If you are looking for a large variety of Free 3D Solidworks models, use the Solid Shack at www.SolidShack.com Solid Shack has a much more complete database of detailed 3D models, and Solid Shack is constantly uploading new models for users. The Solid Shack 3d models are free for anyone who wants 3D models. Solid Shack also uploads 3d models in multiple file formats so that users who no not have Solidworks can also download 3d model files. Visit www.SolidShack.com for free 3d models.
Links:
Here is a robot that is the first of it’s kind, and a little odd too. This is a blob-like robot that inflates and deflates different areas of the outer body in order to roll a certain direction. The robotic shape-shifting principle is similar to the older robotic wheel design, these robots basically are always “tumbling over” rather than rolling. In order to maintain a constant rolling motion, they basically are in a constant state of “falling over” in a controlled direction. However in contrast to the older wheel design, this robot cannot fall on it’s side because it can roll in any axis. Also, this robot is capable of becoming extremely flat in order to fit under or through something. It’s a brilliant design and is capable of many new kinds of applications. At this point most the development is geared toward the military since there is a demand from DARPA for new kinds of spider-like robots. Some of these new robots could get pretty scary!
Links:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/blog/robotics/robotics-software/automaton/irobot-soft-morphing-blob-chembot
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10375216-1.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17912_3-9970345-72.html?tag=mncol;txt
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9935339-7.html?tag=mncol;txt
SolidWorks needs active testers to beta test the newest release of SolidWorks. The SolidWorks 2009 Beta program awards prizes to the most active testers. Beta testing allows for better products in the long run, and SolidWorks needs user feedback from the SolidWorks community to know and understand the needs of its users. Mor participation from the community means a better final release version in the end. The more people help the SolidWorks Beta Program, the better it will get.
The 3d Solidworks Models of various components on www.PropellerCode.com have now been moved and are now being maintained at a new website called www.SolidShack.com.
http://www.solidshack.com/ is a new website dedicated to providing 3d models free of charge to anyone who wants them. The database on www.SolidShack.com is continually being updated to provide new 3d models on a daily basis. Most of the free 3d models on www.SolidShack.com are modeled in native SolidWorks format. Moving these 3d SolidWorks models to a new site is beneficial to you because now you can not only get the free 3d models in native SolidWorks 3d format, but you can get them in multiple other file formats as well! Please feel free to browse either of these sites for updates to these new 3d SolidWorks models.
Here are the upcoming events Parallax Inc. will be involved with through the summer months.
Conferences:
Educator’s Courses and Trainings:
If you are interested in attending a Parallax training session, here is a link to their Educator’s Courses
From the Desktop Factory website:
The Desktop Factory 3D printer builds durable, functional models from the bottom up, one layer at a time. The Desktop Factory 3D printer has a build speed comparable to existing 3D printing technologies, and produces robust parts that are strong enough to be thrown across a conference room table!
Desktop Factory proprietary software imports STL files and other industry standard 3D printer formats, automatically slices and orients the part for optimal build performance and creates any required support structures.
The Desktop Factory 3D printer measures about 25 x 20 x 20 inches and weighs less than 90 lbs. The maximum build volume of the initial product will be 5 x 5 x 5 inches. The thickness of each layer is 0.010 inch.
Links:
The Entertainment Software Association trade body has confirmed that the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit will take place from July 15 – 17, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) as a smaller trade-only event.
Who can attend?
A representative from the trade association noted: “Companies involved in console, PC, online, and mobile game publishing and developing, as well as makers of video game hardware and peripherals will be eligible to participate. Attendance at all events, meetings, and demonstrations will be by invitation only.”
The Entertainment Software Association expects about 4000 people from the media, retail, development and financial communities, with invitations determined by participating companies and not by the ESA. Those companies will provide lists to the ESA as to who to invite.
It appears that the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit expo is significantly decreasing in size for this year and they don’t appear to have any incentive to make it any different for the following year 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit expo either. Unfortunately the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit expo will most likely be key personnel on an invite only basis. At this years 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit expo, there is not expected to be any kind of public exhibitions.
“The intent of this show is to be a business-to-business opportunity and it isn’t centered or focused on general consumers.”
“The ESA said with early RSVPs they were going to meet their attendance expectation of 4,000 individuals. They also released the full roster of exhibitors currently scheduled to participate, including: 1UP Network; Akella; Atari Inc.; Bethesda Softworks; Capcom USA Inc.; Crave Entertainment; Codemasters; D3Publisher of America; Deep Silver; Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.; Electronic Arts; Eidos Interactive; IGN.com; Indie Games; Jagex, Ltd.; Konami Digital Entertainment; LucasArts; Majesco Entertainment Company; Microsoft Corporation; Midway Games, Inc.; MTV Games; Namco Bandai Games America, Inc.; Natsume, Inc.; Nintendo of America Inc.; Novint Technologies, Inc.; Nyko Technologies; Powered by Game Spy; Rebellion; SEGA of America, Inc.; Serious Games Initiative; Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.; Sony Online Entertainment Inc.; Southpeak Games; Square Enix USA; Take-Two Interactive; Tecmo; THQ Inc.; Toshiba America Information Systems; Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.; Valve Software; and, Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment Inc. Organizers said they are expecting additional companies to sign-on.”
Links:
DIY, do it yourself robot demonstrations are coming soon to PropellerCode.com. We here at PropellerCode.com com are working on designing low-cost robots with the budget in mind. We like the idea of being able to build nice prototype robots out of low-cost materials and random junk laying around. We may possibly even explore the idea of designing robots out of trash. Ideally the only thing you should have to spend money on when building your robot prototype should be some motors and electronics. Come back soon to see check the progress.
Uses for tiny flying robot bugs will mostly include reconnaissance missions for military and law enforcement applications. DARPA currently has incentives for creating these little machines for military purposes. The advantage of being so small is that it could enter buildings and houses and fly through the rooms and be equipped with full micro surveillance technology.
Cyborg insects with embedded Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) will run RC remotely controlled reconnaissance missions for the military, if its ‘”Hybrod Insects-MEMS” program succeeds. The HI-MEMS program hatched earlier this year at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to develop cyborg bugs to patrol, gather intelligence, and carry out other significant surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Some individuals are worried that these robot bugs could possibly be used in an invasion of personal privacy and a possible threat to civil rights. If the government starts using these robot bugs to spy on political activists that could lead to problems. However, there is little information about spy technology so we will possibly never know for sure.
So far experts say the technology isn’t quite good enough to produce such devices that actually function at a usable level. Most likely our technology will be there shortly, so we’ll have to just wait and see what comes out of it. Hopefully these little robot insects will by restricted to military reconnaissance, which would be a revolutionary way to perform investigations without risking the lives of our military soldiers. Crawling robots for reconnaissance are getting better, but a flying machine would greatly increase speed and access comparatively.
Links:
Insect Cyborgs to Fly Reconnaissance Missions
Implants Create Insect Cyborgs
For those of you addicted to fighting robots, the RoboGames 2008 is that place you have to be! The RoboGames are an annual event that take place in the US in San Fransisco, California. The RoboGames 2008 will be holding over 70 different competitions all for different types of fighting robots, sports playing robots, and even for autonomous competitions. There are categories for all types of robots including LEGO Mindstorms and even BEAM robots! The competing robots are programmed using all sorts of different microcontrollers including the Parallax Propeller. You too can also enter your own personal robot into Robogames, there are divisions for every kind of robot. RoboGames is the world’s largest open robot competition! This is even recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records!
Here is a list of the events off the RoboGames website.
| Open: | Rules | Pix | Schedule | Entry Fees |
| Best of Show |  |
 |
On Display | $35 |
| Line Follower (auton) | |
|
Sun 12-1 | $35 |
| Maze/MicroMouse (auton) | |
|
Sun 2:15-3:00 | $35 |
| Robot Triathlon (auton) | |
|
Sat 7:30-7:45 | $35 |
| Fire-Fighting (auton) | |
|
Sun 12-2 | $35 |
| Ribbon Climber (auton) | |
|
Sun 5:15-6:00 | $35 |
| Walker Challenge | |
|
Sun 1-2 | $35 |
| Aibo Performer (auton) | |
|
On Display | $35 |
| Balancer Race (R/C) | |
|
Sat 6:45-7:30 | $35 |
| Balancer Race (auton) | |
|
Sat 7-8 | $35 |
| Table Top Nav (auton) | |
|
Sat 6:45-7:30 | $35 |
| Lego Open (auton) | |
|
On Display | $35 |
| Lego Challenge (auton) | |
|
Sat Noon-12:20 | $35 |
| Vex Challenge | |
|
Sat Noon-12:20 | $35 |
| Vex Open | |
|
On Display | $35 |
| DefConBots | |
|
On Display | $35 |
| Autonomous Autos: | ||||
| Robomagellan (auton) | |
|
Sun 12-6 | $35 |
| Sumo: | ||||
| 3kg (R/C) | |
|
Sat 5-6 | $35 |
| 3kg (auton) | |
|
Sat 5-6 | $35 |
| 1kg – Lego (auton) | |
|
Sat 6-7 | $35 |
| 500g (auton) | |
|
Sat 2-3 | $35 |
| 100g (auton) | |
|
Sat 1-2 | $35 |
| 25g (auton) | |
|
Sat 1-2 | $35 |
| Humanoid (R/C) | |
|
Sun 3-4 | $35 |
| Humanoid (auton) | |
|
Sun | $35 |
| BEAM: | ||||
| Speeder | |
|
Sun 12-1 | $35 |
| Photovore | |
|
Sun 12-1 | $35 |
| Robosapien Hacker | |
|
Sun 6:15-6:30 | $35 |
| Bot Hockey: | ||||
| 12 lbs | |
|
Sa-Su 2-3 | $35 |
| Junior League (<18 yr old): | ||||
| Woots & Snarks | |
|
Sat 12-1 | Free! |
| Lego Challenge | |
|
Sat 2-3 | Free! |
| Lego Magellan | |
|
Sat 1-2 | Free! |
| Lego Open | |
|
On Display | Free! |
| Best of Show | |
|
On Display | Free! |
| 500 g Sumo | |
|
Sat 2-3 | Free! |
| 120 lb combat | |
|
Sat 10-8 | Free! |
| 1 lb Combat | |
|
Fr-Sa 4-6 | Free! |
| BotsketBall | |
|
Sat 1-2 | Free! |
| Vex Open | |
|
On Display | Free! |
| Vex Challenge (R/C) | |
|
Sat 1-2 | Free! |
| Combat: | Rules | Pix | Schedule | Entry Fees |
| 340 lbs / 154.5 kg | |
|
Fr-Su 12-10 | $340 |
| 220 lbs / 100 kg | |
|
Fr-Su 12-10 | $220 |
| 120 lbs / 54.5 kg | |
|
Fr-Su 12-10 | $120 |
| 60 lbs / 27.3 kg | |
|
Fr-Su 12-10 | $60 |
| 30 lbs / 13.6 kg | |
|
Fr-Su 12-10 | $35 |
| 3 lbs / 1.4 kg | |
|
Fr-Sa 12-8 | $35 |
| 3 lbs (auton) | |
|
Sa 2-3 | Free! |
| 1 lb / 454g | |
|
Fr-Sa 12-8 | $35 |
| 1 lb (auton) | |
|
Sa 2-3 | Free! |
| 5.3 oz / 150g | |
|
Fr-Sa 12-8 | $35 |
| Robot Soccer: | ||||
| HuroSot (auton) |  |
|
Sat 2-4 | $100 |
| Biped Soccer 3:3 (R/C) | |
|
Fr-Su 12-8 | $100 |
| Auton. Humanoid Challenges: | ||||
| Humanoid Overall Rules | |
|
Sun 4-5 | $200 |
| BasketBall | |
|
Sun 12-1 | incl |
| Lift and Carry | |
|
Fri 1-2 | incl |
| Marathon | |
|
Sun 3-4 | incl |
| Obstacle Run | |
|
Sat 5-7 | incl |
| Penalty Kick | |
|
Fri 3-4 | incl |
| Dash | |
|
Sat 1-2 | incl |
| Weight Lifting | |
|
Fri 5-6 | incl |
| R/C Humanoid Competitions: | ||||
| Kung-Fu (LightWt-R/C) | |
|
Fr-Su 4-5 | $35 |
| Kung-Fu (MiddleWt-R/C) | |
|
Fr-Su 4-5 | $35 |
| Demonstration/Acrobatics | |
|
Fr-Su 3-4 | $35 |
| Stair Climbing | |
|
Sun 4-5 | $35 |
| Biped Race (R/C) | |
|
Sat 7-8 | $35 |
| Golf (R/C) | |
|
Sun 4-5 | $35 |
| Taiko Drumming | |
|
Sat 7-8 | $35 |
| Tetsujin: | ||||
| Weightlifting | |
|
Sa/Su 2-3 | $100 |
| Walking Race | |
|
Sa/Su 2-3 | $100 |
| Art Bots: | ||||
| Static | |
|
On Display | Free! |
| Kinetic | |
|
On Display | Free! |
| Bartending | |
|
On Display | Free! |
| Musical | |
|
On Display | Free! |
| Painting | |
|
On Display | Free! |
The Next RoboGames Event:
| Date: | Fri-Sun, June 13-15, 2008 |
| Where: | Fort Mason, San Francisco Map & directions |
| Cost: | $20, $15/kids 7-17 Free for kids 0-5 and active-duty military Buy tickets now! |
Links:
