 | | | | | |
I was just wondering if anyone has had (or even tried) making a successful
floating boat (not using the "Boat Really Floats" pieces)?
--
Clay Aucoin
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Clay Aucoin wrote:
>
> I was just wondering if anyone has had (or even tried) making a successful
> floating boat (not using the "Boat Really Floats" pieces)?
>
> --
>
> Clay Aucoin
I've considered using empty air tanks from pneumatic LEGO sets as
sort of 'pontoons'... my one quick test of this so far was too
top-heavy (I only have three air tanks), but it seems like it
should work, as long as the floats are far enough apart and the
center of gravity of the boat is low. There is unfortunately no
dihedral effect when the boat tilts so I think it's possible the
COG has to be below the floats.
Speaking of boats, the propellers and ducts from the submarine
set work great directly driven by the new motors. I haven't made
a boat but tests in the sink indicate the boat would move fairly
fast.
E²
(Erik Eckhardt, a sometime lurker.)
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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From: Erik Eckhardt <esquared@antispam.jps.net>
> I've considered using empty air tanks from pneumatic LEGO sets as
> sort of 'pontoons'... my one quick test of this so far was too
> top-heavy (I only have three air tanks), but it seems like it
> should work, as long as the floats are far enough apart and the
> center of gravity of the boat is low. There is unfortunately no
> dihedral effect when the boat tilts so I think it's possible the
> COG has to be below the floats.
When I was a kid Lego boats came with a large keel piece which was quite
heavy (filled with iron or lead?) and effective at putting the CoG below the
water line. I don't know if the current boats come with the same piece (or
something similar), but if they do it would work well for this purpose.
alex
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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Clay Aucoin wrote:
> I was just wondering if anyone has had (or even tried) making a successful
> floating boat (not using the "Boat Really Floats" pieces)?
I've been wondering about that too. Any replies?
> --
>
> Clay Aucoin
> --
> Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
A few came back.
One was to use the pnuematic air tanks, sounds good but:
1. the only way to get them is to buy complete usually expensive) sets.
2. they probably wouldn't allow the boat to go very fast.
Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got me
thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and blow up
a small balloon inside of it?????
--- Clay Aucoin
In lugnet.robotics, lego-robotics@crynwr.com (Michael Aaron Finch) writes:
> Clay Aucoin wrote:
>
> > I was just wondering if anyone has had (or even tried) making a successful
> > floating boat (not using the "Boat Really Floats" pieces)?
>
>
> I've been wondering about that too. Any replies?
>
> > --
> >
> > Clay Aucoin
> > --
> > Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
>
>
>
> --
> Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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|
test
--
Clay Aucoin
Clay Aucoin <caucoin@cruiseshoppes.com> wrote in message
news:FDCDwy.Axs@lugnet.com...
> A few came back.
>
> One was to use the pnuematic air tanks, sounds good but:
> 1. the only way to get them is to buy complete usually expensive) sets.
> 2. they probably wouldn't allow the boat to go very fast.
>
> Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got me
> thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and • blow up
> a small balloon inside of it?????
>
> --- Clay Aucoin
>
> In lugnet.robotics, lego-robotics@crynwr.com (Michael Aaron Finch) writes:
> > Clay Aucoin wrote:
> >
> > > I was just wondering if anyone has had (or even tried) making a • successful
> > > floating boat (not using the "Boat Really Floats" pieces)?
> >
> >
> > I've been wondering about that too. Any replies?
> >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Clay Aucoin
> > > --
> > > Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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test
--
Clay Aucoin
Clay Aucoin <caucoin@cruiseshoppes.com> wrote in message
news:FDCGrz.EL4@lugnet.com...
> test
>
> --
>
> Clay Aucoin
>
>
> Clay Aucoin <caucoin@cruiseshoppes.com> wrote in message
> news:FDCDwy.Axs@lugnet.com...
> > A few came back.
> >
> > One was to use the pnuematic air tanks, sounds good but:
> > 1. the only way to get them is to buy complete usually expensive) sets.
> > 2. they probably wouldn't allow the boat to go very fast.
> >
> > Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got • me
> > thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and • blow up
> > a small balloon inside of it?????
> >
> > --- Clay Aucoin
> >
> > In lugnet.robotics, lego-robotics@crynwr.com (Michael Aaron Finch) • writes:
> > > Clay Aucoin wrote:
> > >
> > > > I was just wondering if anyone has had (or even tried) making a • successful
> > > > floating boat (not using the "Boat Really Floats" pieces)?
> > >
> > >
> > > I've been wondering about that too. Any replies?
> > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > > Clay Aucoin
> > > > --
> > > > Did you check the web site first?: • http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
>
>
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Clay Aucoin wrote:
>
> A few came back.
>
> One was to use the pnuematic air tanks, sounds good but:
> 1. the only way to get them is to buy complete usually expensive) sets.
> 2. they probably wouldn't allow the boat to go very fast.
>
> Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got me
> thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and blow up
> a small balloon inside of it?????
>
> --- Clay Aucoin
>
> In lugnet.robotics, lego-robotics@crynwr.com (Michael Aaron Finch) writes:
> > Clay Aucoin wrote:
> >
> > > I was just wondering if anyone has had (or even tried) making a successful
> > > floating boat (not using the "Boat Really Floats" pieces)?
> >
> >
> > I've been wondering about that too. Any replies?
The boat could probably still go pretty fast using the air tanks,
I think.
The problem with the plastic bag is that you're using non-LEGO
pieces and you may as well go buy a chunk of RC modeler's blue
foam and carve out your own hull.
E²
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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From: Clay Aucoin <caucoin@cruiseshoppes.com>
> Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got me
> thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and • blow up
> a small balloon inside of it?????
If you are willing to use non-lego pieces then just use a couple of 20oz
soda bottles filled with air and sealed. They are essentially free.
alex
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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Actually, if this is your idea, i used to play w/water rockets when i was a
kid, but i don't know if any1 still sells them. It is a light plastic rocket
about 4-12" long, filled halfway w/water, & pumped w/air from the bottom, &
then launched by releasing the latch seal on the pump. It would certainly
move, but would expire pretty fast unless u could find a way of regulating it.
They were pretty cool, & just a wee bit dangerous if u hit sum1 w/them.
U might also consider the tank from a super-soaker water gun. They
expire slowly, & w/a little work u may be able to do what u want w/it.
Thats all for now.
Ugly Goblin
Alex Wetmore wrote:
> From: Clay Aucoin <caucoin@cruiseshoppes.com>
> > Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got me
> > thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and • blow up
> > a small balloon inside of it?????
>
> If you are willing to use non-lego pieces then just use a couple of 20oz
> soda bottles filled with air and sealed. They are essentially free.
>
> alex
>
> --
> Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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I was kind of looking at a twin hull "speed" boat design powered with the LEGO
props. Now I know that it might not go very fast, but it's just something that
I enjoy, remote control boats! I've never actually owned one, but a friend use
to build the model ones and race them a the park and I had a blast driving
them. So, I figured that I'd give it a shot making a "robot" boat! And being
able to control it.
--- Clay Aucoin
In lugnet.robotics, lego-robotics@crynwr.com (Michael Aaron Finch) writes:
> Actually, if this is your idea, i used to play w/water rockets when i was a
> kid, but i don't know if any1 still sells them. It is a light plastic rocket
> about 4-12" long, filled halfway w/water, & pumped w/air from the bottom, &
> then launched by releasing the latch seal on the pump. It would certainly
> move, but would expire pretty fast unless u could find a way of regulating it.
> They were pretty cool, & just a wee bit dangerous if u hit sum1 w/them.
> U might also consider the tank from a super-soaker water gun. They
> expire slowly, & w/a little work u may be able to do what u want w/it.
> Thats all for now.
>
> Ugly Goblin
>
>
> Alex Wetmore wrote:
>
> > From: Clay Aucoin <caucoin@cruiseshoppes.com>
> > > Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got me
> > > thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and • blow up
> > > a small balloon inside of it?????
> >
> > If you are willing to use non-lego pieces then just use a couple of 20oz
> > soda bottles filled with air and sealed. They are essentially free.
> >
> > alex
> >
> > --
> > Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
>
>
>
> --
> Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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Alex Wetmore wrote:
> From: Clay Aucoin <caucoin@cruiseshoppes.com>
> > Another was to put a plastic bag at the bottom of the plates. This got me
> > thinking that maybe there could be a way to create a sort of "tube" and • blow up
> > a small balloon inside of it?????
>
> If you are willing to use non-lego pieces then just use a couple of 20oz
> soda bottles filled with air and sealed. They are essentially free.
> I think bottles r the beginning of a workable idea. Perhaps u could
> use an empty l bottle that have the neck displaced to one side (like a motor
> oil bottle). Insert in the cap a tire plug or similar chunk of rubber.
> secure the rubber cork w/silicon glue, & puncture a needle sized hole in the
> center of it. It needs to be small so that it will grip tight on a pump
> needle like is used to inflate a ball. Then u could simply unscrew the cap to
> feel it up halfway w/water. Put the cap back on, & use a regular hand pump
> to pressurize the bottle vis the hole in the rubber cork. This would
> hopefully give u enough power to move, while at the same time, lasting long
> enough to let your robot play around for a while. Just remember to set the
> bottle w/ neck side low, so that u dont lose your air w/out expelling water.
Some complications i would see w/this is that #1, u would have to
use it immediately after pumping because there is no way to stop the air-flow
(unless u could cork it w/a needle or something).
#2, it will probably not propell the boat evenly. Depending on the
angle of the exhaust hole, & the stability of the bottle, its not going to want
to move in a straight line.
This may be correctible to an extent by using a pre-fabricated spout (such as
in the neck of those squeeze bottles of pure lime juice, or detergent) instead
of the rubber plug mentioned earlier. Even w/this the spout will need to be
set perfectly straight in the cap of the tank. The bottle will also need to be
secured to the boat w/great care.
One way or another, w/a little luck, this might propel your boat. : )
Goblintrain
>
> alex
>
> --
> Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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Ok, I don't think this is too far off-topic.
At the JavaOne keynote presentation this morning in S.F., James Gosling and
Kay Neuenhofen of Sun Microsystems demonstrated Mindstorm tanks controlled
from Palm V's running KJava aka MicroJava.
They also said that the Mindstorms and the Palms were proxied into Jini
devices by a Sparcstation server.
You can watch a webcast of the presentation at
www.graham.com/broadcasts/sun/JavaOne-99/keynote1/keynote1.html
The Mindstorms segment runs from 1:30:18 thru 1:35:00 (that's 90 minutes
from the start), so you might want to fast-forward a bit.
---------------------------------------------
Here's an excerpt (at 1:32:40):
Neuenhofen: The tanks come up first and they implement a controllable
interface and the Palms are then looking for something that implements a
controllable interface and they then start controlling the tanks. So it's a
spontaneous creation of a Jini federation.
Gosling: The tanks themselves are actually not running Java, they're being
proxied.
Kay: The tanks are too small at the moment to run Java so they run their own
proprietary Lego operating system, and ...
(crowd laughs)
They are.
---------------------------------------------
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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For those who want to see how this kind of thing is done,
independently I wrote a Jini/MindStorms driver as part of my Jini
tutorial. It is at
http://pandonia.canberra.edu.au/java/jini/tutorial/Jini.xml
Jan
--
On Tue, 15 Jun 1999, David Kadansky wrote:
>
> Ok, I don't think this is too far off-topic.
>
> At the JavaOne keynote presentation this morning in S.F., James Gosling and
> Kay Neuenhofen of Sun Microsystems demonstrated Mindstorm tanks controlled
> from Palm V's running KJava aka MicroJava.
>
> They also said that the Mindstorms and the Palms were proxied into Jini
> devices by a Sparcstation server.
>
> You can watch a webcast of the presentation at
> www.graham.com/broadcasts/sun/JavaOne-99/keynote1/keynote1.html
>
> The Mindstorms segment runs from 1:30:18 thru 1:35:00 (that's 90 minutes
> from the start), so you might want to fast-forward a bit.
>
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> Here's an excerpt (at 1:32:40):
>
> Neuenhofen: The tanks come up first and they implement a controllable
> interface and the Palms are then looking for something that implements a
> controllable interface and they then start controlling the tanks. So it's a
> spontaneous creation of a Jini federation.
>
> Gosling: The tanks themselves are actually not running Java, they're being
> proxied.
>
> Kay: The tanks are too small at the moment to run Java so they run their own
> proprietary Lego operating system, and ...
>
> (crowd laughs)
>
> They are.
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> --
> Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
Jan Newmarch, Information Science and Engineering,
University of Canberra, PO Box 1, Belconnen, Act 2616
Australia. Tel: (61) 2-62012422. Fax: (61) 2-62015041
AARNet: jan@ise.canberra.edu.au
WWW: http://pandonia.canberra.edu.au
"Microsoft gives you Windows. Linux gives you the whole house."
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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Since I wrote this, I've seen the setup in person.
The Palm V's are connected serially to a Sun PC which broadcasts IR from a
standard Lego IR tower to the tanks' combat arena.
The messages sent to the tanks use 3 bits for the tank id and 5 bits for
encoding commands. The PC broadcasts to each RCX in turn. I imagine that the
RCX responds with its status when polled.
Each tank has two motors driving treads. Two rotation sensors report back to
the PC to track the tank's movements.
A third motor turns a cam that fires the weapon, a finger-sized laser
pointer. A light sensor detects laser hits from enemy tanks.
I counted four Palms and four tanks. Unfortunately, I won't be returning
Friday when the conference attendees get to play.
David Kadansky wrote:
>
> Ok, I don't think this is too far off-topic.
>
> At the JavaOne keynote presentation this morning in S.F., James Gosling and
> Kay Neuenhofen of Sun Microsystems demonstrated Mindstorm tanks controlled
> from Palm V's running KJava aka MicroJava.
>
> They also said that the Mindstorms and the Palms were proxied into Jini
> devices by a Sparcstation server.
>
> You can watch a webcast of the presentation at
> www.graham.com/broadcasts/sun/JavaOne-99/keynote1/keynote1.html
>
> The Mindstorms segment runs from 1:30:18 thru 1:35:00 (that's 90 minutes
> from the start), so you might want to fast-forward a bit.
>
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> Here's an excerpt (at 1:32:40):
>
> Neuenhofen: The tanks come up first and they implement a controllable
> interface and the Palms are then looking for something that implements a
> controllable interface and they then start controlling the tanks. So it's a
> spontaneous creation of a Jini federation.
>
> Gosling: The tanks themselves are actually not running Java, they're being
> proxied.
>
> Kay: The tanks are too small at the moment to run Java so they run their own
> proprietary Lego operating system, and ...
>
> (crowd laughs)
>
> They are.
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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