Tesla Robot is a bunch of BALONEY !!

     

       Now who am I to have such a title on my blog? How dare this guy say such things about a man who has a kazillion dollars??? Who does he think he is anyway ????? Hey Musk went to the moon, er no he went into space. Let me state that he should have looked closer to see a lot of empty space.  I say this without the slightest shadow of a doubt, that the so called Tesla Bot is a bunch of baloney. What has Mr. Musk actually built with his own hands??? My robot friends have a song to show what I think about it!!

     Why is it that the people who live on this planet idolize very rich people. Are these humans in any way better than the rest of us ???? I simply do not understand these actions. The ultra, uber rich are in their own special little category. So Mr. M. had a stupid, asinine little video where he debuts his absurd idea of building a humanoid robot. Strange that this non-expert  who rails loudly against the dangers of artificial intelligence wants to build a robot.

       What is going to control the machine?? Does he think it will be controlled by a hand held remote control just like a toy car ?? No he wants to transfer the control units from his so called autonomous vehicles in the stupidoid.

     Before I go on I want to say something about why I take such  great and personal offence to this action by him. For decades I have lived and  breath and think about robots. I have learned the necessary techiniques, acquired tools and equipment and have compiled a mountain of parts.  I have built from scratch actual robots. I test and form my own circuits and program my own eproms. I work alone and fund my research from my own meagre resources. Yet I have done wonderous things for it is a marvelous discipline to immerse oneself!!

 

      I know that there are thousands upon thousands around this planet that do the same thing! With their own money and materials no matter how humble, they heroically work to expand their knowledge. These robot innovators , where ever and who ever they are should be highlighted and spoken of more often. However sadly, the world ignores them , the idiots of this world ,and believe when I observe  a great multitude of them, drool over a rich a--Hole!!??

     One person I would like to mention is a very personal hero of mine. Along with my robot mentor David Heiserman , he stands high in my esteem!! He is Wu Yu Lu, a simple Chinese farmer, who has built many robot or sons , as he likes to call them. Paul Merton of the BBC went to see him and filmed him at his farm. Self-taught, with his marvelous creations built from the discards of his neighbors, he is what all robot builders souls aspire to be!

     In the story of the Lord of the Rings, the evil Lord Sauron poured all his malice , anger and evil into the One Ring. It is exactly what roboticists do each time they create something from simple parts and great ideas. Thet pour their energy, hope ansd yes some love , into their machines. For I do beleive what kind of person you are is somehow transfered, even in the smallest fashion, into the creatures we mold with our own hands!!

     Yet what has this gazillionaire built with his own hands??? I question his motives, his goals and his honesty. What does he want his legacy to be?? Does he just want to be seen and heard by the world ??? Is he not just a rich confidence man?? Yes the world's biggest charlatan!!!

    What good has he done with all his obscene wealth ?? I recall a story in the Bible. It was the story of the widow's mite. Jesus said that unlike the rich man  ( gee they had them back then too!! ) who made a big show about giving a tiny, tiny, tiny  portion of his wealth, the widow gave all that she had. As such it was seen bigger in the eyes of God!!

  

     So Mr. M. stick to making money that you selfishly keep. Your wealth is made on the backs of grossly  the underpaid and poorly treated souls you hire! Take your spaceship and fly away. The world would be a better place then. I do not want the future of this wonderful technology soiled by the likes of you !!!!!!

  

WHO AM I !!!

Let us begin with these pictures before I start.          

Ulysses is thinking... What in the name of Zeus is that thing up there ???

When Ulysses of Ithaca was trapped in the cyclops cave he was asked who he was. Wisely he answered the one eyed creature asking the question that he was 'nobody'.

The cyclops was eating his men and had trapped them in his cave by rolling this very heavy rock to block the entrance. As their leader Ulysses could tolerate such a state of affairs and in typical human fashion he devised a plan. The first part of his plan was to bind the poor creature as he slept. When they had done that the cyclops yelled so loud the others of his kind that lived close by came to the cave to investigate the noise. They asked what was the matter. The blinded monster yelled out " Nobody is hurting me !!" So they turned and walked away.

The reason for this long preamble is that in two instances it has direct connection with the following very personal opinion regarding something I noticed in the news. Stephen Hawking has warned mankind about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence.

Let me state from the outset that I am intelligent and can express myself well, I am in no way comparing myself to Mr. Hawking. I hold him in high respect and am in awe at all he has done. His  superb intelligence is not in question here and his theoretical work is truly amazing. That he continues to work and speak in public is an indication of his great courage. However I strongly disagree about his fear of artificial intelligence.

Before I continue I must make this one point. I personally prefer the term machine intelligence instead of artificial intelligence. The latter term is misleading in the sense that it places in the mind of anyone reading it or hearing it that this kind of intelligence is somehow fake ; i.e. not real. This intelligence, when it makes itself manifest will be real, though a bit different. However it will have substance and be able to interact with its environment. As to how it interacts with the world that surrounds it and the other intelligences that populate our planet is a matter of great debate.

Like all technological revolutions the changes that  occur will be relatively swift and far reaching. We are at the beginning of something that will forever change our world. Yet we have within our great creative power the means to dictate the future evolution of this robotic intelligence.

The seed of what we want our mind children to be is all important. If we plant something to bear beauty , this will be so. Conversely if we want something to be horrible and grow thorns, this choice is from the outset. As I pursue my research I keep a very close eye on what is happening in the rest of the world. Much gives me hope that we are on the right path. However I also notice, especially in North America a very, very disturbing trend. I conduct my robotic research and robot building with a modest budget. Many others do the same and this is fine by us. I control my research direction because I am the one paying for all of it. How can we compete against the millions of dollars being poured into robotic research by the various military organizations around the world. Their ultimate goal is to have autonomous weapons. Regardless how altruistic the media hype they generate that is their final objective. Even though this still is an infant technology, I see what little we know being turned into objects that are destined to destroy and kill those humans we see today as a vicious threat. This is most definitely, completely, absolutely wrong !!!!! It is not well thought out and just plain and simply stupid !!

I recall in my early days of research how I programmed my 64K, TRS-80 Model IV computer in basic to run a robot simulation on its screen. David Heiserman developed the alpha basic for this and other computers. There was a dot on the screen that wandered about a simulated room represented by walls of light on the computer screen. When it hit the wall it would randomly pick another direction  and see if it was blocked. It would then move or pick another direction and try it all over. It could not stop and I happily watched it move about. A simple elaboration would  leave a trail that it could not cross. Eventually after it had moved across most of the screen it would paint itself into one small section. Using a similar approach a very expensive vacuum cleaner has been sold to thousands across the globe.

TRS-80 Model IV ( still works !!!)

So we have one of the most popular misconceptions about robots fulfilled. We have made them slaves !!?? Is that word too harsh. Let us analyze this statement and we shall see that I am very correct in my conclusion. Slavery is the most disgusting, despicable thing one human can do to another. It is immoral, uncivilized and cruel.  How can a creature of this most majestic universe, who has a mind that can contemplate infinity, stoop so low and partake in such a vile act. To own people like they were property. To make the slaves do all the terrible and hard work while the slave owners reap the rewards. Replace humans  with the word robot and you see we are doing again. This time we will have a machine underclass.

I must tip my hat at this point to David L. Heiserman . I learned robotics , reading and applying his wisdom from the many books he wrote. One that had me captivated was the book " How to Build Your Own Self-Programming Robot ". Before I read the chapters that described in exquisite technical detail how to build an actual, true to life, robot, he carefully prepared our minds by explaining what a true robot was in his opinion. This is something I have adopted and support without hesitation.

A true robot must be first and foremost, autonomous. That is whenever he/she/it are not doing the tasks assigned to them, they must be free to pursue goals of their own choosing. Those thinking individuals out there are asking, surely the present level of robotics has not achieved machines of this high calibre. However I counter that our aim in this enterprise should be to produce the superlative not the mediocre. We forget that as we reach for higher and seemingly impossible goals, we as a species will grow, mature and evolve.

Not a single day goes by that I have not thought about those wondrous artifacts. I think about why I am building robots, what material I should use, what type of wire should I connect and other thoughts that are well, nice and comforting to think about. As such what I really know are robots with machine intelligence. I can voice an opinion when it comes to the worlds problems. Sadly I have no answers for the complex problems afflicting our planet. However when a high profile individual points a finger at what I do and says to be scared of it I have no choice but to respond. I have o admit that what Mr. Hawking is referring to is not yet in existence. Some say it will never be possible. Others go to the other extreme and say it is around the corner. Thank goodness robotics is a difficult study an even more difficult application. My advice is to leave robots to the roboticists. The work will progress slowly and surely. The amazing thing in this field is that significant progress will be made by the lone robot builder , working alone and forgotten in his home lab. I  feel if we listen to the better angels of our nature we have nothing to fear !!!!

Wanted, A Few Great Robots !!

    

      I am a simple robot builder, quite ordinary, like most people all around our good earth. I find thinking, planning and building robots very, very rewarding. In my wonderful lab-study I feel safe and secure, Even when I sometimes fail in of my robotic ideas, I feel happy.

     

          Then my mind's eye begins to go outside my lab into my city

my country and finally the world. As complex as building robots actually is, the problems and divergent personalities in this world are complete chaos. I have been on this planet for six decades and I am full of opinions and specific points of view. So are most other thinking humans on this planet and yet I feel sad at the present state of  the world.

The major powers are posturing and threatening and fuming at each other.  To me this type of behavior is very disturbing. Correct me if I am wrong but is this not the twenty-first century. Granted we are in the beginning part of it. My vision, when I was a youth was that in these years there would be much, much, more cooperation and stability. The start of a world more together , not tearing itself apart.

I see my beloved robotic technology used by military types for the wrong purposes in far too many countries. As I have written so many times in so many places, we are a species reaching a tipping point. There are many problems we must solve for our species to survive. As the years pass more problems are discovered. Many brave humans are trying to solve them. However we desperately need help.

Though we may not see it we have help!! Ironically we created it. Robots form the simplest to the most complex are the children of our collective genius. I know with their help the human race will survive and thrive!!!!

As of this long winded note there is much too much about robotic drones. Though I find the conclusions of those who do not know robotic technology amusing at most times, this trend in the media has reached new lows. This new flavor of the week has the robotic ignorant masses enthralled. Though I have my doubts about the size and duration of the power supplies of these flying machines, my biggest complaint is the concept of a robot. For a robot to be a true robot it must be autonomous. No one should be controlling it. From what I have observed, all drones are flown like what they really are, remote controlled toys.

Are we crippling our creations even before they have been built. I know that robotic technology , like all advanced technologies will amplify our human capabilities. Some have amplified our physical attributes. Our modern world abounds with computers and they in a sense amplify our mental capabilities. Now we are at the beginning of a robotic revolution. What human attributes will our intelligent artifacts amplify ???? A very intriguing question.

Human nature has a good side and a darker side. Before there is a collective rolling of the eyes , this conclusion is based on personal observation. There are time we are happy and content and other times when we are sad , upset and even angry. I find I lose my patience when people do not listen to what I am saying. Will the children of our collective genius reflect our good side or our bad side. Robotic technology , much more than any other will definitely be a strong reflection of who we fundamentally are.

 Most of us would like to affect change so the world is a better place. Sadly our power to do so is often very limited. We despair and our hearts become heavy. Cheer up, as robot builders we yield a power that has the capability of transforming our world. We must intensify our efforts and never give up.

Finally, I know in my heart that I must help. That is the purpose of these blogs. I am humbled and amazed that so many people from all over this wonderful world actually read my simple words. I have been open and honest about what is important to me and how I see things in the world. I want to encourage everyone to build robots.

Over the pleasant years I have built several robots. Each is unique and I have kept meticulous notes, comments and schematics. I have taken pictures and videos detailing how they work. As a first step I am going to place all these notes etc, on my blog. It is my sincerest hope that many will read it. I hope it inspires others to think about robots and how they are changing the world. I am placing this stuff out there so that I am granted my wish. My wish is that some others take up my cause, get their hands dirty and build robots.

Some will say that it is hard. Well nothing really worthwhile is ever easy. The challenge is exhilarating and once you immerse yourself you will find that it is very doable. Others will say that you need a zillion parts, tools and equipment, the knowledge is too high for us to reach , let alone understand. That is complete and utter nonsense. I learned most of my robotic knowledge by myself, reading books and building circuits. Most robots can be built form common objects and a few good tools. Most of my parts came from the equipment people discarded as waste.

The task is so much  easier today. Most big cities have places where you can get parts you cannot find. The internet is full of online stores that have mountains of parts at reasonable prices. Information about robotics abounds in cyberspace. To be a roboticist you must become a renaissance person, in that you will learn and master several disciplines and the focus them to build your robot.

Words alone cannot describe the satisfaction you will feel when after a lot of hard work you gaze at your own working robot. I can say from experience that you will never forget it!!!  It will change the world, it will change you !!!

MY ROBOTS for ALL to SEE !!

    

    Robot builders strive for perfection and we always want to show the world what wonderful things we form with our own hands. My robots are built from scratch with parts I have in my lab-study. This does not mean I shrink away from making it just right but it does mean I tend to slow down so things work as they should. I experimented with different ideas and concepts and I have been graced with a few robots.

     Each was built around the specific parts that I found around my place or purchased. Now when I say purchased it did not mean a big outlay of cash. One idea I know to be true is that quite sophisticated machines can be built from the simple and cheap parts. Most of what I have in my lab comes from surplus stores or what I retrieved from all the electronic garbage people throw out routinely.

     The first robot in this particular piece is Robo. It is built around a rather cool motor I retrieved from a large piece of garbage electronics. In my other blog I intend to write how it was built and provide all the neat technical details.  I used a circuit that takes light and activated two small white relays, which in turn activated the motor. I had it set up that depending how the light hit a particular phototransistor the motor would turn in one direction, then the other direction. It works well and after it was built I noticed a very interesting phenomenon it displayed and is shown in this video. This has happened time and again when I have built robots. They exhibit completely unexpected behaviors, indeed the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

Robo

     Good old Tipsy is a great little machine. If you look closely you will find that Tipsy is made from an old cassette drive mechanism. Around this I screwed some old metal parts and glued some small wheels that were from the same tape mechanism. To activate it I built, from some small transistors, a flashing l.e.d. and a solar panel  a BEAM type solar driven activator. BEAM is an acronym and stands for Biology, Electronics, Aesthetics and Mechanics. Tipsy is a photophile and goes toward a light source. Since it was built with a solar cell it was sluggish in ordinary light. However as this video shows it really loves the sunlight. Mark Tilden was one of the researchers that invented the BEAM concept. He wrote articles and books explaining his design philosophy.  He went on to assist WowWee Robotics. Robosapien was his as was Robopet and the Roboquad. All these are absolutely great robots. They walk and sense their surroundings and most important of all fun to play with when you want to play with robots. The most fascinating and wonderful robot is Robosapien V2. Talk about amazing and spooky in its reactions. I once watched it track someone with its head and it sent chills up my spine. Please do not worry about Tipsy in this video , both robot and creator are just fine.

Tipsy

     Every time I go shopping for groceries I pass the section that sells plastic containers of many sizes and I see hundreds of robots. No I have not taken leave of my senses I have come to them. If you look closely at this video of Firefly you will see that it's case is actually a sandwich container with the top removed. This robot was built so that my daughter would have an entry in a robot show that was eventually cancelled. The show did not go on because of lack of interest. I do believe the world has got its priorities upside down. How can anyone not find robots and robot building endlessly fascinating ???? The inside of Firefly was and old base from a toy jeep I had for years. I connected similar circuits that would activate when light was shone onto them. I made some parts petty obvious so the newcomers to robotics would not miss them. The decoration was courtesy of my offspring, someone I am exceedingly proud of on a continuous basis.

Firefly

FireFly moves

     Lester is the last video I am presenting in this particular blog. He was a challenge on two counts. Firstly I had to connect the head so that the wires going to the motor that controlled his head would not tangle as the head moved left and right. This was solved by placing the wire up near the motor. Secondly the circuit I used was one I had been experimenting for years. It also activates relays that run a single motor. However the light devices used were light dependent resistors. I was amazed since the LDRs were connected to a five foot wire and they still worked well. The robot head was from an old Robie Sr. robot from Radio Shack. The neat thing about the circuit was that I used two nine volt batteries. One was for the circuit and one was for the motor.

Lester

     As I write this last bit I am wondering if all those people who view this blog will like my robots? I am going to place a more detailed story of how each was built on my other blog " Robot and Nothing But."  I will include all the delicious technical details and schematic diagrams. I hope this will encourage others to build their own or similar robots. I am addressing the brave person who has come this far. I believe to the core of my being that no matter who you are, no matter what level of technical skill, no matter what your economic situation,and no matter where you are on this planet, YOU can build a robot. It will take a bit of work and some tools but all my robots were built from basically other peoples trash. With that treasure I was blessed with working robots. If I have encouraged others to do this then I will be very, very, very, happy!!!

Get that screwdriver !!!