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Little Dewey (Drone:1) from the Silent Running movie

toymaker — Fri, 07 May 2021 07:27:52 GMT

I have been a Roboticist for many years and I am also a SciFi nerd! One of my favorite SciFi films is the 1972 movie Silent Running starring Bruce Dern. The movies robots were awesome so I had to build one!

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RE: Little Dewey (Drone:1) from the Silent Running movie

RichBarr — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:24:06 GMT

That’s awesome! The drones from Silent Running are such iconic designs, and building one yourself must have been an incredible project. I’d love to hear more about how you approached the build and what materials or tech you used.

I need a programming code for your PICAM 2 color tracking video.

maleemsajjad — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 08:18:20 GMT

I'm working on a project where I have to track object for taking images. kindly share your program of this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljNE1D995Wo
I shall be very thankful to you for this.
Here is my email ID: aleemsajjad81@gmail.com

RE: I need a programming code for your PICAM 2 color tracking video.

GavinHarris — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:54:46 GMT

I don't have direct access to the program from the video you linked, but I can guide you in creating an object-tracking system. You can use Python with OpenCV to track objects and capture images when they are detected. Start by using methods like background subtraction or color-based detection, and for more advanced tracking, employ algorithms such as SORT or YOLO. Let me know if you’d like help with a specific part of the code!

[quote userid="402694" url="~/technologies/robotics/f/forum/40181/i-need-a-programming-code-for-your-picam-2-color-tracking-video"]I'm working on a project where I have to track object for taking images. kindly share your program of this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljNE1D995Wo
I shall be very thankful to you for this.[/quote]

RE: I need a programming code for your PICAM 2 color tracking video.

beacon_dave — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 10:16:35 GMT

The supporting files can be found here:

https://github.com/thebenheckshow/173-tbhs-auto-tracking-camera

As linked from the original episode pages here:

/challenges-projects/element14-presents/benheck/ben-heck-exclusive/w/documents/19280/ben-heck-s-auto-tracking-camera-part-2-episode----episode-174

/challenges-projects/element14-presents/benheck/ben-heck-exclusive/w/documents/19202/ben-heck-s-auto-tracking-camera-part-1-episode----episode-173

RE: I need a programming code for your PICAM 2 color tracking video.

CarlosQueens — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 03:41:04 GMT

Did you find something in the end?

https://reddogcasino.bet/

Trying to read dip switches with microchip pic, can not compile firmware. Mplab X on Linux.

madthescientist — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:36:54 GMT

I am doing my first robot with a Pic microcontroller.

It has a dip switich in the PCB wich has to be read at startup to change it's behaviour.

i had connect each swicht into a pic's pin. In the code, i had #defined each pin as rb(x).

Now, i wish to, at startup, had them read and set 3 different "int = x" variables" wich the void main () has to read and proceed in consequence. I tried to use "scanf (%d, switch1) and so on, yet whenever

i try to compile it and mmlab's xc8 tells me "scanf" and "printf" are not supported. I had install other compilers from Microchip, yet i have the same results.

I have a basic understanding of C language, yet i don't know how can i read 3 switches and set 3 variables, i would like to ask if someone could help me with this.

Just let me thank you for your attention.

RE: Trying to read dip switches with microchip pic, can not compile firmware. Mplab X on Linux.

scottiebabe — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 12:37:58 GMT

If you provide the pic PN and pin you are using I can give you exact code, but you should be able to follow along

https://picguides.com/beginner/digital.php

RE: Trying to read dip switches with microchip pic, can not compile firmware. Mplab X on Linux.

jc2048 — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 12:31:44 GMT

A couple of links that might be useful

https://www.microchipdeveloper.com/projects:mcu1101-project-2

https://www.microchipdeveloper.com/mcc:mccgpio

RE: Trying to read dip switches with microchip pic, can not compile firmware. Mplab X on Linux.

shabaz — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:34:14 GMT

Hi, there's several things here.

Firstly, you mention trying to use scanf to read the switch, i.e. scanf (%d, switch1). You're assuming that your code will transparently do with a switch on a microcontroller what would occur with a keyboard on a PC, and that's not the case. C doesn't know what a keyboard is. There is an input/output library on PCs that knows what to do on a PC. Microcontrollers do not know what to do with a button.

Secondly, printf and scanf are part of a library, and at a minimum require

#include <stdio.h>

to use the library (and the minimum might not be enough to enable it). However as mentioned in the first point, having access to printf and scanf do not mean they will do anything, they may be stubbed out until the programmer (you) do something about that with custom code that either uses buttons or a serial port, and so on.

Thirdly, you should closely look over this code, which reads a dip switch:

// ********** global variables **********
// DIP switch input pins are GPIO 10, 11, 12
const uint8_t dipswitch[]={10, 11, 12};
// output pins:
const uint8_t led = 13;
// LED state
uint8_t ledState = 0;

// the special function named "setup" is automatically run once at startup
void setup() {
  int i;
  Serial.begin(9600); // initialize the serial port
  Serial.print("hello");
  // set up inputs
  for (i=0; i<3; i++) {
    pinMode(dipswitch[i], INPUT_PULLUP);
  }
  // set up outputs
    pinMode(led, OUTPUT);
}

// the special function named "loop"is run repeatedly, forever
void loop() {
  int i;
  // check if any dipswitch is enabled:
  for (i=0; i<3; i++) {
    if (digitalRead(dipswitch[i]) == LOW) {
      Serial.print("dipswitch #");
      Serial.print(i);
      Serial.print(" is pressed.\n");
    }
  }
  // toggle LED if the user presses the space bar
  if (Serial.available() > 0) { // one or more bytes are available to read
    if (Serial.read() == ' ') { // space bar was pressed
      ledState = ledState ^ 1; // toggle the variable
      digitalWrite(led, ledState);
    }
  }

  delay(100); // pause 100 msec before looping
}

That code is from a beginner-friendly environment (Arduino), and as you can see, it is very easy-to-follow. If you're a beginner, I wouldn't recommend PIC as a starting point nowadays. You'll find thousands of examples and tutorials for more modern beginner-friendly microcontroller boards than PIC (it's not really the board, more the development environment support, libraries with functions specifically designed for beginners, and tutorials and examples). I understand you may already have a PIC board, but is it worth your time to struggle as a beginner when you could (for a few tens of $) work with a board and an environment designed for learning, where you can study and experiment at a very decent pace without needing a lot of help.

RE: Micromouse Competition

feiticeir0 — Thu, 25 May 2023 10:44:46 GMT

Thank you for the reply, but that's overkill. I'm just curious.

But I found this video:

www.youtube.com/watch

where they explain the code behind the mouse (this looks like a documentary title 🙂 )

It's fascinating.

Micromouse Competition

feiticeir0 — Thu, 25 May 2023 07:54:59 GMT

Hi all .

Yesterday I've watched the following video:

[View:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMQbHMgK2rw&ab_channel=Veritasium:640:360]

and i'm amazed by those tiny tiny robots.

Since I'm not a electronics engineer I was wondering if any of you here ever had any experience with that or saw a competition live .

I'm really - just curiosity - wondering how are they programmed. What components goes into making one of these.

From seeing the video I know that they first have a go to learn the maze and on each try, they go faster and faster . I'm amazed and really wondering - programming wise - how ? [emoticon:c4563cd7d5574777a71c318021cbbcc8]

Thank you

RE: Micromouse Competition

javagoza — Thu, 25 May 2023 08:14:35 GMT

To learn the basics I would recommend the Classic TI-RSLK Maze Edition Curriculum. Curriculum (ti.com)
I followed it in its first edition and it was a fascinating and very enriching adventure.
At the end of the course you will have enough knowledge to design and program your first mouse. Combine previous TI-RSLK modules into a system that solves a complex task. Then it is already a matter of size to design a micromouse.

Robots and Circuit Cities - Fun Photos

shabaz — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 02:48:54 GMT

I came across a set of photos on my camera card - these were taken quite a few years ago (pre-pandemic) at some exhibition (maybe at Excel London but I can't recall).

Anyway, these were the fun photos. I figured I'd stick them here in case anyone like looking at such tech photos too : )

Nice-looking wheeled chassis. I think someone sat on it, it was sturdy enough for that.

More interesting view of it:

Motor driver:

No idea what's going on here (EDIT: it might be related to the city further below..):

This was very neat. From memory, I believe it was a car-in-a-box, i.e. a vehicle simulator, and you could connect to the onboard-diagnostic port, and pretend you were really connected to a real car for the purposes of developing vehicle-interfaced systems. Excellent test tool. There's a VMware logo so I guess it was related to their offerings somehow.

Another view of it:

This is quite a popular robot.I can't recall any detail about it.

Various limbs detail for that robot. I think that's a Maxon motor barely visible at the elbow:

Look like pneumatic valves:

More detail:

A circuit city!

DRAM towers:

Even bits of Mac Minis' (maybe?) were part of the city (well, the wastelands anyway):

RE: Robots and Circuit Cities - Fun Photos

shabaz — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:24:06 GMT

That's the one! Good links. It's now coming back.. I recall it coming out with bad puns or poetry : )

RE: Robots and Circuit Cities - Fun Photos

shabaz — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:22:30 GMT

Impressive! That looks really good!

RE: Robots and Circuit Cities - Fun Photos

beacon_dave — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 12:02:48 GMT

The robot is 'RoboThespian' a telepresence actor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CycD3e7UaDM

https://www.engineeredarts.co.uk/robot/robothespian/

RE: Robots and Circuit Cities - Fun Photos

maxpowerr — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 09:27:38 GMT

A city made from old motherboards is an interesting idea. I saw someone make a part of the Death Star from Star Wars.

ALTAIR EZ:1 specification

toymaker — Mon, 10 May 2021 17:25:27 GMT

For those who may be interested, Here is ALTAIR EZ:1 specification - the EZ;1 has 22 PIC sub-processors mostly in my Smart Servos

I have been coding PIC's since 1995 (Yikes! JW devices), but right now I am getting into Arduino's.

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RE: Little Dewey (Drone:1) from the Silent Running movie

toymaker — Sat, 08 May 2021 12:24:17 GMT

Here is little Dewey's home in my design studio.

The old "Lost in Space" like computer display is controlled via a PIC micro - the starfield window are just flickering LEDs and the vertical display is sensitive to sound and frequency

RE: Little Dewey (Drone:1) from the Silent Running movie

wolfgangfriedrich — Sat, 08 May 2021 01:13:17 GMT

I hate to stay in the storage room.

RE: Little Dewey (Drone:1) from the Silent Running movie

gdstew — Fri, 07 May 2021 21:23:44 GMT

What do you mean cheesy props? I thought the alien from Dark Star was perfect. Probably came from a planet with lots of beaches.

I really liked Silent Running too. Haven't seen it in ages but I do think about it every once in a while when deforestation pops up in the news.

RE: Little Dewey (Drone:1) from the Silent Running movie

DAB — Fri, 07 May 2021 19:18:03 GMT

I always look at the technology they use in SciFi movies.

You can get some great effects with some really cheesy props as long as you put them in the proper context.

DAB

RE: Little Dewey (Drone:1) from the Silent Running movie

gam3t3ch — Fri, 07 May 2021 12:52:57 GMT

Awesome! I love the movie as well....great job!

My ALTAIR Robots

toymaker — Wed, 05 May 2021 06:29:49 GMT

Just found this great group! I have been designing/building robots for over 40 years. Here are my ALTAIR Robots - EZ:1 and EZ:2

Tony

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