How a Kiwi Built an Interactive Vision Guided Robot

Google Tech Talk
May 12, 2009

ABSTRACT

Presented by Hanno Sander

I built a balancing robot that uses vision to dance with people using the Parallax Propeller multi-core processor. My talk will cover the robot and the tool I wrote to build and debug sophisticated embedded systems. ViewPort now supports computer vision using OpenCV, fuzzy logic, physics simulation, and monitoring telemetry with simulated instruments. I use Google Checkout, Analytics, CustomSearch, and Adsense to sell my software on my website: http://mydancebot.com

Hanno Sander has been working with computers since he programmed a lunar lander game for the z80 when he was six. Since then, he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in computer science and then started his corporate career as an Internet entrepreneur. Hanno moved to New Zealand in 2005 to spend time with his growing family and develop sophisticated, yet affordable, robots starting with the DanceBot. His technical interests include computer vision, embedded systems, industrial control, control theory, parallel computing, and fuzzy logic.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• google
• tech
• talk
• robot
• machine
• vision

[MadSmokerBBQ]

Awesome!

[SuperiorMind]

Great work - almost nothing's as fun as robotix. Affordable is good -- would be neat to have robots as pets(like furbys or somethin) that could be taught to do some basic chores or act as a security system while you're away.

[29riteshkakkar]

cool work..........................­........

[BodyPiercingByGlock]

DO NOT DO IT! GOOGLE CHECKOUT IS THE WORST POS OUT THERE!

Story:

I tried to order something with exactly the amount I wished to spend on my prepaid card and it was declined because they charged me three $1 "autorization charges" instead of just charging me the amount I wanted to spend, then to make matters worse when I added more funds to my card and decided to go for a bigger deal, these assholes, run the DECLINED order through without any authorization!!!

NEVER AGAIN!

[FearTurtles]

Nice Job Hanno, Very impressed with Viewport. I think it's a bit advanced for me right now but I think I will be getting it in the near future. But first I think I will get the Propscope. Anyway again Nice job and Cheers.

[grogyan]

Wow, he did the same process as my friend did here in Auckland, he too used an IMU and used a Kalman filter.

This presentation was done in Christchurch, and probably organized by the Christchurch Robotics Group.

I'm from the RoboNz group here in Auckland.

[mydancebot]

Hi- I'm the presenter :)

Robotics is lots of fun and it's a great time to get started. Check out my site (see url in the description) for more information and slides that go with the talk

Hanno

[cheesysam]

Inspirational project, I hope more people were watching than the video made out!

Good talk, thanks.

[NiGhtMarEs0nWax]

and yeah googletech talks are not exactly known for their polished presentations, ive seen a few now where random things happen, like the picture flicking to someone on a webcam :S lol

[NiGhtMarEs0nWax]

yeh, im a big boy now. :D

actually i only watched the first few minutes so i didnt hear what you were talking about =p also i didnt give you the negative comment :P

[rlh68]

Nice, you write that joke all by yourself?

;)

[NiGhtMarEs0nWax]

yeh, its your mom making your dinner.