Page 84 5:10 PM 5/10/2007 Cover.qxd Vol. 5 No. 6 SERVO MAGAZINE MACHINE ART • ROBOT SIMULATION • PERSONALITY AND AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS June 2007 4 74470 58285 0 CoverInside.qxd 5/10/2007 9:18 AM Page 2 Perfect projects for kids of all ages! robotic kits chassis servos passives optos Robotic Kits Components... ...there’s something for everyone! Robotic kits help you and your child to experience and learn about perception and control using a variety of sensors and actuators. Challenge yourself with Jameco’s selection of fun and interactive kits! You or your child can assemble the kits and then enjoy endless hours of discovery. Check out our unique selection of robotic kits at . Robot Insects & Animals . Solar Robots . Listening, Touching & Seeing Robots . Hackable Robots www.RobotStore.com! . Programmable Robots . Educational Kits . Legged and Wheeled Platforms . OctoBot Survivor Kit integrated circuits At Jameco’s RobotStore you can get the world’s most complete robotic offering— all in one place! You’ll find kits for all ages and experience levels, along with gear semiconductors boxes, servos and chassis, for those who are ready to take on the extreme. muscle wires Robotic Kits and Components... The World’s Most Complete Of fering! Enthusiasts, Start Dream ing... Gift Givers , Take Note.. . connectors Engineers, We’ve Got It All! motors I-800-374-576 4 WWW.ROBO TSTORE.CO M CATALOG I62 test equipment WWW.ROBOTSTORE.COM/SRD I-800-374-5764 software books Call for your free catalog today! Full Page.qxd 5/10/2007 9:27 AM Page 3 TOC Jun07.qxd 5/10/2007 11:29 AM Page 4 Columns 08 Robytes 10 GeerHead 72 by Jeff Eckert Stimulating Robot Tidbits Ask Mr. Roboto by Pete Miles Your Problems Solved Here 68 by James Isom Sensors for the Runt by David Geer When Flockbots, Flock, the Research Rocks! 14 Lessons From The Lab Robotics Resources 76 Appetizer 78 Then and Now by Paul Pawelski The Cost of Mentorship by Tom Carroll Robot Communications by Gordon McComb Plastics for Your Robot Creations, Redux PAGE 63 ENTER WITH CAUTION! 24 The Combat Zone 4 SERVO 06.2007 SERVO Magazine (ISSN 1546-0592/CDN Pub Agree #40702530) is published monthly for $24.95 per year by T & L Publications, Inc., 430 Princeland Court, Corona, CA 92879. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CORONA, CA AND AT ADDITIONAL ENTRY MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SERVO Magazine, P.O. Box 15277, North Hollywood, CA 91615 or Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor ON N9A 6J5;
[email protected] servomagazine.com TOC Jun07.qxd 5/10/2007 11:33 AM Page 5 06.2007 VOL. 5 NO. 6 Features & Projects 34 40 Dial-A-Voltage by Fred Eady Control the power supplied to your motor with this tricky little three-station programmable power supply. Making Great Connections by Jim Miller Keep just the right kind of test leads at your fingertips. 43 Robot Simulation for Everyone by John Blankenship and Samuel Mishal See how simulations can be a valuable tool for learning and how to get a program totally free. 59 Personality and Autonomous