Ingredients: – LG Optimus Dynamic – PC game controller (joystick) – pygame for joystick input – python script runs on PC to translate joystick input to movement commands – SL4A to send movement commands from PC to smartphone over WiFi – smartphone sends movement commands to Arduino via Bluetooth (also SL4A) – Arduino translates commands […]
Monthly Archives: November 2014
LG Optimus Dynamic – perfect cellbot phone?
It is the cheapest, full-featured Android phone that I’ve found. Only $20 on Amazon NEW. It feels like finding hidden treasure because the only reason it’s so cheap is that the phone is targeted for the bottom market. And, normal people who buy the phone later add minutes to use it as a phone. But […]
Robot Kit – Day 7
Our new ultrasonic car + IR code seems to work well, even in the living room. You only wanted to switch to MAX SPEED to watch it go nuts: We made an interesting discovery: mama’s fuzzy bunny slippers are invisible to the ultrasonic sensor. I tried to demonstrate why by bouncing some balls off different […]
PC to android smartphone recipe
Bao has been taking a break. I think having a robot that moves on its own stresses you out. You’ve been running to flip the off switch after playing with Bao a little. Maybe it’s too much for a 3 year old to deal with. On the plus side, now you know the deal with […]
Robot Kit – Day Six
Oh the wonderful things a robot can do It can go CHOO CHOO It can go BEEP BEEP I’m going to resist making any more mods until you suggest them. I also want to give mama a chance to tinker. Because she said, “But I wanted to do the BEEP!” One thing we might have […]
Robot Kit – Day Six (“What’s that sound downstairs?”)
What’s that sound coming from downstairs? “I want his name to still be Bawa.” Bonus: The mailman brought gifts! An 8-pack of Eneloops and one fast charger. I got that charger because it has a DC 12V input, which can be driven by cigarette lighter sockets and a foldable solar panel I’ve been thinking of […]
Robot Kit – Day Five
Here’s Bao with fresh batteries and the new program I was impressed with how quickly you understood its algorithm. We had a play date in the afternoon and Bao was an excellent babysitter Later, I got excited when the CR2025 batteries came in the mail for the IR remote. So we upgraded Bao with IR […]
Robot Kit – Day Four
“I want to call it a Sister Kit, not a Starter Kit.” Its name is now Bow (as in Bow-wow). And it’s a girl. Batteries are still charging. Meanwhile, I showed you the code and the instruction “Forward”. We’re learning how to “teach” the robot how to do things by sending it instructions. The first […]
Robot Kit – Day Three
Uh oh, we’re missing the brain bucket The plastic rivets in the kit were a pain. Too small for my fingers. I fumbled for a long time and it wasn’t something you could help with. Finally it was time to put on the eyes. Then you tried connecting the batteries to the brains. Beep! Then […]