Some interviews from the 2014 Sydney Mini Maker Faire at the powerhouse museum.
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And yes, that is our to his head. and without Alex Er-2 D333 who was in the show for about two seconds? Yep, and what's inside inside? He's a giant remote control car. so he's built as simply as possible for us to take two events, right? So we've just gotta I think that's a Dimension engineering robot controller just drives the defeat in tank drive mode. So I just speed up the left motor, speed up the right motor to turn around.

and what's that blue thing with the horns that looks hacked that time? There is a hack to mp3 players / speaker? Yeah, well, we've got here is just an Mp3 playing a track. Got it! And that's that's where the Archaea noises come from. Where the Ims? Is this a little Mp3 player on the bottom? Yep. no space, just far enough for people talking.

All right. Okay, I just worked enough. I'm trying to interact with people and yeah, yeah, exactly. I do have a bluetooth receiver in there so I can actually make sounds from the past and this house coming up it cannot.

You do find phone but it's just easy and head spins are also. Everything else is just yes. suppose we can make it also work out and we have D on here and he's got some interesting wearables hi folks that stayed we know Ether 10 and an LED display from free Tronox and it's playing what it's playing. the tank demo sketch nice and the belt I've actually unfortunately doesn't work but it was meant to say I love pie haha how I feel something more than the batteries to go in it this morning? hahaha Terrific.

Oh well, its it business accounts. Interesting coming, the maker faire. it's been a good shot and I'm here with Mayer from Bio Hack Sydney. yeah and tell us all about your group.

Okay, so where are straight is first do-it-yourself biology group we started two years ago. We aim to take molecular biology and biology in general out of the lab and into the home. We try and lower the technological and cost barrier to biology. You've got some great demos here that people couldn't do it home and stuff like that.

That's right, so you know we've got arm. We've got a few kids set up, um, the first kits at Winograd Ski column. So Winograd ski column is a way to study environmental microbiology without having a lab or auto club or petri dishes. So it takes pond scum.

Holy scum which is it, which is hard to get, I'm sure that's it's. a homogeneous mixture of all different types of microbes and when you add some sulfur and some calcium carbonate and some cellulose into the mixture, it creates two intersecting gradients. 11 is high oxygen to low oxygen and once high sulfur to low sulfur at the top. This causes the bacteria to stratify out into different layers and you can see some different groups of bacteria in there.

So you have photosynthetic cyanobacteria that are making oxygen at the top. You have a micro error filling zone gives me sulfate reduces, you have some green and purple photosynthetic bacteria that aren't producing oxygen and you have some the Flanigan's and then some rust color bacteria at the bottom that are utilizing low oxygen so far. So let's start out with that and they just sort separate. that's right right across a period of between six weeks to three months and then you leave it the sunlight and every day it will slightly change according to their different chemicals that are in there at the time.
depending what's eating. what I know the input is like I've got it so but it does require some light. Otherwise yeah you can grow different ones that a bit but one foot. That's right, you input to it exactly right says self-contained system.

Now it's similar to a terrarium which is another self-contained system that we got set up and these are really happy ball. So one of the greatest things about them is you can put a little wire in the bottom and a wire in the top. It will generate a charge from the free electrons and the difference. Um, also there you can modify the sides to put taps on there.

Oh yeah, so you can pull different types of bacteria. which means if you're interested in studying just a bacteria that exist in the same here can actually cultivate them and pull them out exactly right. We haven't had a lab setup so that's the reason I picked This is a good thing to bring on to the Maker. Faire terrific and you guys are right.

Don't enjoy crowdfunding campaign soon Together: get your own web space. Yeah, so um, there's a few groups around the world that I do enjoy yourself. Biology: They have successfully launched crowdfunding campaigns to get allow suppose yep, I'm wearing Contacted them at the moment to set up our own campaign to hopefully get Sonic around Sydney CBD to allow people to come in fraud that don't have a lot of experience or don't have their own labs to come and hack with this in arm in an environment with hopefully enough security to be able to do things like basic genetic engineering, a little bit of electronics for building our own lab equipment yep and do things like beer, brewing, bread making, cheese making, yogurt making which is all biotech things and of course making everything blow and we're computer learn more I'm so we've a Facebook group Facebook.com slash groups / by our hacks it Thanks Mel Fantastic! Thanks very much and here with Adrian from Robos Dojo. Excellent! Love the shirt.

sorry thank you. It works because science works. Tell us all about this fantastic Nerf gun. Yeah, so basically we were looking at doing a project for the Maker Faire.

Came up with this kind of about a couple of weeks ago as a good candidate. started work on my day on Monday Yeah on Monday Cnc cut the the phone PVC foam for the top Mdf for the base. Took the Nerf Vulcan which is a great little toy extended ammo belt. modified it very slightly just to bypass all the triggers electronically.

Yep, it's basically just running that for a mosfet into an Arduino straight into the computer running a Project Sentry Gun software. So yeah, so some open source software? Yes it is. So if you do want to build your own, go for it. Awesome Yes What it does.
Ok I'm I won't take a step back and we'll uh hopefully basically hood yeah I'll shoot you shoot and then I'll put it in to automate my brain and open it back into or damage hey wuts ur it will target the nearest object. So do have camera tracking. Yes we do. There's a camera built into the base of it as well, right? So that's connected up to the computer through the Project Century software which is running Opencv basically Opencv checked and uh yeah, it does a pretty good job overall.

Yeah, okay so how is over CB It works pretty well. Overall pretty good. Yes yeah, I've had limited use I have had limited experience with this free much my first time bring it in an actual project kind of thing. better.

Overall, it does work pretty well. That uh, it was really only because of Roberto Joe that I was able to make this. You know the CNC router. Things like that, the expertise of a Andrew over there yep kind of thing and you put it all together in western away.

Yes, yeah, we managed to pull it off. So yeah, thanks man. not a problem. Sure.

Robo Dojo tonight. there it is. Yep, see you can find us on Facebook if you just search for oboe dojo. And oh here we go from there Commune Robotics group here in Sydney I Had no idea there was a community robotics group.

Tell us all about Well, the Community Robotics group comes from the great western area of Sydney out at the MacArthur region and it's made up of six children from six different schools. We have a team number of 101 for the world stoom. It's a prime number. Our local national number is thirty-one We're prime number.

so united we stand divided. We can't be. We are part of FIRST Robotics what originally came out of Macquarie University And you've got some hardware. Two shots.

We have some hardware. This is Baxter Baxter the robot because there's his eyes he sees and he swallows the block just there as his little bita goes around to collect it. Now Baxter is very clever. He doesn't get stuck in corners because he's not.

He's not a rectangle. When he is compressed, he is. He fits into an 18 inch cube. Yep, after he is measured, he can expect he can grow and become any highs he likes.

So that's part of the requirements that you have to be under a certain yes I Feel something. Is it originally when part of the competition is you build a robot to fit a given game plan and the robot has to fit into an 18 inch cube at the start of the competition glory? However, after that cube comes off, it can grow to any size you like. This particular competition is a competition of moving or picking up blocks, putting them into a seesaw of baskets, getting it level, assisting your team member to get more blocks into the baskets as well. Because it's Kool Petition, The endgame is to go up a ramp, raise your your bar, hook onto a hook, and then bring your the body of your robot off the ground so that you are being suspended from a bar.
The last part of the competition is also to do a flag winder of which we can do very fast. Then we work with our team to do it now. Baxter Here loves to play and here's a little bit different from most robots because he has hello drumming wills which means that they're all at 45 degree angle and he also has a compass direction which means no matter where he is on the field, forward is forward backwards as backwards and left. his left and right is right so he can rotate himself.

Are you allowed to interfere with other robots electronically or magnetic wheel? Absolutely not. It's all about gracious professionals or gracious and we have to help. Other robots speak better than before. They got on the floor endures so we might push them for the push.

that but push their blocks into their direction so they can pick them up and put them in the basket or our alliance team. If they are a better hanger than us, we might get them to hang and we might do the flagpole so we can all help each other with our point scoring. Or if our alliance partner is a little bit sluggish getting up the ramp, we might give them a little bit of assistance getting up there, like pulling them or pushing them up to hold them there so that everybody gets a fair game and has a great opportunity to play the right. So tell us about some of the hardware other hardware that's on you.

Ok, we have some. The metal is made out of matrix. We have cable ties. We have pieces on our robot that have been done on 3d printers and pop Compress Polystyrene yeah a bit like you call it copy cut but it still still here made out of 3d printers and routers.

We had extra cable here. They get laser Go laser cut and we have Lego. When you build your robot you can use as much legal as you like except the Duplo and the Ev3. You can use your matrix kit or your Tetrax kit depending on what and their electricals.

and you can also use locally manufactured parts for example 3d printers and and things like that and polystyrene. But if you use we're using. We're running these matrix electronics because we have a matrix. Cute these here.

you might see those in your kitchen cupboard if they're called linear slides, you just take the spring out of them and we use in as Victor's yes what else have we used? To me these lots of cable ties and duct tape is our special friend. We like duct tape and nail polish is petite Keeley big without a robot because nail polish has a component and it called loctite but I think that's just probably the manufacturer's name but the loctite we apply it to our screws and ease up. We have tightened up to make sure that they don't lose, but they also provide a bit of leaning for the robot and he's round so it doesn't get stuck in corners. thank God And it's an ever-evolving project.
Absolutely every day that he comes out for a bit of a Playstation he gets tweaked somehow or other. but this is not our original. Boro Bok From Nationals Our original robot from Nationals was a cube made out of meth matrix and this looks completely different. I Think the only original part is our flag wander but during competition your robot is constantly changing because you learn to you don't know what you don't know and they learn as you evolve through the game, through the season as to what you need to do to make your robot better than what it was course.

And that's about it. That's great thank you very much. Joe and I macro buddy with David hey he's got cool little robots. Tell us all about them.

Thanks. Still, so arm well we got actually is it two things. So we got a software platform as well as a hardware. Okay, um, let me just show you quickly so you know how people go raw sweetie pies? I mean you know they just collecting dust because you know once you've got it because it's cheap and all that it is, there's a bit of a learning curve.

Yep, so what we've done is actually because we I do a lot of fun volunteer projects with students and no teaching robotics. Yep, so that's one of the things that came out that everybody you know border Raspberry Pi but never really go to work Exactly. So what is it exactly? So what we thought? We want to do something that they get excited about. the Raspberry Pi? yep and and do something straight out of the box.

So what we've done is actually created a app we're currently testing in Beat Up. So here the app you can actually um bit is this a kid? Can You are at the moments? Not a kid right? So it's actually this will be at some stage yeah days interest. So what we got is a app that can create interfaces so this one you can just drag and drop real talk. I solidified.

Yeah so so and then you can configure your pie if you want to. Yeah and you can be good. Also video streaming as well. So you build your control interfaces how do you like? So it's not just for robots, it's four miles below in general it's just not for us verify even less for Raspberry Pi.

And we got our own hardware platform as well. So we got hardware platform as well. Yep that can talk directly to the Android smart devices and to the ambassador. So you could actually build number of different hardware combinations like Raspberry Pi through I to see to our platform or Raspberry Pi standalone or plus our boredom and app itself and then just imagine like we've got a couple of examples.

This one is a RC car all our sukkah. we're just bringing it to life again. So we got our Road and Raspberry Pi correct Together You can you know in 10 minutes you can knock up a control interface and drive this oh no boom noise and similarly you can do like a form of termination system each. So imagine just get this one.
and it really got like four more of Strikers built-in battery charger, battery controller and audio power amplifier and number of IP you Gpios and sort of thing and that combined with this you can easily know. build up your own for motivation interface like you know if you have some lights and if there's an SLP and in 30 minutes you go to your home automation system. Done Oh Terrific. So if this is available yet or so all the done is actually we've done IndieGoGo campaign some time back.

Oh yeah. also funny for some early funding. Yep, and what we currently at is just sending that to our early backers. Yep, and see how the interest goes and take it from there right? So I was just a software app.

what's the soft and hard as a rock? So this the good thing is like this could generalize into like a network of networks. Yep, this stuff is actually coming from earlier that we did antigenicity here recently. So we've got like a very generic network system that can drive hardware and software so you can kind of imagine like you know my combining like a swarm of robot for instance. So 10 robots controlled by one Android app, that sort of thing so it can grow organically.

Got it and I noticed you've got a GoPro on the front of this? Yeah, we use been driving and getting something. Email is for us. All right. Many thought about using Opencv to capture like to actually have a webcam on there or so.

Yeah well this one actually got a in Depok streamer already billikin also that you came home and this is your heart. with that's some harder that comes and they can stream Mjpeg MJ Peggy Breit TV at to Graham right? Okay so you can see where you going see when you're driving it's the same leave home automation or spy cams that's all things or what. All sorts of things Excellent. It's looking good all right.

So win-win Sixth, are you going for more? I'm not the Chris helmet looking at. we would think of like industrial version of this as well. like I mean like to think dishes a Makers Plc so that's another interesting everything and we aren't looking for something. Mistress for that.

Final things that's terrific. Excellent. Thank you very much Thanks man. Good luck.

Say thank you you you.

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By YTB

15 thoughts on “Eevblog #657 – maker faire 2014 interviews”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dellagd says:

    Why didn't Joe with her team's robot mention that they are part of FIRST's FTC? That's like the most important part!

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 012jason says:

    last one is interesting

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars rm2kdev says:

    Omg the shoes at the start!!!

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alex L says:

    that microbiology stuff was pretty interesting, didn't realize it was that popular. I suppose you're not a true nerd until you not only collect spores, mould and fungus, but pond scum too. Good stuff

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars The The says:

    Why so many dislikes? ย Haters going to hate.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rocket Dudes says:

    nice light shoes

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Hawthorne says:

    Nice vid Dave but the guy into biology was tiring to listen to because he ended every sentence with a question using a high inflection in his voice…. why do people do that so much nowadays?…..

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Greenpogo Anti says:

    great video as always.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gilvan Gil Magalhaes Tecnico Eletrรดnica e Ciencia says:

    ok

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Harry Haefner says:

    Thanks for showing, but a tablet is too far advanced from the simple computer languages of the simple 1 and 0.ย  We all need to think and plan with our given gift called a brain… what do I know,ย  thanks again.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars paulbendel says:

    Mister Adrian you broke my screen with your Nerf gun!

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Geoff Harrison says:

    Great audio, Dave. Especially for that environment. ย Did you mic all the interviewees?

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Neroxen says:

    Those glowy shoes during the star wars robot, what are they called?

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Scruffybiggems says:

    The last interview what was the app called I'm very interested

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Riley says:

    Does Adrian have a license for those guns ๐Ÿ˜‰

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