HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: abond@rvgs.vak12ed.edu (Andrew H. Bond)
Subject: Re: Need to locate Nitinol
Organization: Virginia's Public Education Network (Roanoke)
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 02:25:04 GMT

roy@engin.umich.edu  writes:
> Can anyone send me any information whatsoever on how to track down
> some Nitinol?  I know it is available in Stiquito kits, but
> I can't get in touch with the folks putting those together.  There
> are also supposed to be two companies, Dynalloy and Megatronics,
> manufacturing the stuff.  Does anyone have any addresses or phone
> numbers?  This is my third post on this... ANY response would be
> helpful.  Thanks in advance,
> -Roy

Pick up an issue of Popular Electronics or Radio Electronics at
your local newstand and somewhere near the end you will find an
add for "Muscle Wire" this is what you are looking for: They
will sell you a kit, or you can order specifically what you want
(I think this is right, I don't have an issue handy though :-)

	I hope this helps --AHB
-- 
Andrew H. Bond, Roanoke Valley Graduate Center
From: ahm@spatula.rent.com (Andreas Meyer)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Micromouse=>motor=>power
Date: 19 Nov 92 02:44:49 GMT
Followup-To: comp.robotics
Organization: Meyer residence, Dunellen NJ

martinez@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Kenneth Mtz. (YONIX)) writes:

>  For our micromouse project we have decided to use dc reversible motors...
[...]
>  how about current? how does one go about calculating what will provide
>  enough torque to move the motors under the mouse's load?

Have things gotten so bad at Syracuse that they've stopped teaching
students how to do basic research?  I mean, c'mon Ken, over the past 
couple of months you've posted about a half-dozen articles asking us 
to do your groundwork for you in various areas. And until now, I've 
been able to keep from responding...

[flame on]
Get off your butt and get over to Link Hall; there's bound to be someone
over there with some extra databooks, and the time to show you the inside
of one. Or spend some time in Bird Library; I hear they keep books in there.
Wouldn't it be sad if, when someone asked you to explain the various 
features of your micromouse, you could only reply "Uh, I don't know... 
people on the net designed it for me". What are you going to do when 
you're faced with real-world problems?!
[flame off]

Andy
-- 
    ==--
  -====---    Andreas Meyer, N2FYE                     ahm@hoqas2.att.com
  --==----    AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel NJ        ..!att!hoqas2!ahm
    ----
From: bjk@edsr.eds.com (Brian Kodl)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: wanted: more info on Miniboard
Keywords: Miniboard
Date: 19 Nov 92 15:02:07 GMT
Organization: EDS Research, Dallas, TX 75230

Could someone please point me in the direction of some documentation
on what is in a miniboard kit, how much it costs, and where it can be
order from?

Thanks (in advance),
Brian Kodl

ps - I couldn't find this in the faq.
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: scovar@NeoSoft.com (VSI Shell Account)
Subject: TOMY Omnibot 2000
Organization: NeoSoft Communications Services -- (713) 684-5900
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 17:52:21 GMT
Summary: Need to find TOMY Corp. or repair info... 

A friend of mine asked me to fix her TOMY Omnibot 2000.  Unfortunately,
the address and phone numbers included in her manual are no longer
correct.  If anyone knows the new whereabouts of TOMY Corporation, or
a source of repair manuals for the Omnibot 2000, I would be very
grateful.

Mail should be sent to scovar@neosoft.com with my name in the header
until such time as my NIC registration is confirmed at vsi.com.

(I feel funny asking such a knowledgeable and research-oriented
group for info on what may be considered a toy, but who else might
know?)

Thanks, mike burke

Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: perry@eesun1.ttu.edu (Dr. Matt Perry)
Subject: How to go from HC11EVB to standalone
Organization: Texas Tech University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 15:12:42 GMT
X-Posted-From: eesun1.ee.ttu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

This may be a stupid question but I'm having a student some code
for a robot we built around the HC11.  We have been using the
$68.11 EVB but now I want to make a standalone HC11 with the 
code burned in eeprom.  Any suggestions as to how to go about this?

Also, we are in search of various sensors to place on our robots.
They should be fairly small and cheap.  Do any of you have suggestions
of suppliers?

Lastly, do any of you know where I could get a uin-directional mic?

Thanks

Matt
-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Perry, PhD                      Electrical Engineering
Assistant Professor                  Texas Tech
Voice: (806) 742-3489                Box 43102
e-mail: perry@sun1.coe.ttu.edu       Lubbock, TX, USA  79509-3102
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: hattori@convex.com (Mato Hattori)
Subject: Robot Sumo Tournament in Japan
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 15:02:42 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

To those who are planning to spent X'mas vacation in Japan, there is a BIG 
event in Tokyo.  If you are interested in Japanese robotics, don't miss 
the 4th annual Robot Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan on December 23rd.
It's free to watch.  I personally will participate the competition.

If you want to know more about this event, please send me an e-mail.
--
Mato Hattori                  email: hattori@convex.com
Convex Computer, U.S.A.              (or hattori@csrd.nkk.co.jp)
3000 Waterview Parkway        office: 1+214-497-4304
Richardson, Texas 75083       home:   1+214-424-4655
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: rlee@bgsu.edu (Bob Lee)
Subject: Need some direction
Organization: Bowling Green State Univ.
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 22:51:44 GMT

OK guys! I've got an idea for a project.

I'm going to tear apart my old Big Trak (remember that old toy) and turn
it into a rover vehicle that will search out and find a particular object,
find being that it will park next to it and then terminate all activity
until told otherwise.

Does anyone know offhand where one could find the internal specs of a Big
Trak? How about the sensors? I figure I could use bumping sensors to tell
it where obstacles are. But what's the best type of sensoring method to
use that will tell an onboard computer when it finds the object it's
looking for? I haven't decided on an object yet, so that's still up in the
air.

If these questions are answered in the faq I apologize, I haven't had time
to go thru it yet.

Thanks!

-BOB
From: esrbu@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mr I M Hunter)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Modeling Slip, Mobile Robotics, Kinematics, Simulation
Date: 16 Nov 1992 15:27:19 -0000
Organization: Computing Services/Engineering, University of Warwick, UK
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: clover.csv.warwick.ac.uk

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, no one's performed a simulation of a mobile robot at kinematics level
then? I think not. I have a number of papers regarding kinematic modeling
of wheeled robots, however, I would dearly enjoy discussions concerned with
modeling possible errors:

        Has anyone attempted to model the effects of slip: What happens to
an omnidirectional robot when wheels are misaligned or differ in size? How
do you model which wheel (or wheels) slip, by what degree and what is
the resultant force on the body of the robot? How would YOU model static
and dynamic friction? And this is after any errors within the robot itself
have been calculated (non-linearities, chain backlash, centre of gravity,
controller errors and on And onnnnnnn) Am I simply a misguided man attempting
to model the (up to now) unmodelable? All I actually want to do is model a
couple of effects without trying to create a 'perfect' model (cos that is a
looser: what about differences in floor surfaces or angle of floor etc..)

If you don't want to enter a discussion but know of a good paper or 2 could
you please send me details.

Anyone who's done any error modeling please contact me at

        es286@uk.ac.warwick.eng
or
        esrbu@csv.warwick.ac.uk

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: sharring@cs.tamu.edu (Steven L Harrington)
Subject: HELP - Boundary following algo/BUG
Organization: Computer Science Department, Texas A&M University
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 03:45:24 GMT

This is probably too obscure of a request, but it's worth a shot...
I'm implementing the BUG-1 and BUG-2 algorithms for mobile robot
path planning (Lumelsky and Stepanov). I need an algorithm which
will guide a mobile robot along the boundary of an obstacle the 
dimensions/shape/location of which are not known but which has
been located via a collision. Anyone out there happen
to know of a reference/source that they could direct me to?

Thanks,

Steve Harrington
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas


Xref: sparky comp.robotics:2355 comp.sys.m68k:1378
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 18:56:55 -0500 
From: James Ryan Miller <jmce+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Routing software

    I would really like to hear what software other people use to route
pc boards with.  I am particularly interrested in PD stuff, but would
also like to know what the good commercial products are.  

                    Thanks,
                        Ryan Miller

Newsgroups: comp.robotics,sci.electronics
From: jhwhit01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
Subject: Re: Measuring the acceleration of an arrow.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 08:01:31 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

In article <1992Nov22.203815.9006@hemlock.cray.com>, kilian@cray.com (Alan Kilian) writes:
> Well here's another project for you.
>  
> A friend of mine (Who shall remain nameless) always makes his hobbies
> complicated and scientific.
> He's into archery now. Well (you say to yourself) how complicated can you
> make archery? Pretty complicated as it turns out. He has measured the draw
> force/draw length relationship and made a graph. Then integrated the thing
> to get energy and used the weight of an arrow to get acceleration and
> velocity (He even knows the Horsepower of the bow). Now he wants to actually
> measure the acceleration of the arrow as it goes from rest to about 
> 200 Feet per second. This is where I cone into the picture.
 
Why not do this instead?  Get a light (styrofoam) spool of light thread, and
glue two large cardboard disks to each end.  Punch a hole in each disk near
the midway point of the annular region formed between the spool and disks.
These holes should line up so that light passing through one passes through
the other.  Forgot to say that the center of each cardboard disk should be
punched out so that the spool ends and disks are concentric.  Mount the spool
on a spindle, and have a light source on one side, and a light detector on
the other, opposing one another at the aligned holes in the disks.
 
Tie the end of the thread to the arrow.  When the arrow is shot, the thread
will unwind spinning the spool.  Each revolution of the spool will cause an
interrupt level when the light on one side is detected at the other.  During
each interrupt, record the time.
 
If you want, you can set up a counter based on the light detection pulses
that causes an interrupt and reset of the counter at some state.
 
Maybe a better way would be to just punch the hole in one disk, and have the
light source and detector positioned on either side of it.  
  
 
        |               |
        |               |
        |\_____________/|
        |   spool       |
    ------------------------ spindle
        | _____________ |
        |/             \|
     O---->O            |
  source|detector       |
  
  
Of course, rewinding the thread for a second attempt would be a pain.
 
Jeff White     jhwhit01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
From: mk5a+@andrew.cmu.edu (Manu S. Kumar)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Robot Sumo Tournament in Japan
Date: 16 Nov 92 08:59:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.Ef1yyUq00iV4A4bFdt
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA


   Though several of us will NOT be spending our vacations in Japan, I
am sure everyone would appreciate it if you could post details of the
tournament when you get back.

                                                            Thanks


                                                    Manu Kumar
_____________________________________________________________________________
Class of 1992,Modern School,Barakhamba Road,New Delhi...MHS is the best!!
Freshman, Carnegie Mellon University, Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Campus Address: A-306 Hamerschalg House, Margaret Morrison St., Mail Box 
#4532, Pittsburgh,PA 15213,Tel(fax):(412)-268-4322,Email:mk5a@andrew.cmu.edu
Home Address: 13-A, Amrita Shergill Marg, New Delhi 110 003, India, 
Tel : (91-11)-611-624, (91-11)-462-6629, Fax : (91-181)-778-27
_____________________________________________________________________________
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: tim@gold.iss.nus.sg (Tim Poston)
Subject: Re: Robot Sumo Tournament in Japan
Reply-To: tim@iss.nus.sg (Tim Poston)
Organization: Institute of Systems Science, NUS, Singapore
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 03:00:39 GMT

In article <hattori.721926162@convex.convex.com> hattori@convex.com (Mato Hattori) writes:
>To those who are planning to spent X'mas vacation in Japan, there is a BIG 
>event in Tokyo.  If you are interested in Japanese robotics, don't miss 
>the 4th annual Robot Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan on December 23rd.
>It's free to watch.  I personally will participate the competition.

                           You are a robot?

                           Handling Sumo _and_ Usenet, too?

                           Pretty good.

Tim Poston


____________________________________________________________________________
                  My lucky number is irrational.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: Jeff_Holinski@mindlink.bc.ca (Jeff Holinski)
Subject: Re: Need to locate Nitinol
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 18:40:43 GMT

You've probably already gotten the answer to your question, but if you
haven't an easy source of Nitinol is: Mondo-Tronics
                              2476 Verna Court
                              San Leandro, CA 94577
                              415-351-5930
They sell a sampler kit with 3 different sizes of nitinol wire. (1 meter
each)
They also have a book of projects for nitonol wire.
Where can I get some info on the Sequito (sp???) kit?

Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: graves@drseus.jsc.nasa.gov (Philip Graves)
Subject: Re: Modeling Slip, Mobile Robotics, Kinematics, Simulation
Organization: Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Company
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 14:48:24 GMT

In article <1e8eknINNdn6@clover.csv.warwick.ac.uk> esrbu@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mr I M Hunter) writes:
>
>        Has anyone attempted to model the effects of slip: What happens to
>an omnidirectional robot when wheels are misaligned or differ in size? 

We have two Cybermotion K2A mobile platforms which have a special drive
train mechanism called "Synchro-Drive". The three wheels of this
system are steered together so that they are always parallel (if aligned).
Our experience is that when the wheels are not aligned, the system
will always drive in an arc, instead of a staight line. One of the systems
was modified to make it narrow enough to fit through a door (by moving
the wheels towards the center of the platform). This caused the arcing
problem to be worse, and the wheels have to be aligned more accurately
to get it to drive a straight line.

>do you model which wheel (or wheels) slip, by what degree and what is
>the resultant force on the body of the robot? How would YOU model static
>and dynamic friction? And this is after any errors within the robot itself

I have used classical models of static and dynamic frictions, (requiring 
iterative solutions which are a major pain because they are 
not well suited for simulation). There are several sophisticated 
tire models used by automotive companies to model vehicles, and are 
available as part of commercial dynamics modeling and simulation 
packages such as ADAMS. 

>Am I simply a misguided man attempting
>to model the (up to now) unmodelable? All I actually want to do is model a
>couple of effects without trying to create a 'perfect' model (cos that is a
>looser: what about differences in floor surfaces or angle of floor etc..)

In general, you can only get a qualitative idea of what might happen
from any model of this type. It is impossible to find the perfect model
because the friction depends on a plethora of factors, including 
everything from temperature to how long it has been since the floor 
was mopped and waxed.

Good Luck.

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Lee Graves, graves@drseus.jsc.nasa.gov
--------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: graves@drseus.jsc.nasa.gov (Philip Graves)
Subject: Re: Modeling Slip, Mobile Robotics, Kinematics, Simulation
Organization: Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Company
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 15:04:30 GMT

In article <1992Nov17.035803.4304@netcom.com> nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle) writes:
>
>      The animation community leads in this area.  See Zeltzer's paper in

Animation community? Are you serious?

>
>      Vehicle dynamics is rather well understood.  The basic work
>was done about two decades ago at Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory
>(now CALSPAN).  There's a great story about how the person who did
>that work, annoyed by people questioning whether he could really
>predict vehicle dynamics in extreme situations, teamed up with an
>auto thrill show to design a never-before-done stunt, a 360 degree 
>roll in the air.  Worked the first time.  Appeared in a James Bond
>movie.
>

This is true, the dynamics of vehicle is understood, under optimal
conditions where all parameters are known. But not all the parameters
are known or can be predicted. Friction can vary greatly due
to roadway/surface conditions. In most cases the best that can be
done is to "bracket" the response of a vehicle based on the highest
and lowest frictions that are expected.

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------
Philip Lee Graves, graves@drseus.jsc.nasa.gov
--------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: rlee@bgsu.edu (Bob Lee)
Subject: Good idea for a robot project
Organization: Bowling Green State Univ.
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 17:17:44 GMT

Any of you robotic experts out there have an idea for a robotics project
that a college undergrad could tackel for under $100 or so. I'm taking a
microelectronics class and I have to come up with a project that will keep
be busy about 9 hours a week for next semester.

Any of you guys have any ideas I'd like to hear about them!

-BOB

Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: davidr@davidr.mentorg.com (David Ransier)
Subject: Re: Table top Hovercraft know how wanted.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 16:24:50 GMT
Organization: mentor
Keywords: 
Followup-To: 

In article <8722@lee.SEAS.UCLA.EDU>, yee@edison.seas.ucla.edu (John Yee) writes:
|> Hello robot builders, have you any experience making small, say 6" diameter
|> maximum, hovercraft?  If so, please post/email your experiences.
|> 
|> I wish to do just this, but my first prototype consisting of a surplus
|> cooling fan mounted over a hole in a plastic base does not even get off
|> the ground, and so I am looking to order more powerful fans.  However, some
|> of the fans are listed with pressure differentials in mmHg, (another maker
|> lists "static pressure in H2O"), and also they list CFM (cubic feet of air
|> per minute) up to say about 77 for the small size (max 3" dia) I am looking for.
|> So, should I go for highest pressure differential, or highest CFM.
|> The confounding thing is that not all makers list both CFM and pressure, 
|> sometimes it is one or the other, making comparisons difficult.
|> 
|> Thanks for your help,
|> 
|> -- 
|> jy, yee@seas.ucla.edu - "The man with no .sig"

Yes, I have no experience building hovercraft.  However, I have spent some time looking 
at the toy versions in the toy store and some time visiting the local RC model 
store.  Depending on how much flight time you need, you may find a better power
source at the local hobby shop.  Either one of the newer battery power motors
used in an RC plane or even one of the self contained (gas tank is part of the engine) 
.049 gas engines.  I suspect the biggest problem with the coolong fan is its weight.

Good luck, sounds like a fun project.

David Ransier
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: rda735z@nella16.cc.monash.edu.au (Simon Cocking)
Subject: HC16 development tools
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 02:44:49 GMT

	I just got my hands on some 68HC16F1 specs, and my first question is:
where can I get development tools for this beastie?  Stuff like a macro
assembler, possibly a C compiler, monitor source etc.  Any information
greatly appreciated.

Also, from what I've seen, this device is only available in a surface mount
package.  How would one go about prototyping with this?  Are sockets
available for a 132 pin SMD?

Simon.
-- 
+---------------  Simon Cocking, sgc@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au  -------- /// -+
|               Robotics & Digital Technology / GAUnix Group        ///   |
|                             Monash University                 \\\///    |
+-------------------------  Melbourne, Australia.  ------------- \XX/ ----+
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
From: altenbur@plains.NoDak.edu (Karl Altenburg)
Subject: Difference Between XC and MC prefix?
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 18:46:55 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computing Network

Is there a difference between the XC68HC11E2FN and the MC68HC11E2FN?
-- 
Karl R Altenburg				altenbur@plains.NoDak.edu
North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND  58105

All things are artificial, for nature is the art of God.  SIR THOMAS BROWNE
From: jonas@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Jonas Klein)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Intelligent Blimps?
Date: 23 Nov 92 04:02:31 GMT
Organization: /etc/organization

In article <25803@sybase.sybase.com> crs@sybase.com (Craig Saunders) writes:
>..I am actually interested in chatting with anyone who has experience building
>small blimps (<12') that could be used with radio control...
>...
>Please email if you have any information.  There has been little response
>to earlier inquiries in the r/c model world or elsewhere.
>Craig R. Saunders, crs@sybase.com

I'm interested too.  Would whoever replies mind forwarding their relpies to me
also?  Thanks,
+Jonas klein
 jonas@gnu.ai.mit.edu
Newsgroups: comp.robotics