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Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

ok-robot.github.io

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Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#101

Post by iancmceachern »

rapjr9 wrote: post #98
iancmceachern wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This same problem exists in the hospital setting on anything with wheels. They solve it there with "cord pushers". Basically cattle guards for stuff on the floor. Not every problem needs a complex solution. I think the brilliance of this project is in its simplicity, particularly in the robot design.

Take a look at these pictures: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cluttered+old+persons+home&atb=v31... I was thinking that people who live in an environment like this are most in need of a robot to help them.

Agreed, they could use the help.

The issue I see is that is by far the most challenging corner case. It's not the largest market, but it's the most difficult to capture.

Good business sense would dictate that you should try to capture the largest market, that is simpler to capture first, then go after these more difficult corner cases.

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#102

Post by fragmede »

rapjr9 wrote: post #95

Robots like this will have a small market until they can handle obstacles. The cat toy that the cat left in the middle of the floor, the papers that an open window blew off the table, the toys the kids left scattered about, the pencil that rolled off the desk while you were away, the dirty laundry you left laying on the floor, the ridge between carpet and hardwood floors, doors left open or closed, and more. That mea…

that's an indictment of the exact platform used not the general concept though. "all" that has to happen is for the arm(s) to be able to pick up things on the floor in front of the robot. it doesn't seem insurmountable, the demo connecting all those models together to be able to say "move the Takis to the nightstand" and have it be able to execute on that is amazing. it's just a "small" matter of robotics to make it so the arm is articulated enough to reach the floor.

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#103

Post by ehnto »

floydnoel wrote: post #100
iancmceachern wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This same problem exists in the hospital setting on anything with wheels. They solve it there with "cord pushers". Basically cattle guards for stuff on the floor. Not every problem needs a complex solution. I think the brilliance of this project is in its simplicity, particularly in the robot design.

these "invented problems" that software engineers (such as myself) find in every project are basically why we can't have nice things. why did software in the 90s run faster than the same functionality in the 2020's? it's this right here.

I have had good discussions with a colleague about this, where developers lean toward getting roadblocked by all possible engineering problems, they advocate checking to see if there are solutions to the problem that don't require engineering.

In this example, I think they'd suggest communication first then solve the engineering problem later.

Eg: just tell people they need to clear the floor or it can get stuck. People will still want it.

Perhaps the next step is lower touch engineering, ie: beep when it's stuck.

I tend toward engineering stuff, but I have come to realize you can't always afford the engineered solution, and that doesn't have to stop you from delivering stuff.

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#104

Post by exe34 »

sandworm101 wrote: post #75
fnordpiglet wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess pointing at the cliff and saying that’s the accessible route doesn’t fly eh? It’s an inclined slope - just very inclined. And yes there are tons of disabled climbers.

We generally understand that disabled people have a right to access the spaces that everyone else does. But climbing/caving is different, different than most any other activity: Access to space is controlled by ability. I have stood on ledges that are impossible to get to without a certain set of skills. If there was a ladder or a staircase, standing on that ledge would mean nothing. We can make a pool or athletic fi…

I've never understood this argument. Why would somebody else getting to a point through a different easy way cause another to feel like the hard way lost its value?

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#105

Post by 8A51C »

sandworm101 wrote: post #75
fnordpiglet wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess pointing at the cliff and saying that’s the accessible route doesn’t fly eh? It’s an inclined slope - just very inclined. And yes there are tons of disabled climbers.

We generally understand that disabled people have a right to access the spaces that everyone else does. But climbing/caving is different, different than most any other activity: Access to space is controlled by ability. I have stood on ledges that are impossible to get to without a certain set of skills. If there was a ladder or a staircase, standing on that ledge would mean nothing. We can make a pool or athletic fi…

I like to think that each individual has a limit to their ability to access the physical world around them, which will likely go up and down through their lifetime. Factors which might affect this limit are physical or medical differences between individuals. These factors can be mitigated, such as a prosphetic, or medication to help with altitude sickness. Humans also have ways to change the physical world to mitigate these limits. I'm guessing that there is a road which brings you closer to this climbing area? And that most people use vehicles to get closer and leave those somewhere? That infrastructure is in place, but there was a time when it wasn't. Vehicles, great invention aren't they? You see where I'm going with this? Take away that infrastructure or take away the vehicles and the trail errosion problem is solved, because suddenly there is a massive drop in people accessing the area. I'm not suggesting either way that those steps should be built or not, that is indeed a conflict and no one can say where the line should be drawn, but please don't loose sight of the limits of your own ability, that your limit WILL change and the mitigating factors that are already in place that enable you to exceed your limit.

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#106

Post by fragmede »

rsync wrote: post #51

I very much want a stabilized platform vehicle that I can send point-to-point with a payload on it. So, a gyro-stabilized platform like a segway that I can send back and forth from point A to point B on a not-terrible-but-rough (walking path) route. I have tried to stay abreast of the options in the past and have never seen anything that matches this ... does anyone know if there is anything new that matches this use…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGzRfvgnS_s

The technology's out there, just need to glue it all together.

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#107

Post by marci »

sandworm101 wrote: post #45
marci wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I forgot where I saw that, but generally, improving things for people with disabilities improves things for everyone, like making sidewalks wheelchair friendly helps parents with a stroller, or people carrying heavy stuff, walking with a cane, young children on bicycles, people who can't see well...

>> improving things for people with disabilities improves things for everyone Everything has its limits. Many years ago I was involved in building a series of staircases in a rock climbing area inside a park. There were about a hundred steps in a handful of orientations to get from the parking lot over a rocky hill to the small valleys behind. The project was primarily to prevent trail erosion and falls. These steps…

This is not a limit of making things accessible. This is a bureaucratic/legal/funds limit. Had they told you "for accessibility, we will build an alternative route and handle the cost", would you have said "No, thanks"?

"improving things" and "mandatory requirements that, in some cases, can go against common sense" are not the same things.

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#108

Post by tekknik »

kscottz wrote: post #15
khnov wrote: post #4

It is opensource but still costs nearly 25k dollar. why is it that expensive ?

Since when does open source mean cheap? Labor isn't free. Building custom PCBs and hardware in low quantity isn't cheap. Building, calibrating, and testing robots isn't cheap.

I’ve been getting back into robotics lately and one thing that’s rubbing me the wrong way is these days, with PCB way, everybody seems to be making their own boards. Why? Some boards are innovative, but how come everybody needs their own FOC controller? Can we get one project going and focus on that before adding yet another FOC controller, but this time with wireless!

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#109

Post by bckr »

ehnto wrote: post #103
floydnoel wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

these "invented problems" that software engineers (such as myself) find in every project are basically why we can't have nice things. why did software in the 90s run faster than the same functionality in the 2020's? it's this right here.

I have had good discussions with a colleague about this, where developers lean toward getting roadblocked by all possible engineering problems, they advocate checking to see if there are solutions to the problem that don't require engineering. In this example, I think they'd suggest communication first then solve the engineering problem later. Eg: just tell people they need to clear the floor or it can get stuck. Peo…

Coming up with these scenarios is called de-risking and engineers need to do it!

To your point, people own Roombas, which is kinda like this with no arms.

Re: Show HN: OK-Robot: open, modular home robot framework for pick-and-drop anywhere

#110

Post by paledot »

fragmede wrote: post #102
rapjr9 wrote: post #95

Robots like this will have a small market until they can handle obstacles. The cat toy that the cat left in the middle of the floor, the papers that an open window blew off the table, the toys the kids left scattered about, the pencil that rolled off the desk while you were away, the dirty laundry you left laying on the floor, the ridge between carpet and hardwood floors, doors left open or closed, and more. That mea…

that's an indictment of the exact platform used not the general concept though. "all" that has to happen is for the arm(s) to be able to pick up things on the floor in front of the robot. it doesn't seem insurmountable, the demo connecting all those models together to be able to say "move the Takis to the nightstand" and have it be able to execute on that is amazing. it's just a "small" matter of robotics to make it…

I'm not sure I'd use a robot that can "move x to y", but I'd love a robot that can run after my daughter's bedtime to tidy up her toys. This is an end in itself.
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