Telepresence project - Omaha Maker Group

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Message from discussion Telepresence project
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Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 22:25:06 -0600
Message-ID: <CAAtCTWiHWKPq+NZ3tNOFZ7VpAvKYyTRgdti1UUZH-u3Q_jX...@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [OMG] Telepresence project
From: David Knaack <davidkna...@gmail.com>
To: OMG <omaha-maker-group@googlegroups.com>
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I am skeptical that anything we've got sitting around is going to be
powerful and stable enough to safely hold a laptop at something approaching
head height. I think that since reliable and robust mobility is kind of a
make-or-break feature for a telepresence bot, that's probably an area where
we should consider putting some money. Are there inexpensive
off-the-shelf-ish robot platforms that would be suitable?

Some pre-built motor controllers would probably be the best option for
drive electronics. There will probably be plenty to go wrong without
needing to develop our own drivers.

Does Skype support stereo audio? An open mic in an environment as
acoustically hostile as the Makery is probably going to be very difficult
to get anything from. We would want a good quality stereo mic so the user
can get useful sound.

What about camera/image stabilization? A camera on a stick with a short
wheelbase is going to jerk around a whole lot, which will make the picture
unwatchable while the bot is moving. That's not very cool.

Also, presumably the main camera is going to be looking up, so in order to
drive around it's going to need at least one wide-angle camera with good
low-light performance looking down at the base so the user can avoid
driving into holes or 1800degF furnaces and such.



On Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 7:47 PM, Kevin Fusselman <ke...@fusselman.org> wrote:

> Well, I can't promise "problem free", but I'm in for some labor.  We
> probably have an appropriate "tank drive" RC chassis, and a laptop around
> the space...An Arduino with a little twin-H-bridge board would get the
> thing moving....
>
> I'll check on materials on Wednesday.
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 7:41 PM, Travis Smith <travi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> OMGers,
>>
>> Hey, I'm moving to Japan, its happening.
>>
>> Completely due to self interest, I'm suddenly smitten with the idea of
>> making a telepresence robot.  The basic plan would be to make one on the
>> cheap using skype, a cheap laptop, a roomba, and some mechanism for
>> changing the height of the laptop.  Usage would probably need to be limited
>> to our members in absentsia, as I would want to enjoy consistent problem
>> free use of the device, and random people on the internet lack
>> stewardship.  For this right I'm willing to front the cash.
>>
>> The point?  While I won't be around, I wanna be around.  OMG and hanging
>> out with you guys is pretty much my favorite part about Omaha.
>>
>> Patrick votes yes as well (just a guess).  Anyone want to get in on this
>> project?  Deadline is February for a working model.  We can go easy and
>> work with models already out there, or get creative and make our own
>> monstrosity.
>>
>> Travis
>>
>
>

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I am skeptical that anything we&#39;ve got sitting around is going to be po=
werful and stable enough to safely hold a laptop at something approaching h=
ead height. I think that since reliable and robust mobility is kind of a ma=
ke-or-break feature for a telepresence bot, that&#39;s probably an area whe=
re we should consider putting some money. Are there inexpensive off-the-she=
lf-ish robot platforms that would be suitable?<div>
<br></div><div>Some pre-built motor controllers would probably be the best =
option for drive electronics. There will probably be plenty to go wrong wit=
hout needing to develop our own drivers.</div><div><br></div><div>Does Skyp=
e support stereo audio? An open mic in an environment as acoustically hosti=
le as the Makery is probably going to be very difficult to get anything fro=
m. We would want a good quality stereo mic so the user can get useful sound=
.</div>
<div><br></div><div>What about camera/image stabilization? A camera on a st=
ick with a short wheelbase is going to jerk around a whole lot, which will =
make the picture unwatchable while the bot is moving. That&#39;s not very c=
ool.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Also, presumably the main camera is going to be looking=
 up, so in order to drive around it&#39;s going to need at least one wide-a=
ngle camera with good low-light performance looking down at the base so the=
 user can avoid driving into holes or 1800degF furnaces and such.</div>
<div><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote=
">On Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 7:47 PM, Kevin Fusselman <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:ke...@fusselman.org" target=3D"_blank">ke...@fusselman.org</=
a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Well, I can&#39;t promise &quot;problem free=
&quot;, but I&#39;m in for some labor. =A0We probably have an=A0appropriate=
=A0&quot;tank drive&quot; RC chassis, and a laptop around the space...An Ar=
duino with a little twin-H-bridge board would get the thing moving....=A0<d=
iv>

<br></div><div>I&#39;ll check on materials on Wednesday.</div><div class=3D=
"HOEnZb"><div class=3D"h5"><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><br><div class=3D=
"gmail_quote">On Mon, Nov 5, 2012 at 7:41 PM, Travis Smith <span dir=3D"ltr=
">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:travi...@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">travis42@gmai=
l.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>

<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">OMGers,<br><br>Hey, I&#39;m moving to Japan,=
 its happening.=A0 <br><br>Completely due to self interest, I&#39;m suddenl=
y smitten with the idea of making a telepresence robot.=A0 The basic plan w=
ould be to make one on the cheap using skype, a cheap laptop, a roomba, and=
 some mechanism for changing the height of the laptop.=A0 Usage would proba=
bly need to be limited to our members in absentsia, as I would want to enjo=
y consistent problem free use of the device, and random people on the inter=
net lack stewardship.=A0 For this right I&#39;m willing to front the cash.<=
br>


<br>The point?=A0 While I won&#39;t be around, I wanna be around.=A0 OMG an=
d hanging out with you guys is pretty much my favorite part about Omaha.<br=
><br>Patrick votes yes as well (just a guess).=A0 Anyone want to get in on =
this project?=A0 Deadline is February for a working model.=A0 We can go eas=
y and work with models already out there, or get creative and make our own =
monstrosity.<span><font color=3D"#888888"><br>


<br clear=3D"all">Travis<br>
</font></span></blockquote></div><br></div>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br></div>

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