The Kasei Initiative

Well, the controller doesn't control jack squat, which ticks me off considering I spend maybe 3 hours soldering, resoldering, etc... It's not a connection issue; I already checked with a multimeter. All that happens is the servos go nuts. No idea why.

Artist's rendering has been update.

More pictures tomorrow; new temporary screen case has been made, and though a bit unsteady, Kagaku successfully stays on the mobility base. Tomorrow's work is making the controller.

So much for programming this weekend... Time has been eaten up like popcorn lately...

Mobility base (that has a nice ring to it; I'm going to call it that from now on) has been update/upgraded. Two servos, one regular wheel, and the servo wheels are better attached for reasons stated before (plexiglass discs = more surface area to glue = stronger bond = look better than the awkward way it was before).

The set up will be a bit backwards from the productized image before, but, again, prototype; I do what I can.

With my meager drawing and image editing skills, I present to you the artist's rendition:

If I have the time, I will do a computer-rendered one instead later, but for now, this suits my needs.

Batteries FINALLY ordered. Took me long enough.

No chance to laser cut a controller, so cardboard will do for now (same thing goes for the screen case). If Google can do it for a VR headset, I can do it for my robot's screen case and controller.

Like I said, I've been very pressed for time these past two weeks. This weekend, I hope to be focusing my energy on programming. So far, I've made a program to check if a user data file is in existence, but it's specific to my system, so I'll need to work on that. Once that's done, "personality coding" will commence. I don't seem to have a pile of homework scheduled for tomorrow, so I'm okay there. Note to self: stockpile tea and coffee.

Today, I had some acrylic discs laser cut so I can have a more sturdy attachment of the servos to the wheels (meaning, I've got more surface area to glue with). Obviously, the product version would have a better method of attachment, but like the contest says, this is a prototype, so I'm using what I can to get further funding.

I keep saying this, but by tomorrow I will hopefully have the two batteries ordered (I have a bit of a better financial situation with regards to the project).

"Productized" image has been outlined, will be scanned, colored, etc. in time. It's different looking from the prototype, but again, "productized".

Controller is up next, hopefully laser cut by tomorrow then soldered over the weekend (I've got some good buttons for the job). May need to make another cardboard screen case for now, but that's okay; Kagaku and I will live. One piece at a time. I'll save it for the next checkpoint, and it shouldn't be hard to get done.

First, the bad.

I got the chance to model the screen case in Inventor, but the tech teachers have been having issues with the laser cutter, so I wasn't able to do anything about it. As far as I know, everything should be okay with it though. One other issue is that I have been low on my own time; I have been buried with homework as of late, but hopefully things will be better in that regard (new note taking strategy, in other words).

Next, the neutral.

The back two servos will be taken out and replaced with a wheel, so power draw is a little nicer on the Arduino. Function-wise, I don't think this is going to be much of an issue. Asthetically, meh, I'm not terribly concerned.

Lastly, the good.

I've lugged down the desktop to connect it to the Internet, update/upgrade everything and install Pygame (yeah, I'm getting a Wifi bridge very soon, believe me). Now I have no excuse to not program. An artist's rendition will be made at some point, either in my animation software or in Scratch.

I'm feeling better, and tomorrow I'll at least have started designing (using Inventor) the base and a new screen case to be laser cut. Once I've got those done, cut and tweaked to my needs, then I'll link to downloads of the files for the designs. Cutting, if all goes well, should commence on Thursday.

The rest of this week:

• Model and laser cut parts, tweak as needed
• Figure out how to properly attach wheels to servos (hopefully I can 3D print some parts)
• Get button control squared away, have controller ready
• Order lithium ion battery(s)
• Video tape progress

Next Week:

• Program!
• Finish anything not done from last week
• Get an artist's rendition ready and uploaded
• Fill out all paperwork
• 5 min video
• Convince the judges that I'm good enough for the top 10...

Sorry about that. I haven't been feeling so well lately, but I'm getting better. Will be back to work soon.

I told you I'd finish it!

For future reference for myself:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1614059/how-to-make-python-speak Look into espeak post