Group Project: Sci-fi robot or vehicle

[Adam Cox]

Hey all, we have been talking about doing a group project for the past while but nothing much has taken root. I'm proposing we build some sort of sci-fi robot or vehicle. This would give us something cool to show off in the space. We could also take it to outside events like Hal-Con or when we are hosting workshops at the library. I'm open to just about anything but here are some suggested criteria:

- the size of a refrigerator or smaller (any larger would probably create storage issues and transportation issues)

- based on a known entity (eg. R2-D2 would be a clear goal and being recognizable would probably bring more interest. Lesser known could still be super fun though)

- probably a tracked or wheeled robot/vehicle for ease of construction; a stationary two-legged robot with moveable arms, head, etc. could be an option though

- avoid options that already exist in Halifax (there is already a TARDIS, Dalek, and R2-D2 in town)

One that I'd love to consider making is Johnny 5 from the movie Short Circuit. https://imgur.com/gallery/yY8ZSNL

There are plenty of options with a range of cost, build time, complexity though. If you would like to join in on this project feel free to post your ideas in reply to this. Over the next few Saturdays I'll plan to be at the space for Project Night (6pm-10pm) to start planning for this project. 

In the meantime here are some other options:

- some other Star Wars droid like BB-8, BB-9E, or a lesser known astromech droid http://i.imgur.com/ZiBV1Re.jpg

- WALL-E https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/2/2b/Wall-E.png/revision/latest?cb=20151002192237

- a swarm of DRDs from Farscape http://hosting.tk-lee.com/farscape/drd/TGASwewillfixit.jpg

- Crushinator from Futurama https://theinfosphere.org/File:Crushinator.jpg

- Omnibot 2000 http://www.theoldrobots.com/images15/tom4.JPG

- Star Wars AT-AT walker; we could probably pull off something with the stability of four legs

[Tom Servaes]

I would like to add that a flying robot could also be doable, provided the design allows for the quadcopter integration and it's lightweight enough (vacuum forming)?

Any safety concerns that have escaped me are due to my fevered imagination.

Something like V.I.N.CENT. from The Black Hole is what came to my mind.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAKh7c_Qezw/

Tom

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[Allan Carver]

One thing to keep in mind is to pick a project that demonstrates your abilities in a dramatic way. Someone has to look at the final execution and have their jaw drop. 

So I strongly agree with Adam, don’t build something that someone else has done. I love R2D2, but there are clubs dedicated to building them. Johnny 5 is a cool build. Does it have the mass appeal you want/need? Not sure. It does for my generation, but for younger generations, it’s just a cool robot. 

Whatever the group decides, I can help out with welding ’n stuff. But I can only be a support component, not a core driver of the project. 

If you built a giant X-Wing fighter on an electric scooter platform, it would marry up nicely with my Tie Fighter… but that’s just a suggestion. 

A

[Adam Smith]

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

[Shawn Wilson]

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 13:13 Adam Smith, <adam...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

[Tom Servaes]

Further to Allan's suggestion, how about a drivable or RC Millenium Falcon? We can have some basic version by the end of May for the release of "Solo" if we want a deadline?

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 13:13 Adam Smith, <adam...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

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"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

[Shawn Wilson]

That'd be super cool and timely, but I would worry about 1) having build space for something on that scale and 2) the amount of metal working needed for something that should be done primarily at the Makerspace.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:17 PM Tom Servaes <tom.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

Further to Allan's suggestion, how about a drivable or RC Millenium Falcon? We can have some basic version by the end of May for the release of "Solo" if we want a deadline?

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 13:13 Adam Smith, <adam...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

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"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

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[Allan Carver]

That's a wicked idea.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 3:17 PM Tom Servaes <tom.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

Further to Allan's suggestion, how about a drivable or RC Millenium Falcon? We can have some basic version by the end of May for the release of "Solo" if we want a deadline?

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 13:13 Adam Smith, <adam...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

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"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

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[Adam Cox]

We definitely couldn't build it near the same scale of Allan's Tie Figher. Even an X-Wing in the same scale would be crazy long. But if we did a Millennium Falcon about 6' in length that would make it about 4.5' wide and less than 2' deep. That would store fairly well in the space and we could likely work on a lot if it in a vertical orientation. I'm picturing it mounted to an RC base that would be separate. We could even try to mount it to the base with pistons or linear actuators that would give it some pitch and roll capability. I don't think we need to use metal for much of it, we can stick to our wheelhouse of wood and plastic fabrication.

[Tom Servaes]

I would also do much of the construction from wood and foam boards.

If we need a bigger space for temporary assembly and storage, we could always check with Off Track whether they'd agree to host it on their ramp? Adds an attraction to their tap room.

I'm feeling good about this idea (if I do say so myself).

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:45 PM, Adam Cox <adam.un...@gmail.com> wrote:

We definitely couldn't build it near the same scale of Allan's Tie Figher. Even an X-Wing in the same scale would be crazy long. But if we did a Millennium Falcon about 6' in length that would make it about 4.5' wide and less than 2' deep. That would store fairly well in the space and we could likely work on a lot if it in a vertical orientation. I'm picturing it mounted to an RC base that would be separate. We could even try to mount it to the base with pistons or linear actuators that would give it some pitch and roll capability. I don't think we need to use metal for much of it, we can stick to our wheelhouse of wood and plastic fabrication.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:30 PM Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

That'd be super cool and timely, but I would worry about 1) having build space for something on that scale and 2) the amount of metal working needed for something that should be done primarily at the Makerspace.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:17 PM Tom Servaes <tom.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

Further to Allan's suggestion, how about a drivable or RC Millenium Falcon? We can have some basic version by the end of May for the release of "Solo" if we want a deadline?

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 13:13 Adam Smith, <adam...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

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There's a war going on for your mind. If you're thinking, you're winning.

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mailto:tom.s...@gmail.com


"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

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[Allan Carver]

Pursuing… I meant pursuing. 

On Apr 6, 2018, at 4:37 PM, Allan Carver <allan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Use rigid foam with a 1/2 square metal tube frame. Strong and lightweight. If you are serious in perusing this, let's meet and hash out a game plan. 

A

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 3:58 PM Tom Servaes <tom.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

I would also do much of the construction from wood and foam boards.

If we need a bigger space for temporary assembly and storage, we could always check with Off Track whether they'd agree to host it on their ramp? Adds an attraction to their tap room.

I'm feeling good about this idea (if I do say so myself).

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:45 PM, Adam Cox <adam.un...@gmail.com> wrote:

We definitely couldn't build it near the same scale of Allan's Tie Figher. Even an X-Wing in the same scale would be crazy long. But if we did a Millennium Falcon about 6' in length that would make it about 4.5' wide and less than 2' deep. That would store fairly well in the space and we could likely work on a lot if it in a vertical orientation. I'm picturing it mounted to an RC base that would be separate. We could even try to mount it to the base with pistons or linear actuators that would give it some pitch and roll capability. I don't think we need to use metal for much of it, we can stick to our wheelhouse of wood and plastic fabrication.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:30 PM Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

That'd be super cool and timely, but I would worry about 1) having build space for something on that scale and 2) the amount of metal working needed for something that should be done primarily at the Makerspace.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:17 PM Tom Servaes <tom.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

Further to Allan's suggestion, how about a drivable or RC Millenium Falcon? We can have some basic version by the end of May for the release of "Solo" if we want a deadline?

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

<johnny5input.jpg>

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 13:13 Adam Smith, <adam...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

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"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

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"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

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[Allan Carver]

Use rigid foam with a 1/2 square metal tube frame. Strong and lightweight. If you are serious in perusing this, let's meet and hash out a game plan. 

A

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 3:58 PM Tom Servaes <tom.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

I would also do much of the construction from wood and foam boards.

If we need a bigger space for temporary assembly and storage, we could always check with Off Track whether they'd agree to host it on their ramp? Adds an attraction to their tap room.

I'm feeling good about this idea (if I do say so myself).

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:45 PM, Adam Cox <adam.un...@gmail.com> wrote:

We definitely couldn't build it near the same scale of Allan's Tie Figher. Even an X-Wing in the same scale would be crazy long. But if we did a Millennium Falcon about 6' in length that would make it about 4.5' wide and less than 2' deep. That would store fairly well in the space and we could likely work on a lot if it in a vertical orientation. I'm picturing it mounted to an RC base that would be separate. We could even try to mount it to the base with pistons or linear actuators that would give it some pitch and roll capability. I don't think we need to use metal for much of it, we can stick to our wheelhouse of wood and plastic fabrication.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:30 PM Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

That'd be super cool and timely, but I would worry about 1) having build space for something on that scale and 2) the amount of metal working needed for something that should be done primarily at the Makerspace.

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 3:17 PM Tom Servaes <tom.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

Further to Allan's suggestion, how about a drivable or RC Millenium Falcon? We can have some basic version by the end of May for the release of "Solo" if we want a deadline?

Tom

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Shawn Wilson <sh...@glassgiant.com> wrote:

On Fri, Apr 6, 2018, 13:13 Adam Smith, <adam...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've never even heard of Johnny 5. Maybe the robots from MST3k?

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"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

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"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw
"Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise." – Bertrand Russell

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[Adam Cox]

I stopped at the Shearwater Hobby Show this morning and picked up some reference material.

[Tom Servaes]

Sweet. We know what to do tonight!

Tom

[Shawn Wilson]

Tonight during Project Night, a time when members are encouraged to come talk about or work on individual and group projects, 6-10pm at the Makerspace, you mean?

[Tom Servaes]

As good a time as any.

Tom