I was born in Bristol, CT, lived in CT for many years, then moved to the Seattle area. We now live in Captain Cook, in South Kona..
What is your professional & educational background
I have a B.A. from Brown University (in Theater, specifically Scene Design/Stage Lighting), but my entire professional career has been in the Software industry, primarily in industrial and laboratory automation and operating systems development.
What is your professional & educational background
I have a B.A. from Brown University (in Theater, specifically Scene Design/Stage Lighting), but my entire professional career has been in the Software industry, primarily in industrial and laboratory automation and operating systems development.
How did you get into robotics?
I was involved in some early industrial automation projects in the late 70’s / early 80’s, when industrial robots were first being deployed in mainstream manufacturing. Exposure to these “big” robots piqued an interest in hobby robotics. Although I have always been primarily interested in autonomous robots, I got involved in radio-controlled “fighting” robots in 1999 when my next door neighbor asked if I would help build a robot for the “BattleBots” TV show.
Describe some of the robots you've built?
Isorropos, a 2 wheeled balancing robot. Balancing robots are dynamically unstable, and use sensors and motors to stay upright. This is a challenging and interesting problem to solve, for anyone looking for an robotics project.
Loligo: a “robotic dog” that locates and follows the closest moving object using ultrasonic rangefinders.
Orthos: a line following robot
Muhe’e. a Robo-One humanoid robot (based on a Kondo KHR-1 kit)
Thinkling, a 1 lb autonomous fighting robot (Winner, Gold Medal, RoboGames 2007)
Mini-sumos and other small un-named robots built for various purposes
R/C “Fighting Robots”:
Loligo: a “robotic dog” that locates and follows the closest moving object using ultrasonic rangefinders.
Orthos: a line following robot
Muhe’e. a Robo-One humanoid robot (based on a Kondo KHR-1 kit)
Thinkling, a 1 lb autonomous fighting robot (Winner, Gold Medal, RoboGames 2007)
Mini-sumos and other small un-named robots built for various purposes
R/C “Fighting Robots”:
Silverback, 220 lbs, appeared on TLC’s “Robotica” and “BattleBots”
Squnkey, 30 lbs
Sepioteuthis, 12 lbs
Assorted 1-lb fighting robots
Squnkey, 30 lbs
Sepioteuthis, 12 lbs
Assorted 1-lb fighting robots
What do you enjoy about designing and building robots?
I enjoy both the physical challenge of designing and fabricating the mechanical parts of the robot and the intellectual challenge of developing the programs that give the robot the desired behavior. Integrating the software and hardware of my own design into a working system is very satisfying.
Where do you see the future of robot design, construction and implementation?
Robots are everywhere, often not even recognized as robots. There will be more robots and more sophisticated robots involved in all aspects of life. There are opportunities for people who want to design both robot mechanicals and robot software.
What does RoboFest mean to you?
Robofest offers attendees and participants the opportunity to see and touch robots of many different kinds, learn about robotics programs in schools and organizations, meet other people interested in robotics on the Big Island, and even compete with their own creations.
I enjoy both the physical challenge of designing and fabricating the mechanical parts of the robot and the intellectual challenge of developing the programs that give the robot the desired behavior. Integrating the software and hardware of my own design into a working system is very satisfying.
Where do you see the future of robot design, construction and implementation?
Robots are everywhere, often not even recognized as robots. There will be more robots and more sophisticated robots involved in all aspects of life. There are opportunities for people who want to design both robot mechanicals and robot software.
What does RoboFest mean to you?
Robofest offers attendees and participants the opportunity to see and touch robots of many different kinds, learn about robotics programs in schools and organizations, meet other people interested in robotics on the Big Island, and even compete with their own creations.
How can young people prepare themselves for, & get involved in robotics?
Math and science, especially physics, provide the basis for further studies in mechanical and electrical engineering and in computer science. These are the fields of study that will lead to the best opportunities in both commercial robotics and research. Young people can get involved in robotics through academic robotics programs like F.I.R.S.T and Botball, or on their own using Lego Mindstorms or any of the many hobby robotics starter kits.
Math and science, especially physics, provide the basis for further studies in mechanical and electrical engineering and in computer science. These are the fields of study that will lead to the best opportunities in both commercial robotics and research. Young people can get involved in robotics through academic robotics programs like F.I.R.S.T and Botball, or on their own using Lego Mindstorms or any of the many hobby robotics starter kits.