Saturday, 15 October 2016

Graduation Day 2016 ! !

08:59 Posted by Anonymous No comments
“The Hats whirled skyward, carried by bright, new hopes and propelled by big daring dreams !”

For most students, Graduation Day is one of the best moment of their lives. It represents their translation from the cocooned life of schooling and college to the open competitive world of jobs and career. Graduation Day represents the moment of cusp after which the life of these young students change. It is that day which is filled with excitement and nostalgia. 

That being said, today was Graduation day at Kidobotikz. It is the day when our young students graduate from Kidobotikz after years of toiling with robotics. Graduation Day, which is an annual ceremony took place this year at the Golden Paradise Hall in Chennai. Being an important day in their life, all students had assembled in sharp attire to reflect the atmosphere of the solemn occasion. 

The event was held between 4PM and 6PM. The welcome address, delivered by Ms.Sneha Priya, Director, Kidobotikz, extended a warm welcome to the parents, students and faculty who had gathered at the hall. After a brief introduction about Kidobotikz and its activities through a narrative video, the annual report was delivered. The annual report, which discussed about the various activities of the students and their achievements over the past academic year, stressed upon the role robotics has played in empowering students academically and mentally. Apart from their academic strides, the various roboting activities students had taken part in through robotics competitions and projects were discussed upon. The role of projects such as SwachhBot and AgriBot and the involvement of students in these path breaking projects was also touched upon. It is of great pride to Kidobotikz that such student-driven initiatives were playing an important role in solving some important issues plaguing the society. 

Dr. S.K Patnaik adressing the students
The Chief Guest for the event was Dr.S.K.Patnaik, Professor, CEG, who had graciously agreed to preside upon the event. Having been a faculty of the directors of Kidobotikz in their college days, he was appreciative of their efforts in democratizing the core concepts of electronics and robotics for the students of the school level. He reflected on the fact that the education system had failed to identify the core interests of students and push them in the direction. He was successful in garnering the audience’s attention when compared the current education scenario to that of a “rat race”. He opined that the methodologies adopted by Kidobotikz to promote technical skill development through an innovative robotics based education for students had the potential to better the standards of education in our country and such efforts were important. He felt that such a program could improve the skillsets of engineers and thereby improve their employment prospects. He also inspired the graduates with his eloquent address. 


At the conclusion of the speech, the Graduation ceremony commenced where every student was individually awarded a “Certificate of Excellence” for their commendable efforts to complete the four course levels and clear the graduation exam with distinction. Several individual students were also awarded for their outstanding performance in the respective subjects such as mechanics, electronics, algorithm and programming

B.Adwaith and Manoj Kumar with their respective trophies for the Best performance in Mechanical and Electronics

Later on, the graduates who had adorned the customary Graduation Suit and Graduate Cap were taken off to the photo session where they posed for the group photos. With the throwing of hats into the air, the event came to a close.

Disney's one-legged robot hops into action without a tether

00:33 Posted by Anonymous No comments

Bipedal robots, such as Boston Dynamics' Atlas may be able to balance on one leg, but Disney Research has gone one better and built a one-legged hopping robot. This unidexter automaton isn't the first hopping robot, but it's the first to not rely on a tether or external power source to keep bouncing.

Hopping robots have been around since at least the early 1980s and though a robotic pogo stick may seem as pointless as an ejection seat on a helicopter, they have helped engineers in developing and refining robotic locomotion. While robots with two or more legs can handle rough terrain and use different gaits for different tasks, single-legged robots have a much simpler topology and are limited to hopping to move and stay upright.

According to the Disney Research team, this makes them ideal for testing robot leg mechanics and algorithms. A single-legged robot needs to respond at high speeds and with much higher forces causing much higher stresses than on multi-legged robots if they're going to stay upright and not trip over things. Meeting these requirements is much more difficult than making a two-legged robot walk and provides valuable information to designers on how to overcome problems.


Early hopping robots, such as those built by Mark Raibert at MIT in 1983, were heavy affairs with massive metal crash cages. Relying on pulleys, cams, and electric solenoids, it and later hopbots required tethers and external power sources to work without damaging themselves. Building such robots was so hard that the Disney team says that no real progress has been made on increasing the portability of hopping robots since 2007.

The Disney approach for its hopping robot was to make a much lighter, simpler design. In this case, the robot is built around a Linear Elastic Actuator in Parallel (LEAP) for greater agility. This mechanism uses two parallel compression springs to steady the central leg, which provides thrust by means of a voice coil. As the name suggests, the voice coil was originally designed for certain types of speakers, but the coil's ability to provide an easy to control proportional thrust without direct contact between coil and shaft made it ideal for this purpose.


The robot has a special hip made out of a gimbal joint incorporating a pair of servo motors. In addition, there's an onboard microcontroller that controls thrust, orientation, and foot placement. Put them altogether and it adds up to a robot that can maintain its balance for up to 19 hops over seven seconds on its own. Though the robot did have a safety tether, this was slack during the tests and was mainly a telemetry link to record data.


The Disney Research team says that there's still room for improvement on the robot. The software assumes the foot is static when it lands, causing it to slip and the sensors could be more reliable and accurate. Also they are working on a better way to model the robot's velocity while in mid-hop, and they hope to make the mechanism more modular and compact, so it can be adapted to multi-legged robots.

The Disney Research team's findings can be found in this paper (PDF).

The video below shows the Disney Research robot going for a quick hop.


Friday, 14 October 2016

Geek Speak: Hariharan

06:10 Posted by Anonymous No comments
Terms like “Electronics enthusiasts” and “Robotics hobbyists” are becoming commonplace today. With the availability of low cost electronic components and engaging online content which helps them learn the various tricks and trades of robotics, more and more students are entering the hitherto unchartered areas of robotics and electronics, while they are still high schoolers. Nowhere is this change more pronounced than at Kidobotikz where you can find every other 8th grader turning the screws on a robot they developed from scratch. The ones not doing the same are probably doing an interesting project using IoT. 

The result is an ever growing pool of Kidobotikzians who develop wonderful working models and robots, not to mention the accolades these people receive after developing concepts like the AgriBot and the SwachhBot. With us today is a robotics pro whose demeanor and way of talking exude confidence in every which way. He’s only in class 8 but has a way of answering questions that surely will make people think twice if they were talking to someone of age 14. Meet Hariharan, a proud Kidobotikzian and a robotics pro who is our geek for the day

Hey Hariharan! Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi everyone! I’m Hariharan of class 8 at Chinmaya Vidyalaya. Here at Kidobotikz I have completed the expert level. I am awaiting the graduation day. 

Being an early student of Kidobotikz, can you describe your journey with Kidobotikz till now? 
I joined Kidobotikz a couple of years ago. Back then, before joining Kidobotikz, I was quite interested in the concept of robotics. I was interested in the working principle behind things and so on. Seeing my curiosity, my mother enquired around to see if she could put my curiosity to good use. Upon being suggested by many about a new institute called Kidobotikz, she came here to find out more about what was taught. She found the Kidobotikz model interesting and got me enrolled here.

My case was altogether different though. I was under the assumption that Kidobotikz was going to teach us about some basics electronics and electrical concepts that was not too different from what I was gonna learn in school. So, I had an initial indifference towards the course. But only after sometime did I realize about the seriousness and the significance of what was being taught here. And here I am today after completing the expert level and awaiting my graduation. 

Interesting. So, how do you think robotics has changed you?
Robotics has had a profound impact on me. I see things differently now, I imagine about things in a technical manner. I’ve been part of some amazing projects and built cool stuff. To me all this is quite amazing. More importantly, it has empowered me as a student.

How do your parents feel about you? And what does everyone at school think about your roboting skills?
My mom was the person responsible for me joining Kidobotikz. And with Dad, it’s been a healthy competition because I tell him jokingly that I can code in more languages than him. That could not have happened if I was not at Kidobotikz.

Sadly, at school they are not as appreciative of the robotics learning as one would expect. My friends are not on the same page as me as far as robotics is concerned. Maybe, they’ll be on board once they get a little older. 

Can you tell a bit about the cute robot that you had built as a part of the Kolu celebrations here at Kidobotikz?
Actually, I had built the bot for my Expert level Creative test. The timing happened to coincide with Navaratri and that is a happy coincidence. It is a Biped, as in, it can walk on two legs. It has sensors in the front that help it sense the surroundings. 

Are there any favourite robots of yours?
My favourite robot has to be the Line tracer robot. But I have no bias towards other robots. It’s just that line tracer robots appeal to me more.

I would like to know what your future plans are? 
I have no plans yet. I am looking to take things one at a time.

Intel unveils its own commercial drone, the Falcon 8+

01:04 Posted by Anonymous No comments

Intel is slapping its name on an advanced drone designed for commercial and professional uses in North America. The Falcon 8+ is the first Intel-branded commercial drone and it's outfitted for industrial inspection, surveying and mapping.


Intel's expert-level drone builds on the AscTec Falcon 8 drone, a V-form octocopter that boasts high stability, precision GPS and flight control electronics and components that are redundant three times over, as well as laying claim to the best weight-to-payload ratio around (empty weight 1.1 kg, max. payload 0.8 kg). This is basically a working drone designed for some of the most intense field applications.

The two companies had already used the Falcon 8 to create a custom drone for Boeing modified with Intel's RealSense cameras. We've also seen Intel make a concerted push into the drone world lately with a drone specifically for developers and another that makes use of the company's 3D-mapping technology for collision avoidance.

The Falcon 8+ builds on the Falcon 8 further by adding Intel's advanced, water-resistant ground Cockpit system for control and an Intel PowerPack to keep it flying.

At the center of the Cockpit is an Intel chipset-powered tablet for planning and conducting complex flight patterns as well as monitoring the live video feed via a low latency digital link up to 1080p resolution with a 1 km range. Flight control can also be managed with a single hand joystick.


The Falcon 8+ comes loaded with on-board sensors that can map surfaces down to the millimeter, which the company says allows for routes to be replicated with a high degree of accuracy.

The whole UAV is arranged in a V-form measuring 768 x 817 x 160 mm with a take off weight of 2.8 kg (6 pounds) when loaded with a camera and gimbal capable of transmitting up to 1080p HD video.

Intel announced the Falcon 8+ at the InterGeo drone conference in Germany and it hasn't yet been approved by the Federal Communications Communications for sale or use in the United States. No word from Intel on how soon that could be or what pricing will look like.

Sources: New AtlasIntel, AscTec

Thursday, 13 October 2016

BMW Motorrad's futuristic motorcycle concept keeps the rider in control

08:53 Posted by Anonymous No comments

The BMW Group celebrating its centenary this year unveiled its latest vision of the motoring future in Los Angeles. The BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 is a concept motorcycle that keeps the rider in control in an autonomous world.

Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design at BMW Motorrad, describes a motorcycle as a "Great Escape" from the mundane world. This Steve McQueen vision is apparently at the heart of the Vision Next 100's design. Added to that are several futuristic ideas about where motoring will be, in general, in 100 years and how those changes will affect motorcycles and those who ride them.

Unsurprisingly, safety concerns are first and foremost in the design. Illustrating this, BMW says no protective clothing, not even a helmet, is required by the rider as assistive systems will keep them safe. Chief among these is a self-balancing mechanism that keeps the bike upright, even when parked, but allows for riding angles suited to the skill level of the rider, tilting into turns and leaning fore and aft when braking or accelerating just as a motorcycle of today would, but without the risk of laying the bike down.

The BMW Group's futurists see a world in which self-driving cars are the norm, but the Motorrad concept keeps the rider in control. To help in this regard, special rider's gear has been designed to form a Digital Companion that supports the rider with situational information when required. This information is relayed via glasses, called the Visor, worn by the rider, called the Visor. Content is triggered by the rider's eyes which, when looking up or down, cause it to display different content. Looking straight ahead clears the display so the rider can concentrate on the experience of riding. The exception being when alerts are required.

The rider would also wear the Vision Next 100's companion suit, which is tuned to provide thermal support by adjusting to provide ventilation or heat. The suit's external design is inspired by the musculature of the human body and bands in the suit can be adjusted by both rider preference and posture to allow for added or loosened support as needed. Riding speeds also adjust the suit, with higher speeds adding support to the upper vertebrae, for example.
The bike itself is designed to evoke nostalgic thoughts of BMW two-wheelers of the past, with a boxer-style engine cover in a naked bike style with outward-facing handle joints as homage to BMW's of days gone by. The black frame triangle is designed to be reminiscent of the very first BMW Motorrad motorcycle, the R32, built in 1923. Although the engine cover appears to be over a boxer-style engine, in reality it's a zero-emissions powertrain. The polished aluminum finish of the engine covers is dynamic, moving outward during use to add aerodynamics around the rider's legs, and sucking in when the bike is at rest for a slim, clean profile.

That engine cover is part of the overall Motorrad Vision Next 100's Flexframe structure. This is a futuristic, flexible construct that allows the entire one-piece frame to give a full-body steer for the motorcycle. Turning the handlebars to steer the bike bends the frame rather than just the front wheel. The amount of force required for the rider to create a turn is adjusted according to the Motorrad Vision's speed - the higher the speed, the more force that is required to make a turn. This is intended to prevent over-steer and corrections.

Integrated into that futuristic frame are the riding lights. A U-shaped element at front is the daytime running light and wind deflector in one piece. The integrated windshield protects the rider at speed and also acts as a heads-up display of information, as needed. Two red, illuminated strips beneath the seat shell are the rear lights and indicators in one piece, made to be reminiscent of Motorrad bikes of today.

A look at the BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 shows that there are few joints and no visible bolts, screws, springs, or shocks. Damping is controlled by the tires, which feature a futuristic "variable tread" that actively adjusts to maximize grip and minimize impacts.

The BMW Motorrad design team sees a future world in which digital elements are more common than are analog. In that respect, most aspects of human life are about virtual control and allowing robotic machines to do the mundane tasks of everyday living. In that world, a motorcycle that allows the rider to be in control would become a Great Escape.

The BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 is on display in Los Angeles at the Iconic Impulses: BMW Group Future Experience exhibition until the 16th of October.


Source: New AtlasBMW

From Online imagery to Door Step delivery, here's how robots are transforming Retail Logistics !

08:53 Posted by Anonymous No comments

As economies grow and societies experience increase in demand for faster order fulfillments and accuracy in supply chain processes, there is an increasing pressure on manufacturers and supply chain management providers to come up with a way to meet consumer demands. While the demand for such orders should automatically translate to increase in workforce productivity, the transition has been anything but smooth. With the increasing costs in labour, players across the the retail logistics industry have found it hard to meet the demand.

Luckily, thanks to the advent of robotics and autonomy, some innovations have taken over the drudgery involved in logistics and supplemented the efforts of the human labour force. Also, the future in the logistics industry looks quite promising with a lot more innovations on the way that can fundamentally change the way the industry operates by bringing in efficiency and high technology.

Let’s see a few use cases where robotics have changed or can change the way logistics industry operates.


Use Case #1: Warehouse management using robots
 If you are looking at the above image and are wondering what is, here’s some interesting tidbit for you. The above image is of Amazon’s Kiva robots. Kiva robots, a product of Amazon Robotics, is a revolution in the logistics and warehousing industry. Ever since introduction at Amazon’s logistics and warehousing facilities, Kiva has transformed the way products are hand-picked and shipped from the storage. It is an autonomous heavy duty robot which lifts crates of products and brings it directly to the hands of the packaging personnel who then ship the product to the consumer. This is a revolutionary technology that has changed the world of warehouse management. 



Use Case #2: Automation of Order picking
Order picking operation is a major process in logistic warehouses. Involving the activities of taking and collecting articles in a specified quantity before shipment, it has an important influence on supply chain's productivity. This process, which has been manual until now has seen some robotic entrants who could potentially disrupt the process. Amazon, which kicked off its inaugural Picking Challenge last year, has encouraged teams around the world to create robots able to perform the task of an Amazon stock picker. This year the competition was expanded to include not only picking items from a shelf and placing them in a container, but the reverse as well – and a team from the Netherlands has claimed victories in both.


Use Case #3: Last-Mile Delivery
With the advent of the online retail giants, we as consumers have been exposed to the luxury of “Doorstep Delivery”. While it is a sweet deal for the consumers, for the service provider several pain-points exist- the most important being physical fatigue of the delivery boys. Interestingly, Mercedes Benz has had an interesting take on this problem. It has teamed up with drone company Matternet to create a concept vehicle dubbed the Vision Van which would deploy drones from its rooftop to carry packages over the final leg of their journey.

Read more here

These are just a few ways where robotics have the potential to eliminate the human element. This would usher in the era where consumer satisfaction and lean processes rule the roost and make processes efficient on count of being automated.


Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Induce some high tech features in your car with these cool projects

08:10 Posted by Anonymous No comments

Do you feel that your family’s car is a little low tech tech compared to the swanky new one your neighbour purchased? Wanna surprise your dad with some new cool features when he turns on the car?

How about retrofitting a few new features to your car to make it feel like a car that was built for the second half of the 21st Century?

Well, of the top of the mind, the easy way would be to innovate some cool new projects that pull off a smart statement every time someone boards the car.

Do you have your Kidobotikz kits,? Then it can be done easy peasy! 

Following are three fun “Kit-creatives” that you can make using your foundation and beginner level kits. 

1) Intelligent Parking Assistant System - F+B
How often do you feel the need for assistance in parking your car? This project will help you park your car without the need for requesting assistance from your apartment’s watchmen to monitor the blind spot while parking! Create a circuit to assist you in parking your car properly without collision. To try and test this circuit, all you would require is the beginner level Bluetooth controlled robot and a sensor. When the sensor senses some hindrance, it sets the buzzer abuzz. It can also help detect intruders in Parking Lot.

Find out how to do it over here: Intelligent Parking Assistant System

2) Automatic Headlight System - F+B
This is a feature that is not present in even the current generation. But, it would be awfully convenient if the headlight of our car or two wheeler turned on by themselves. And it would also be in the interests of the battery life if the lights turned themselves off in the mornings. This project should help us automate it in such a way that you can forget to flip the ON and OFF button on your vehicle. 

Find out how to do it over here: Automatic Headlight System
 
3) Automatic Indicator System - F+B
Must be tiresome to sway your arms while creating turns .Wouldn’t it be cool if you could automate the process of being able to turn on your vehicle indicators as you made the turn. This project could help you do that. All you would require is a few components of your Beginner and Foundation level kits.

Find out how to do it over here: Automatic Indicator System


Pull off these projects and make your dad proud of you!