the software if you don't have a fairly good graphics card in your PC. So I was thinking of, as you said, limiting the number of robot graphics on the screen depending on the hardware in the PC. To do this I would bench mark the pc the first time the software is run then from the rating given the software will be able to limit or give a warning when the maximum amounts of bot are added) but I need to experiment with the 3d graphics before I even look at this.
I/R is exactly the way I was going with controlling other bots as I was given a USB I/R sender/receiver that someone was going to throw away. I have done a little research on this. Another member of the forum also mentioned about making time delays between the command. The reason I would like to add other bots to the software using I/R command is so that people who have a remote control robot will be able to use it from the computer with out having to do any serial hack modifications.
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
March 31, 2011 5:22 AM
Hi
I am new here. I have a robosaphien. What you are doing sound great to be able control other robot from your software. When do you think the USB I/R program will be done from you robot software?
Oh I totally agree Jamie, criticizing is the easiest thing to do in the world and if Robolover81 can do better why does he write his own software.
Gerber and Vader keep up the good work
March 31, 2011 5:35 AM
Hi Mr. Bot, welcome to the community. Kind regards, Jamie Kugelmann
Check out my site http://computersnmore.dyndns.org/
March 31, 2011 5:44 AM
Hi Mr.Bot and thank you
Nice to see new members. I haven't started working on the USB I/R yet but hope to have a look at it shortly after I have finished the multi bot software.
Another thing I am also going have a play with in my software is using the Xbox Kinect to control the robots. I haven't done any work on this as yet but will have a look at it when I look play with the USB I/R.
I'll Keep you informed with my progress on the experiments with the USB I/R and Kinect.
Cheers
Gerber
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
April 1, 2011 2:02 AM
updated: April 1, 2011 2:14 AM
Hi All
So many posts over the last day or 2 I didn't read them all properly.
Robolover81 you said > "if it 4 ur child why release it then?"
Why does anybody release software, because they think it might be useful for others. If you start reading from the begin of this thread it explains what I am intending to do in the software.
Hi Jamie, Thanks for the support and the offer of the 3d model. As I haven't started on the 3d model project yet I am going to need to do testing on the way I will do the 3d first. Thanks for the offer.
Cheers
Gerber
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
April 1, 2011 3:31 AM
Hi all and hi Jamie
I have been reading some of the threads on the forum. I saw the video of Vaders software it look great. I have just bought a RS media. Can't wait to have a play with it.
I am keen to try the software from the download area on it when I get my robot.
Gerber, Wow 3d graphics of the robot in the software that sound great.
April 1, 2011 3:42 AM
updated: April 1, 2011 3:42 AM
Hi Mr Bot,
Glad you like my brother's (vader) program. He is currently still working on it and maybe I can arrange to give you a development copy.
Where did you get the RSM from? I have been searching all over and have never found a brother for my current RSM.
Cheers,
Jamie Kugelmann
Check out my site http://computersnmore.dyndns.org/
April 1, 2011 5:13 AM
Hi Jamie and thanks
I haven't got the robot yet as I bought it from a friends son who doesn't use it and it was just be on a shelf gathering dust for a couple of years. They are a way at the moment so when they get back in a week or so I will be able to have it.
When I get the robot will I have to do anything with it to be able to use you brothers software or gerber's software as I read something about a serial hack.
April 1, 2011 5:54 AM
updated: April 1, 2011 5:58 AM
Hi Mr. Bot
In the RS media control Station software you can use the software with a standard mini usb cable with out any mods to the robot, but you will need a couple of other bit of software running in the background to make a virtual serial port for the robot. I found this a pain to set up and use. So I use the serial hack which is a much easier way to connect the robot from the PC. To add the serial hack to the robot you will need to open your robot up and solder 3 wires to the media board in the robot. (Note: before I did the serial hack on my robot I had never solder before. It wasnt too difficult to do and as long as you use a good soldering iron and take your time its pretty easy to do)
Below is a link which tells you how to do the serial hack in more detail.
http://www.robocommunity.com/article/13016/Connecting-to-the-RS-Media-Linux-C...
Currently in my software I only connect using Com ports but shortly will be adding the feature to link via IP address which you will need to be on Firmware V2 to be able to connect 2. Connecting via the com port only need to be on firware V1
I would recommend the serial hack over the standard USB cable.
Cheers
Gerber
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
April 1, 2011 4:57 PM
Hi everybody
everything looks good and coming along great from gerber. I too would like to comment on the threads from robolover81. gerbers program is great and unless you have a RS Media and have tried this program and you are reading and noticing that the time that gerber and Jamie and vader and all the other people are spending their time and expertise to help with us enjoy and expand out RS Media Robtos to their and more Potential, we are very greatful for everything that they do. This is a community site that we are all here to help with one another in making each others life and time more enjoyable and be able to enjoy the fabulous products for wowwee.
Please by all means join us on the site by constructive and positive feedback as without these guys and their unpaid time they put into this site and their projects for us, this would not be possible.
Regards Curtainmaker
April 4, 2011 9:20 AM
updated: April 4, 2011 9:51 AM
Hi
Over the last week I have made some great progress in the software. I have now managed to get live control to multiple robots. Below is a video to show my progress.
As you can see from the above video I have now added a feature to capture a live image from a webcam which can then be used to make your robot playground background. I wanted to do this as I thought it would be nice to see your virtual robot/robots on the screen as they are situated in the real world (Note:I know unless you have a high res webcam you will get a grain image as you background, so I will also be adding a feature to allow you to use an image stored on your PC as the robot playground background). The other thing I didn’t mention on the video is that you can now choose your own colour for the robot link lines.
I still have a number of issues in the software which I need to sort out, but on the whole I’m pretty pleased with the results so far.
Cheers
Gerber
Go to my website to download the latest version of the RS Media Control Station software www.TheMadRobot.talktalk.net
Member
- member since: 12/29/2008
- rank: 1 of 10722
- 3 articles authored
- 43 forum threads started
- 941 comments
April 4, 2011 4:25 PM
Hi gerber, well done. I tried it and it works greAT. Making the ability to change backgrounds is a great idea. I'll be ready for the full realease when it comes. Again, looks simple and great to use with or witout a robot.
Freddy
April 6, 2011 9:27 PM
Hi gerber Just want to check, I have finally received my USB Prop plug, but it looks the same as yours but it doesn't have the normal usb socket. It has the same as what is in the robot at the moment what I use for usb now. have I got the correct one or not. they sent ma the usb lead that plugs into the plug in one end and a normal usb plug at the other end.
Regards Curtainmaker
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