Need Some Help for a College Level Design Project

So as some of you already know, I am an engineering major in college. I currently am double majoring in electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. As of this coming fall semester I will be adding on a minor (required to have one) it will be in intelligent robotic systems.

I am starting the process of developing my senior design project (for those who aren't familiar with a SDP, basically it is a year long research and development project required to graduate) I have chosen to do my project on household automation/robotics. Basically I will be developing a robotic solution to household chores.

So why am I posting this thread? Well, I need to know what the general public wants out of a robot. What should it be able to do, what shouldn't it be able to do. What type of form factor should it have (humanoid or non-humaniod) How does it interact with people (if at all), etc. Any and all input is greatly appreciated.

Here are some pictures of non-humanoid style robots I have built in the past. Would something like this be welcome in your home? (A home robot would look much better, this is just to give you an idea of the form of a non-humaniod robot)

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0494.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0206.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...1c_163820c.jpg

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...2c9d099c_m.jpg

Thanks

If you build me an R2-D2 i will refer to you as Lord Aaron of Dagobah from then on... And all shall bow their heads out of respect when in the presence of Lord Aaron...
SDP idea problem= solved

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

If you build me an R2-D2 i will refer to you as Lord Aaron of Dagobah from then on... And all shall bow their heads out of respect when in the presence of Lord Aaron...
SDP idea problem= solved

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lol, if only that would be really easy... unfortunately they require something with a little more focus.

Between the college research budget and private investments/grants I have been working on I am hoping to get about $250,000 for R&D on this project. The sky is the limit.

Haha oh ok, well then.
Idk then dude, i cant really think of a problem that i encounter in everyday life that needs fixing... Which is what it sounds like what you need, am i right? Or are you kinda looking for something fun that doesnt necesarily solve a problem?

Think Rosie from the Jetsons... like a robotic maid. What do you hate doing around the house?

Some good examples would be:

Taking out the trash

Cleaning

Doing dishes

Doing laundry

Bringing you drinks

That type of stuff.

Oh ok well id like a robot to let my dog in and out. It would have to be able to open an close the door by recognizing her bark, im thinking like voice activated but in this case itd be bark activated lol. See she is 13 and like any old person she has to pee like 20 times a day now instead of just going out a few times a day like when she was younger. It would also have to be able to recognize that shes all the way out the door or all the way in because like any old person shes also really slow sometimes lol. So some sorta motion sensor or whatever would be a must. Im picturing it as a simple unit that just mounts on the corner of a door. Having it be fairly universal to most doors would be good too bc people arent gunna wanna pay to have their whole door replaced...
This is probably a bad idea but i think its along the lies of what you mean. be sure to keep us updated on it because it sounds like itll be cool whatever you end up doing!

How about a robot that hits the snooze button for you? xD

Ummmmm... I guess it sorta depends what you want to define as a 'robot'. I mean what level of complication and artificial intelligence are we talking?

Simple things like putting the toilet seat down, making sure the shower curtain is always closed, drying the floor after you've gotten out of the shower would all be pretty useful assuming they were kept discrete and out of the way.

Maybe some sort of system that would 'know' when you've left the house for a certain period of time and would make sure all your lights, stove, sinks, etc were turned off?

Personally, for household use, I think discrete is probably the best option for most ideas. The home is cluttered enough with appliances as is.

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Originally Posted by Wiggy

Ummmmm... I guess it sorta depends what you want to define as a 'robot'. I mean what level of complication and artificial intelligence are we talking?

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$250K worth... i.e. It has to make R2-D2 look like a keurig coffee maker...

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Oh ok well id like a robot to let my dog in and out. It would have to be able to open an close the door by recognizing her bark, im thinking like voice activated but in this case itd be bark activated lol. See she is 13 and like any old person she has to pee like 20 times a day now instead of just going out a few times a day like when she was younger. It would also have to be able to recognize that shes all the way out the door or all the way in because like any old person shes also really slow sometimes lol. So some sorta motion sensor or whatever would be a must. Im picturing it as a simple unit that just mounts on the corner of a door. Having it be fairly universal to most doors would be good too bc people arent gunna wanna pay to have their whole door replaced...
This is probably a bad idea but i think its along the lies of what you mean. be sure to keep us updated on it because it sounds like itll be cool whatever you end up doing!

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alright, I see what you are saying. This needs to be a multifunction robot, but I could include that type of functionality. being directly "activated" by a dog brings a whole new set of issues, but could be worked out. Thanks for the input.

This is they type of robot that I think I will end up going with, a semi-humaniod robot, but with a very different drive system. Instead I will be using a drive base that I developed over the last 2 years that is capable of climbing stairs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9CraxEzZLw

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Think Rosie from the Jetsons... like a robotic maid. What do you hate doing around the house?

Some good examples would be:

Taking out the trash

Cleaning

Doing dishes

Doing laundry

Bringing you drinks

That type of stuff.

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For laundry, I wouldn't mind having something that hangs clothes, or folds them and stacks them nicely to be put into drawers. Or a sock sorter....

Not so sure about bringing me drinks, but if it could cook for me, that'd be awesome! Make the robot cook me some eggs and toast! Or pour a nice bowl of cereal and milk XD... People can refill all the spices when they're low.. Just toss the ingredients into the appropriate slot and you're good to go! XD idk..

Sounds like you've gotten some interesting ideas - I'm just throwing a post in here that robotics (although not in my emphasis) is one of the classes I taught at the University. Our students were asked, "To do something interesting," to quote the curriculum - which means I've had to troubleshoot everything from a machine that juggled (cool) to an automatic CD organizer to a "demon" teddy bear(scary). Sounds like you've already got robotics experience, but if want another brain to bounce things off of, I wouldn't mind dusting off the old EE/CSci/ME crazy mix required of such a project - would be fun!

/Not allowed to go to the local surplus store w/o an escort who can be trusted NOT to encourage me.;)

That's awesome that you're undertaking that...waaaaay over my head. I'd say laundry and the dishes are my two biggest pet peeves for house work. I like mowing the grass and don't mind taking out the trash, etc. but the laundry, loading/unloading the dishwasher and just generally picking up around the house SUCK, lol! I'd go either way with the humanoid or not but would prefer simplicity rather than something I have to read a manual on. I tend to have a very short attention spa...hahahahahaha! I don't know, something simple to use/operate on the K.I.S.S. principle and as to appearance, whatever. Look forward to seeing how it turns out for you; good luck and let us know!

Aaron, I would like to see a slightly different concept for whole house integration. Rather than a stand-alone robot that would have to navigate floors and stairs, I think it would be cool to see a ceiling based track system that would allow more freedom throughout the house with less ground based navigation issues. Integration into a whole house CPU would be a must, control with smartphone and tablet PC applications. If the bot could be small enough then a telescoping mount could allow it to reach lower to the ground when necessary, it would be awesome if it could release itself and be able to do some ground navigation at times, but if integrated with a whole house CPU then a lot of tasks could be managed while suspended. I guess the real trick would be designing functional arms with proper articulation in such a small package. . . . Since so many appliances are becoming network enabled, you may want to take that into consideration, the integration factor between user, the entire house system, and the bot itself. just a couple ideas. . . hope it helps!:)

KISS... I would suggest something simpler. I robotic laundry machine or addition to the top that could sort clothes according to colour groups set the washing machine. start the washer, and unload wet clothes to a hamper. Then start the next colour group and repeat the cycle all with out input. It has some challenges but is still manageable project. Perhaps some sort of notification when the loads are done.

Aaron, I know the tech for this already exists at every Chevron station in the country, but what I would really like is a reasonably sized (stores in a garage) automatic car wash robot. Something I can attach to a garden hose and then sit back with a Mojito while it washes my Blazer. It does not have to look like Pam Anderson in a Baywatch one piece (though I would not turn that down).

Challenges I see with a project like this:
Water and electronics don't mix well without some high speed shielding.
Weight - If it slips off the drive way a hits the grass will it destabilize and fall?
Size - Can it fold small enough to fit in my garage?
Cost - I understand unit cost is driven by sales volume, but 500K a copy won't help me.

If this thing could safely wash my car, I'd be happy to take out the trash...

I hate laundry. It gets old real fast. Something to sort, seperate, and fold clean laundry?

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

EE FTW!!!

Hmm a 'robot' to fold clothes shouldn't be really that difficult to program/design. The hardest part would probably making it recognize what kind of item it has to fold (ie: shirts, pants, socks, etc...)






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Thanks for all of the replies, I can't believe I am only just now seeing them...

I have actually already started the project, so I'll give you all an update. (I have some pictures/computer renderings but not with me so those will come later)

What I have decided to do is build a base... that is modular, cheap, and expandable.

Basically what I am building right now is a control system and drive base that later on I will be able to design/build manipulators capable if doing specific tasks.

(I plan to make a business of this after I graduate)

My goal is to have a base with some capabilities (such as vacuuming, basic cleaning (picking objects off the floor), getting the mail, bringing you small objects (and by small I mean hand held))

My price range goal is $5,000-$10,000 (this greatly depends on how the price for the electronics goes down in the next few years right now the necessary processors costs about $2,500 alone but in 5 years when I am actually trying to bring a product to market they should be much cheaper.

Every aspect of this robot is expandable. The main Processor will act like a hub, giving directions to other less powerful "local" processors that will control manipulators and such. This division of processing allows the main processor to not get bogged down/slowed down as more/more complex tasks are asked of it.

Once you have the base, you will be able to get "expansions". These are manipulators that add abilities such as laundry or dish washing to your robot. they will carry a much lower price tag with some more basic ones coming in at $500, and more complex in the $1,000-$2,000 range.

The user doesn't have to install anything, as they all use a standardized interface (both mechanical and electrical/pneumatic) so the base will be able to switch them out as needed autonomously. When not in use they will be stored in a base station/recharging station.

Maybe if these actually take off 3rd party expansions would also be available as well.


So onto what I already have:

Over the past few years I have been designing/prototyping a drive base capable if climbing stairs. the final design that I have chosen is similar to the drive system used by NASA on their recent Mars rovers. A "Rocker Bogie" drive system is capable of climbing over objects twice the diameter of the wells used, while maintaining nearly 0 shift in the main body of the robot. I have extensively tested this design and have completed 300 cycles (climbing up a standard household staircase, then going back down) without damaging the stairs (carpeted) and not a single failed attempt. The challenge now is to make the drive system more compact.

The drive system is capable of a few driving modes:

Tank drive (can turn in place by rotation left wheels and right wheels in opposite directions)

Car Drive (Front Wheels turn... self explanatory lol)

Inverted Car Drive (Back Wheels Turn)

Swerve Drive (all wheels capable of turning 360 degrees (and do so in unison) this allows forward, backward, side to side, and diagonal translations... but the robot stays in the same orientation *you can't turn around)

Crab Drive (Similar to swerve drive, but front and rear wheels can turn 360 degrees independently. This allows all of the capabilities of swerve drive plus the ability to reorient the front of the robot)

Here is a video of a Crab Drive robot (Because I'm sure I just lost most people lol)

(This is a video of one of my favorite teams in one of the robotics competitions that I compete in) *FIRST Robotics Competition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3l6Xqts4to&list=UU5UxJTVhh0jaUONoP2_tKEw&index=10&feature=plcp

(Smartphone Link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3l6X...0&feature=plcp

And here is a second video because these things are just too cool :rolleye2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAJBC-DDL9w&feature=channel&list=UL

(Smartphone Link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAJBC...hannel&list=UL

On top of the drive base I have a basic AI starting to come into place. basically it uses sensors to identify objects (3 cameras, an infrared camera (heat vision) and pressure sensors (weight)). This information is stored externally (on my server) in a large database of objects. right now I have to manually input a name and use for each new object, but as the library grows I won't have to spend as much time doing so. Eventually I would like it to be able to use the internet (mainly Google) to ID objects itself.

I also have a control interface that I am using. I can either use my computer (along with a joystick and buttons/switches) or I can control it using an iPad.

So let me know what you think, and thanks for reading.

Too much? lol

Aaron serious question- what did you get on the SATs and/or ACT?
I feel like your one of the smartest people i know lol...
That was a bit much but in summary youre basically making a robot that people will be able to buy attachments for to have it do tasks around the house. (at least thats what i got from it.) From a business standpoint, i love making money lol, the base and attachments idea is very good imo. People will have to buy a base and then attachments too. Youll make more money that way. Then you can create combos or packages to sell people too to get them to buy more. The way you can market it is so that they only but the attachments that they want for the chores they want completed. i.e. a dishwasher attachment wouldnt work for people without a dishwasher lol...

SAT: 1560 without writing (don't remember what it is with)

Didn't take the ACT

You've got the basic idea down.

The technology exists (and has for some time now) for this type of robot, the issue always is cost. You simply can't make a robot with a huge list of features and have it be even remotely affordable. I think that the PC market in the early days was the same way (and that's one of the reasons why microsoft beat apple out of the gate) windows machines can be purchased barebones then upgraded later. I think that everything should be this way.

I feel that the household automation/robotics industry is going to grow dramatically in the next 50 years... I hope to be a part of it.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

SAT: 1560 without writing (don't remember what it is with)

Didn't take the ACT

You've got the basic idea down.

The technology exists (and has for some time now) for this type of robot, the issue always is cost. You simply can't make a robot with a huge list of features and have it be even remotely affordable. I think that the PC market in the early days was the same way (and that's one of the reasons why microsoft beat apple out of the gate) windows machines can be purchased barebones then upgraded later. I think that everything should be this way.

I feel that the household automation/robotics industry is going to grow dramatically in the next 50 years... I hope to be a part of it.

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:O almost a perfect score! (the writing score isnt even important anyways lol).

I agree although i was unaware all that kinda tech existed already. Makes sense though that its not affordable since its still in the early stages. I also agree that theres a huge market for it. Idk about global so much but definetly in america. People are so lazy here lol. I hope that you do get to be a part of it if thats what you want!

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

:O almost a perfect score! (the writing score isnt even important anyways lol).

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Yeah, the reading sections killed me lol one of those so close moments.

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I agree although i was unaware all that kinda tech existed already. Makes sense though that its not affordable since its still in the early stages. I also agree that theres a huge market for it. Idk about global so much but definetly in america. People are so lazy here lol. I hope that you do get to be a part of it if thats what you want!

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Most of the tech has been used in manufacturing/military equipment for at least 15 years... the biggest thing is the power consumption of processors and the cost of processing power... The sensors/motors/other electronics are readily available and cost very little.

Processors will probably account for at least 1/4 of the final price tag...

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Processors will probably account for at least 1/4 of the final price tag...

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Now, or a few years down the road when you start your business? The price of them can only go down so it could only benefit you. Finding the right price to sell them for will be difficult though. At what price point will someone be willing to buy something they dont *technically* need? You know what i mean? Like it has to be affordable to middle class families too bc thats where i would see the most money being made. Rich people can just hire a nanny or cleaner to do it for them so a robot wouldnt really be useful to them. This is just how i see it at least. Middle to Upper Middle class families will buy them and then neighbors will have to buy them to be "keeping up with the Jones'". After indoor attachments you can expand to outdoor attachments too. No more mowing or trimming the hedges lol!

Exactly, Upper Middle class and even upper class is the initial target... over time prices in components will drop to the point that they become more affordable to middle class families as well. That combined with outdated models (like Apple sells the older iPhone and iPad models at reduced price once a new one comes out) will open the door to a broader market. As long as everything is backwards compatible and they are durable there could even be a trade in/used market like there is with cars.

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Now, or a few years down the road when you start your business?

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With the current prices of processors I couldn't sell them in my goal of $5,000-$10,000 in a few years they will account for 1/4.

obviously I want these things to be as cheap as possible. I'm even considering selling them at or near cost at first and making most of the money on expansions... just to get into the market. I would really like to be able to get the price of the base into the $2,000- $5,000 range but I'm not sure if I can or not at this point.