Clumsy non-utilitarian robotics workshop
A two day intensive workshop where participants get introduced to DIY robotics using Dynamixel smart servos and the URBISCRIPT language. During the workshop participants will work in small groups to build tethered robots with sensors and actuators and write simple but effective behavioural code.
Because of their characteristics, Dynamixel servos are often used in education. The dynamixel “smart” servos present characteristics that are interesting for low-cost robotics. The AX-12 are addressed with an 8-bit ID that can be networked in a daisy chain. Commands are sent by writing values in registers. Servo states (for feedback) are queried by reading values from registers. Commands include velocity, position, compliance, maximum load. Feedback includes position, velocity, load, voltage. The associated construction kits are very well designed and easy to assemble.
Urbiscript is an open-source cross-platform orchestration script language dedicated to robotics that was created by Jean Christophe Baillie whilst at ENSTA ParisTech, and is currently developed by Gostai [www.gostai.com]. The integration of parallelism and event-programming in the language semantic is of particular interest. Furthermore the language is interpreted and dynamically typed. The combination of these characteristics allows for very compact programmes to control robots. One of the less obvious advantages of using Urbiscript for teaching is that there is very little code available online, this forces students to understand the code they use, and not use what can be called “cut and and paste” coding.
The workshop's facilitator Patrick Tresset teaches creative robotics at Goldsmiths college. Patrick also creates robotic installations such as Paul which have been internationally exhibited. Patrick co-direct the aikon-ii project at Goldsmiths where the drawing activity is investigated through computational and robotics.
Cost of the workshop 60£. Booking, email ryan@nnnnn.org.uk
Saturday 28th July 12midday - 6pm Sunday 29th July 12midday - 6pm
Participants should have a superficial experience of using a language such as python, java, processing, c++ etc…
