RobotNext

The Build-It Guy: Controlling A Robot With A Wii Fit Board

Well, this past week, as I was looking through hackaday  I found a very interesting project. Juan Gonzalez has built a control using the wii fit board for a robot that he calls Skybot. A youtube video can be seen here at Wii fit board controlling Skybot .

"[Gonzalez]managed to control a robot of his own design with the balance board, making it turn when he leans to the sides and moving forward and back when he leans in those directions."

The best thing about this project is that the Skybot can be controlled from a Mac, GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, or Windows operating systems. The site for this project is in Spanish, so you may have to use Babel Fish  or Google Translate  to read it, but the site can be found at www.learobotics.com . It gives you the instructions you need to build a Skybot and maybe you can change it up and control it from your IPhone.

RobotNext: Once and Future Grease Monkeys

"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes."  Dean Kamen

Over milkshakes at Schwab's Drug Store and hamburgers at Jurassic Park, this all got started at Universal Studios Florida.  In a discussion with some of my former students, now mentors of my high school robotics team, The Grease Monkeys, I brought up the idea of starting a blog about robotics.  Having just finished a robotics competition at the University of Central Florida, I was thinking about a way to extend our robotics experience.  We have done competitive robotics for nine years, so we think we know a little about the field.  Only time will tell if you the readers agree.

Since this is my first post, let me tell you what I plan to do here in my little niche of robotics.  RobotNext will explore what is here and now, and what is to come in the world of robots.  My experience in robotics is mostly with FIRST.  FIRST or For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology was founded by Dean Kamen.  The organization is dedicated to furthering youth involvement in robotics and engineering. 

Now at this point in my life, I want to branch out from the focus of competitive robotics and education to a more general audience.  However, I will seek to bring my own "spin" to robotics articles and news to further the theme of competition, education, and the future of robotics in society.  The other members of this team will add their own unique views to this effort.

So, here we go ...