RoombaDevTools.com is a great way to get started hacking your Roomba. You can read a review of the RooStick (at left) over at TodBot.com. It allows you to easily connect your computers USB port up to the Roomba’s serial hacker interface.

Other nifty products include the RooTooth, which lets you communicate with the Roomba via Bluetooth, and the Roo232 for serial communication. Their products aren’t exactly cheap, but if you want to quickly get up a running with a controllable Roomba, then this looks like the best bet.



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Ah, summer has struck on the sunny East Coast of the USA. I’ve managed to break free from all the pressing items on my schedule and finally get back to what I love – robots.

In the three or so weeks since I’ve made a decent post here on the site I’ve come to realize something – my personal stress level is inversely proportional to how frequently I post. That means I’ve been pretty unhappy and stressed these past couple of weeks knowing that all you fine robot lovers were languishing without news. So, here’s a link dump to get you caught up:

• Robot runs over water. " The Water Runner, being developed by assistant professor Metin Sitti at Carnegie Mellon University … [is] a robot that can speed across the surface of water like a lizard."

• Boffins invent landmine-proof robo-shoe. "The six-legged shoes protect the wearer by lifting up a leg if it is over a mine so that the device is not triggered. The other five legs continue to support the wearer’s weight."

• Fastest two-legged robot gait. "Unlike most other bipedal robots, RunBot doesn’t provide a computer with intensive feedback on its stability and motion. Instead, RunBot has just a handful of sensors in its feet and hips, as well as software-driven motor neurons, which initiate reflexes according to information gathered by the sensors."
• Robot specialty stoes doing well in Japan. I would love to start seeing these in North America.
• The HRP-2m Choromet is announced. It looks like a miniature version of the HRP-2 Promet robot from Kawada. It is planned to be used in educational settings for developing humanoid control technologies. He’ll cost about $4,500 USD and stands 1.1 feet (35 cm) tall.
• Sony develops brain-wave controlled robot. "Japanese automaker Honda said it has developed a technology that uses brain signals to control a robot’s very simple moves."
• Robots.net has a good summary of details on the DARPA Grand Challenge, Urban Edition.
• Kondo announces a succesor to it’s popular KHR-1 RoboOne robot. Meet the KHR-2V. Looks like quite a steal for the $800 USD that some retailers are selling it for (but only in Japan for now.)
• Lem over at Robots-Dreams spotted a job opening on Segway’s website for a "Robotics Engineer." They’re actually pretty low job requirements. Anyone interested? Lem speculates it’s somehow related to the new relationship between Wowwee and Segway.
• Is iRobot’s new creation going to be a laundry folding ‘bot?
  

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What’s NXT is a bi-weekly column written by Jim Kelly at The NXT Step Blog. Jim writes about LEGO Mindstorms NXT and all the cool news related to it.

I received an email recently requesting information about the NXT Intelligent Brick’s Firmware update process and any other feedback the Brick provided.  Glad you asked…

The first thing you need to be aware of is that the NXT Brick can connect to your PC/laptop either using the USB cable or via Bluetooth.  My screenshots are taken of my brick connection using a USB cable.  The 2nd caveat is that the Lego Mindstorms NXT software must be open.

More after the jump …



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What’s NXT is a weekly column written by Jim Kelly at The NXT Step Blog. Jim writes about LEGO Mindstorms NXT and all the cool news related to it.

While I didn’t get the fancy packaging that the retail version will provide, I was just as happy when a plain brown box arrived .

The motors, brick, and cables were packages separately from the smaller pieces.  The connectors, beams, rods, and misc. pieces were in a large plastic bag that had to first be sorted.

I had a couple of containers for my old RCX that I chose to use because they worked so well for me.  I managed to purchase a larger plastic case to hold all the old RCX parts, and then began the counting.  I first sorted all the parts based on the picture that LEGO released showing them all nicely placed.  Trust me, mine never even came close to looking that good.  After the count was done, I found that I was missing only about 7-8 pieces, and these weren’t critical or unique pieces.  A quick email to LEGO and I they shipped me out my replacement pieces within a week.  Don’t worry – you won’t have this issue.  LEGO will have a very solid Quality Control process in place for the packaging of the retail and education versions.

More after the jump.


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CMU finally revealed Crusher to the public last Friday (yea, I’m behind). The new vehicle, based losely on Spinner, isn’t able to invert itself like its younger brother, but is still amazing nonetheless. WTAE.com has some coverage of the launch with video. Notice the unique way that Crusher turns, by lowering its inner wheels and raising the outer ones. The 6.5 ton vehicle is fully autonomous and is able to travel at a top speed of 25 mph.


Each of its six wheels are powered by an electric motor, which are in turn powered of off banks of batteries which are charged by a deisel engine.

Initial applications for a vehicle like this would be in support positions, remotely delivering goods and weapons to soldiers in the field. The project is funded by DARPA and has cost $35 million USD to date.


Related:

• Crusher, CMU’s Unmanned Ground Combat vehicle

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