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Robot Gift Guide 2022

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Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#11

Post by jamestimmins »

pj_mukh wrote: post #9
jamestimmins wrote: post #3

Can anyone here recommend the best entry point into robotics for adults? I'd like something where I can start with Python, then potentially dig into the ROS and add more accessories over time. Background is that I'm a software engineer.

Do you want to build the hardware? Cuz if not, Gazebo's [1] a great starting point to just play with the software/build your own. Built from the ground up deeply integrated with ROS.

Depends what you mean by "build". I'd prefer to not to have to 3d print anything, but I'd like to assemble real world pieces.

Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#12

Post by neilv »

pj_mukh wrote: post #4

I really want a functioning vacuum robot (as in the vacuum works great) with a good API. The closest thing I’ve seen is Roborocks Socket API.

iRobot Roombas have (had?) APIs.

I collected info about the various protocols and interfacing options in 2013, in the course of making a Racket package for the Roomba and Create. https://www.neilvandyke.org/racket/roomba/

Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#14

Post by alsodumb »

WrtCdEvrydy wrote: post #13

I'm very much surprised to see Skydio 2 on this list. Although it's a robot, there's not much you can do with your code right now since the Skills SDK access has been heavily restricted.

That's true, but I'd call the smartest robot available to consumers that is relatively affordable.

Their tech blows my mind. They do all the navigation and motion planning based on just RGB cameras, running multiple neural networks in parallel on board the drone. All the depth estimation, including small obstacles likes leaves and power cables, they are doing it all onboard. I don't think anyone in industry come close to that.

I so regret missing interning with them when they were starting to grow in 2018 - they came to my University for recruiting and I was just starting my PhD and decided to not look for internships.

Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#15

Post by alsodumb »

jamestimmins wrote: post #3

Can anyone here recommend the best entry point into robotics for adults? I'd like something where I can start with Python, then potentially dig into the ROS and add more accessories over time. Background is that I'm a software engineer.

I recommend the Roomba like Create 3 robot. It's made by iRobot, the company that makes Roombas but for education.

It supports ROS2, is relatively cheap and easy to her started with. You can layer build your own systems.

PS: If you can afford to spend like $5000 and want a quadraped like Spot, you can get one from Unitree. If you are looking for manipulators, you can get one from Elephant robotics for less than $1000. If you are looking for a more useful manipulator, I love Franka panda but it's like 20,000 USD.

Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#16

Post by jamestimmins »

alsodumb wrote: post #15
jamestimmins wrote: post #3

Can anyone here recommend the best entry point into robotics for adults? I'd like something where I can start with Python, then potentially dig into the ROS and add more accessories over time. Background is that I'm a software engineer.

I recommend the Roomba like Create 3 robot. It's made by iRobot, the company that makes Roombas but for education. It supports ROS2, is relatively cheap and easy to her started with. You can layer build your own systems. PS: If you can afford to spend like $5000 and want a quadraped like Spot, you can get one from Unitree. If you are looking for manipulators, you can get one from Elephant robotics for less than $1000…

Thanks, this is helpful. I was looking at the Create 3, and I like the price point, but the website doesn't include much in the way of accessories or addons. Do you know what people use it for w/out those?

Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#17

Post by qup »

gherdty wrote: post #8
pj_mukh wrote: post #4

I really want a functioning vacuum robot (as in the vacuum works great) with a good API. The closest thing I’ve seen is Roborocks Socket API.

I don’t think it’s a public API but you can easily hack the Eufy 30C. I have been using mine with home assistant automations for a few years now. It’s cheap but I love it and I’m honestly considering buying another one. It has gotten a little noisy after 3 years.

They probably upload a map of my house to the cloud.

Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#18

Post by alsodumb »

jamestimmins wrote: post #16
alsodumb wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend the Roomba like Create 3 robot. It's made by iRobot, the company that makes Roombas but for education. It supports ROS2, is relatively cheap and easy to her started with. You can layer build your own systems. PS: If you can afford to spend like $5000 and want a quadraped like Spot, you can get one from Unitree. If you are looking for manipulators, you can get one from Elephant robotics for less than $1000…

Thanks, this is helpful. I was looking at the Create 3, and I like the price point, but the website doesn't include much in the way of accessories or addons. Do you know what people use it for w/out those?

I need to find the link but there is a way to attach camera to it.

Tbh most people use it only for learning ROS. I know you can learn ROS using Gazebo similations but real robot feels better and many universities use such hardware for reaching ROS and robotics basics in intro to robotics classes.

A more useful, affordable "robot" I can think of is Crazyflie nano drone. It has an amazing ecosystem of extensions around it and you can do as high level or low level as you want to. You can develop and tune your own sensor fusion and state estimation algorithms, control algorithms, etc.

Re: Robot Gift Guide 2022

#20

Post by good_boy »

alsodumb wrote: post #14
WrtCdEvrydy wrote: post #13

I'm very much surprised to see Skydio 2 on this list. Although it's a robot, there's not much you can do with your code right now since the Skills SDK access has been heavily restricted.

That's true, but I'd call the smartest robot available to consumers that is relatively affordable. Their tech blows my mind. They do all the navigation and motion planning based on just RGB cameras, running multiple neural networks in parallel on board the drone. All the depth estimation, including small obstacles likes leaves and power cables, they are doing it all onboard. I don't think anyone in industry come clos…

> I don't think anyone in industry come close to that.

Check NVidia. I believe Jetson Nano can do stereo matching from multiple camera pairs in real time. From here one step to 3d points cloud. New Orin will have like 10x performance. Coming in January. So, it's within the reach. I'm thinking, have big stupid drones collecting the dust...

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