DPRG Monthly Meeting: Using AI to Detect Traffic Cones – June 22, 2024

Slide Deck:  Slide Deck (PDF)

Join DPRG in a virtual meeting held on June 22, 2024, at 10:00AM CDT for a presentation by Bob Cook, winner of the 2023 SRS RoboMagellan, on how to use AI to detect traffic cones. Bob will cover everything from data collection to building a model and loading it onto a small board computer. This is a great opportunity to see in a practical manner how a model is built.

Roborama-2024 Robot Gallery

Here are the robots that participated in DPRG’s Roborama-2024. Click image for larger view.

RBNV – Robot Builders Night Virtual – May 28, 2024

Meeting Video:

Chat Record:  Chat record (PDF)
Star Rewards  (★ = significant robot progress, ⭐ = robot progress and running on floor):
Stars are awarded by group during the meeting.

No stars rewarded this week

Robie’s Highlights:
• Ray C. – Described his appliance that links his robot to his laptop via Serial using a ESP-NOW.
• Brief discussion of Wixel.
• Jon H. – Showed his progress on a new robot based on Adam Savage’s Star Wars robot prop.
• Discussion on Roborama rules.
• Discussion on sensors used by Mike W. on his 3 unit ToF sensor’s with 8×8 senssing array per sensor.
• People discussing problems (whining) they were having with their robots pre-competition.
• Paul B. offered basic PiDog program for Quick Trip on GitHub to encourage participation.

When

• May 28, starting at 7:30 PM Dallas time (CDT).
• Robot Builders Night Virtual (RBNV) meets each Tuesday evening.

RBNV – Robot Builders Night Virtual – May 21, 2024

Meeting Video:

Chat Record:  Chat record (PDF)
Star Rewards  (★ = significant robot progress, ⭐ = robot progress and running on floor):
Stars are awarded by group during the meeting.

Jon Hylands – ⭐

Robie’s Highlights:
• Call for Volunteers to Host/Record RBNV sessions during Summer.
• Jon H. – Demo of Roz robot doing Quick Trip.
• Jon H. – Discussion on Adam Savage’s balancing robot design.
• Ray C. – Idea of using flashlight reflector and beacons to localize to beacons using a camera looking at the convex reflector.
• Jack J. – Discussed and showed pictures of college competition using drones and rovers.
• David S. – Discussed Animatronic activites at DMS.
• Doug P. – Discussed SainSmart CNC 3030 ProverMax Router and Rpi5 USB3 Hub Hat.
• General discussion on GIT practices.

When

• May 21, starting at 7:30 PM Dallas time (CDT).
• Robot Builders Night Virtual (RBNV) meets each Tuesday evening.

RBNV – Robot Builders Night Virtual – May 14, 2024

Meeting Video:

Chat Record:  Chat record (PDF)
Star Rewards  (★ = significant robot progress, ⭐ = robot progress and running on floor):
Stars are awarded by group during the meeting.

Jon Hylands – ⭐
Doug Paradis – ⭐

Robie’s Highlights:
• Jon H. – Roz demo.
• Doug P. – Vorpal Hexapod demo.
• David S. – Ongoing auction of agri robot.
• Discussion of robot camera options
• Harold P. – 3d printed hydroponic tower links.

When

• May 14, starting at 7:30 PM Dallas time (CDT).
• Robot Builders Night Virtual (RBNV) meets each Tuesday evening.

RBNV – Robot Builders Night Virtual – May 7, 2024

Meeting Video:

Chat Record:  Chat record (PDF)
Star Rewards  (★ = significant robot progress, ⭐ = robot progress and running on floor):
Stars are awarded by group during the meeting.

Scott Gibson – ⭐ ⭐ (double stars!)
Paul Bouchier – ⭐
Jon Hylands – ⭐

Robie’s Highlights:
• Scott G. – Demo of new robot “YAR” on Quick Trip and 4-Corners.
• Paul B. – Demo of “PiDog” on Quick Trip.
• Jon H. – Demo of Roz’s gait and working URC, including IMU.
• Joh H. – Discussion and link (see Chat Record) on IMU used on “RAZ” by Pesky Products
• Discussion on using a line laser to assist initial positioning of robot for Quick Trip
• Ray C. – Laser company recommendation https://www.aixiz.com/
• Doug P. – Show and Tell of XT60PW-W20 LiPo battery connector for PCB mounting.

When

• May 7, starting at 7:30 PM Dallas time (CDT).
• Robot Builders Night Virtual (RBNV) meets each Tuesday evening.

RBNV – Robot Builders Night Virtual – April 30, 2024

Meeting Video:

Chat Record:  Chat record (PDF)
Star Rewards  (★ = significant robot progress, ⭐ = robot progress and running on floor):
Stars are awarded by group during the meeting.

Karim Virani – ⭐

Robie’s Highlights:
• John K. – Boston Robotics Dogs Dancing Video
• Karim V. – Pioneer robot Demo
• Discussion on DPRG’s measurement answer to the cubit – the soda can (as it is 2 soda cans high)
• Doug P. – Show and tell on 2 Raspberry Pi 4 PCEi bus hats – one for SSD, one for 4 USB-3.2 ports
• Discussion on Pi5 place between with other small computer.
• Discussion on Brady’s Presentation and making PCBs.
• Carl O. – Posting of potential part-time employment position.
• Discussion on Jon’s URC.
• Update on Roborama contest prizes.
• Mike W. – reported that dragging a can around with his claw didn’t impact his odometry.
• Discussion on a celebration for DPRG’s 40th year anniversary (maybe in the Fall).

When

• April 30, starting at 7:30 PM Dallas time (CDT).
• Robot Builders Night Virtual (RBNV) meets each Tuesday evening.