Sometimes I am not myself: Mark Hinkle. I demanded remuneration for use of my name by asking for a lecture or some software. I think TRG would be well served by a lecture on the use of Linux in robots. Software is also nice. Too bad I’ll miss it if my doppleganger ever ponies up.
About me
I have a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology from NMSU. During my 13-something years as an electronics design engineer, I have tracked satellites, designed research lab equipment, microcontroller-based home automation devices, multi-processor workstations, laptop computers, and radio-based computer networks. I also have a patent (patent number 6,869,316 as of March 22, 2005) on a power connector. If you have seen a Dell Workstation 400, Precision 610, 410, 210, 620, Latitude D600, or Inspiron 600m, then you have seen some of my work. Hopefully you own one! The power connector is used on all the new Dell D-Series Latitude notebooks and Inspiron.
Recently, I moved from Sierra Vista, AZ (about a 980 mile drive from Austin, TX) to Tucson and [am] having fun at my new company. My new job is as a senior electrical engineer once again. When I was out at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, I was doing experimentation with UAV systems and working with tactical radios. Flying robots! Wireless comms! Whoopee! You can see some pictures at my Yahoo Photos site. The great thing about that job was that if I did it really well, our troops will get to come home to their families … alive. That is a good feeling. But now I am in Tucson and have found another robot club to join. (Join a robot club! Collect the whole set!)
In the meantime, I am still a dues-paid member of The Robot Group and still, when I can (usually when the kids are asleep), work on robots. You can also check out my blog on LiveJournal. Sometimes technical, sometimes mundane, sometimes political, and always politically incorrect.
About my projects
I currently have several robot concepts and other projects in the works.
- “Jumping Jack”
scarecrow with jack-o-lantern head.
sits in a chair.
motion detector.
speaks, then leaps and screams.
uses pneumatics due to speed requirements - “Mobile Coaster”
purpose is to follow the user around.
you can set tools or a drink in the holder. - “Centipede“
insect-like behavior.
mulitple segments.
add and remove segments to make any length.
each segment has own power and controller.
each segment has two wheels - “Tree Climbing Centipede”
similar to Centipede.
uses claws and not wheels.
designed to climb. - “Baby Monitor”
wheeled computer base.
streaming video and audio.
full duplex audio.
uses VPN or SSH.
web based control.
general purpose manipulator arm. - “Cat Shooer”
stationary.
compressed air gun or water pistol.
uses non-toxic foam or soft projectiles.
water used where no damage might occur.
motion sensor.
image sensors.
since we want to shoo the pets off the counters and not the dishes, bottles or plants. - “Leaf Sucker”
similar to existing robomower.
for collecting and mulching leaves and very small twigs.
bags yard waste in 30 gal “lawn and leaf” bags. - “Bartender Bot”
makes mixed drinks.
voice controlled.
senses fluid volume.
uses 750ml bottles.
uses peristaltic pumps.
debating on making mobile.
if mobile need collision avoidance.
stop until drink mix finishes and beverage is received.
need to be able to locate source of request for service.
what about multiple simultaneous requests? Conflicting. - “Generic Robot Base”
a basic platform for a mobile robot.
uses serial communications to control base.
will be made in stages.
stage one: simple serial control of motors.
stage two: add in motor feedback.
speed.
wheel rotation direction.
stage three: add sensors.
collision avoidance.
motor stall (based on motor current).
wheel slip.
Integrate sensors for serial polling.
Add more sensors
motor temperature
battery temperature
battery charge status
Add intelligence.
integrated sensors can issue asynchronous alerts.
motors controlled by serial commands.
configuration information data fields
Miscellaneous Projects
- “Campshower“
2gpm flow rate.
6 gallon propane RV water heater.
uses 12V battery.
deep cycle.
prefer AGM type (absortive glass mat). - “Fermentation Tank Chiller”
cooling jacket for 5gal fermentation tank for homebrew.
uses TEC (thermoelectric cooler).
digital temp sensor inserted into tank.
adjustable temperature.
temperature readout.
My Library
- Mobile Robots – Inspiration to Implementation by Joseph L. Jones and Anita M. Flynn, ISBN 1-56881-011-3
- Sensors for Mobile Robots – Theory and Application by H. R. Everett, ISBN 1-56881-048-2
- A Book On C – Programming in C by Al Kelley and Ira Pohl, ISBN 0-8053-0060-0
- Assembly Language Step-by-Step by Jeff Duntemann, ISBN 0-471-37523-3
- Robot DNA Series – Building Robot Drive Trains by Dennis Clark and Michael Owings, ISBN 0-07-140850-9
- Robot DNA Series – Constructing Robot Bases by Gordon Mc Comb, ISBN 0-07-140852-5
- Electronic Devices and Circuits, Second Edition, by Theodore F. Bogart, ISBN 0-675-21150-6
- Operational Amplifiers With Linear Integrated Circuits, Second Edition, by William D. Stanley, ISBN 0-675-20660-X
- Digital Filter Designer’s Handbook, by C. Britton Rorabaugh, ISBN 0-07-911166-1
- MicroC/OS II The Realtime Kernel, Second Edition, by Jean J. Labrosse, ISBN 1-57820-103-9
- Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days, Fifth Edition, by Jesse Liberty and Bradley Jones, ISBN 0-672-32711-2
The background material for this page is derived from an archived page on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Some links may have been added, removed, or updated.