Monthly Archives: March 2011

Robot door-opening tool

Posted on March 31, 2011 by engineerzero

“Robots to the Rescue” (Technology Review, March 29, 2011): Some experts also question how helpful robots would be after a nuclear plant disaster. Something as simple as a locked door could prevent a robot from doing its job. Is it … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

TOR Systems List

Posted on March 29, 2011 by engineerzero

This picture identifies the major systems for the TOR. (TOR stands for Tele-Operated Robot.) Here is a preliminary parts list. 1. Arduino Microcontroller for input/output interface between communications and motor/servos. Easy to find, only $35. 2. Wireless Camera available on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Robot arm studies

Posted on March 29, 2011 by engineerzero

As I get closer to designing a teleoperated robot that I can actually build, I wanted to experiment with different robot arm designs. Hence I took the re-design of a couple days ago and made several re-designs out of it … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Robot re-design

Posted on March 27, 2011 by engineerzero

The elbows-back manipulator arms of the previous version always make me think of Fozzie Bear going, “Waka waka!” The design was taken from a space robot and doesn’t really work on a ground vehicle, so I replaced it with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Japan Solar Energy Graphics

Posted on March 27, 2011 by engineerzero

Sometimes it seems that nuclear power advocates are attempting to insinuate that Japan doesn’t have enough land area to use solar energy in place of nuclear energy. Here’s what the solar panel requirements actually look like. Per person: [Calculations: Electrical … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Robot Arm in Sketchup

Posted on March 26, 2011 by engineerzero

This design is based on the first iRobot photo shown here. Sketchup, by the way, is not for CAD, it’s for quickly illustrating concepts. Sketchup can draw smooth curves as in the iRobot photo, but boxes are of course faster … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Edison and His Inventions (an 1894 book review)

Posted on March 25, 2011 by engineerzero

While prowling in the local Half Price Books, I came across this book. This is not a reproduction of an 1894 book, it is an original, and it only cost me $25. I feel pleased. Here’s the title page, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Here come the robots

Posted on March 24, 2011 by engineerzero

Daily Mail: Pictured: The robots called in to help prevent nuclear meltdown at Fukushima plant As I suggested a week ago:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Nuclear Renaissance is dead and Moore’s Law killed it

Posted on March 23, 2011 by engineerzero

Ramez Naam runs the numbers and finds that in ten years, while that nuclear power plant in your backyard will still be unfinished, solar power will have become cheaper than coal power: Smaller, cheaper, faster: Does Moore’s law apply to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bottle Cap Buzzy Glow Toy

Posted on March 22, 2011 by engineerzero

Take a plastic bottle cap and make it buzz and glow. Flip it over and here’s the internals: The bottle cap I have in mind is the plastic one that comes on top of one-gallon water jugs. The 3 volt … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment