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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Metric Blue Test Phase
A quick trip to Vetco this morning, and I got some 22uF ceramic capacitors to replace the electrolytics that I was using in Metric Blue’s circuit. The LED blinked on cue. Success! Then the screen read test was getting error … Continue reading
Troubleshooting and Fault Isolation
The freshly-breadboarded circuit for my new robot, Metric Blue, isn’t working. When the switch is flipped, the servos make a little noise for an instant, indicating that power is getting to them. But the LED never blinks the ‘ready’ signal. … Continue reading
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Why Breadboarding is like Hiragana
In the Japanese writing syllabary known as hiragana, stroke order is important to properly compose the characters. Likewise, in building a bread board circuit, it’s important to figure out the order of installing the wires and components. Otherwise you find … Continue reading
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Grisbot in metric
I decided to completely redraw minigrisbot in millimeters instead of inches, and it went much, much faster. Friends don’t let friends design robots in English units. (Pouring ale is another matter.) But why re-design something that’s already designed? In case … Continue reading
Grisbot with new courses
Here are three obstacle courses, which can be selected by choosing the corresponding icon at the top of the screen: I’ve been thinking about adding different modes, such as following a flashlight beam. If you have any ideas for what … Continue reading
Laser Cut Parts Variation
The breadboard and battery holes should have been the exact same size from (Blue) Babe to Goldie. Instead, on Goldie the holes appear to be a quarter inch too small in width. Why? I revised the part, but I don’t … Continue reading
How to stick resistors in breadboards
Not like that. Like this: Also recommended: Cup your hand over the clippers when you snip the unbent lead even with the bent, which sounds metaphorical but will in practice keep little metal bits from flying hither and yon.
Assembling Goldie the Grisbot
Here are the parts laid out for ‘Goldie’ the Grisbot. I call her Goldie because her acrylic casing will be yellow, and ‘Yellowy’ doesn’t quite work as a name for a vivacious young lady. First step is to place the … Continue reading
Phineas and Ferb Fan Fiction
Phineas and Ferb are about two of my favorite topics, humor and engineering. A couple years ago, I decided to write some fan fiction in the format of the show. Here are the stories: Candace’s Little Helper. Candace discovers Candroid … Continue reading
