Real-Life Cylon Robot Project

[RavenLX]

I'm new here and am thinking of trying to build up a real-life robotic Cylon. It's a big dream.

Right now I'm thinking basic/small. I have a few robots and two of them are fully programmable. One is a WowWee RoboSapien RS Media (Bi-pedal and walks, talks, etc.) and the other is a Lego NXT Mindstorms 2.0 kit:

http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx

I think I'll work with this kit as it's most versitile. The "eyes" are IR sensors and in the first version I may be able to just not use that feature.

Most stuff I can do but the biggest thing is getting a costume to fit it. I want to use paper for this at first, or poster board. Maybe cover with aluminum foil. This is just for the prototypes.

I would first built the Alpha Rex bi-pedal robot. I had it built before but since took it apart. I can always reassemble it. But it does take a long time (a few hours). The feet need to be large because otherwise it would topple over more (it tends to topple as it is). It does walk and can talk via sound bytes you can upload to the brick (computer onboard that runs everything).

I have Linux so I'd be programming it in C. I have the NXC compiler (open source) and have verified that works.

The only thing I need is the costuming. I found on this forum a link to a paper craft one here:

http://www.bazookajo.me.uk/PaperModels/Cylon/Cylon.htm

I downloaded the files but I don't know if they'll fit the NXT. I would have to see. I think all total the Alpha Rex is around 12" - 18" tall.

I'll try to build up the bot some time soon and get some measurements.

For those of you who would like to try this, the NXT Mindstorms kit is around $200 - $300. That's really not bad when you think about the fact you can build nearly ANYTHING with it. It has a lot of support as well. And Lego also sells other sensors for it (such as the Sound Sensor which can do speach recognition and let's the robot "hear" it's environment).

I think also the parts are interchangeable with normal LEGO parts, but I'm not sure on that.

Anyone know or can help with a good paper craft costume I can use for this?

[RavenLX]

An update: Wow, I can't wait until Autumn of this year!

http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/funzon ... ation.aspx

I SO am going to want to get this! It's an EV3 - new version of their robot kit. No Bi-Pedal but hey, I bet I could concoct one out of parts from it and the NXT 2.0.

In the mean time, I'm still going to try working with my NXT.

UPDATE: I watched the video again and they do have a bi-pedal model for the EV3 kit. Or actually I should say plan to have as they do show one in the video. And it ROCKS!

[Cylon-Knight]

Welcome RavenLX!
Your Cylon project looks VERY cool. You need to read up on Groupleaderzeta's posts and PM him about your ideas, he's into bots and an electronics whiz. I bet you two could make a machine that would destroy all of humanity ... what ... OOPS! lol

Keep us updated on your project... veeeeery interesting. Post often and enjoy the site.

P.S. Great Avatar, be sure to check out MY spin on Angry Birds and Battlestar Galactica here.

[GoldCylon]

Those look pretty cool and it would be awesome to build a Cylon around one of those robots.

[RavenLX]

Thanks guys! I'll have to contact that guy CylonKnight mentioned about the electronics stuff when I get time. Right now I'm down with a bug so I am recovering from that and not ready yet to sit a few hours putting together lego parts. LOL! Hopefully later in the week or next weekend.

The EV3 is going to be out in the fall so I'll be working with the NXT 2.0 kit. I have a friend who also has one and is a robot builder/programmer/enthusiast who is also eyeing the EV3 set. I invited him to contribute ideas to the project too.

Cylon-Knight - I too am into Knight Rider! Love KITT and especially love the 3rd Season KARR! I have a little history with KR actually but I'll get into that another time...

Loved your Angry Birds artwork! They made star wars, they should do BSG! Only I think you got it backwards. I would never sling a colonial to destroy a Cylon! LOL! I think it should be the other way around (Colonials = pigs, Cylons obliterate them!) That's why I love Purple Bird. He's on our side. He's one of us. And no, he didn't need to drink the Kool-Aid! LOL!

Back to the topic, I'm also considering starting a web site and YouTube Channel so I can easily share pics and videos, etc. of the project.

Measurements of the bot skeleton will be coming up as soon as I get the Alpha Rex built.

[Cylon-Knight]

OHHH KR histroy?!?!? Do tell when you can.

Yes, I hand drew my BSG Angry Bird image and then digitally polished/finished it. I won an art contest with it!

[RavenLX]

Cylon-Knight - I can see why you won a contest! Awesome work! You should show it to Rovio and maybe they can make a BSG version and have you do the artwork!

KR history - I'll PM you on that one...

[RavenLX]

Update: The Alpha Rex model is a 2-day build, a friend of mine reminded me. I think I remember now that it did take me quite awhile to do. It uses nearly all the parts in the kit (The kit comes with I think over 200 - 300 parts or something like that).

Also I'm going to try and get the NXT-G working in Wine. That is the windows-based program that comes with the kit. Since I run Linux it'll be a bit of a challenge. But I remembered that downloaded models might not contain the actual source code and I would want to see that in order to see how they got it walking. I remember it was a set of adjustments to each side motor. You kinda had to get it just right in the loop. I'll be researching that part today. If I feel up to it I may start the build.

[RavenLX]

Well, today I went nosing around trying to find a way to program the Alpha Rex build. I did find the build instructions in one of the models I downloaded from the Lego official site. The source though was pre-compiled rbt files which are binary so you can't edit them. However, I did find the actual source code one can modify and compile with nbc (compiler for NXT programs that works in Linux). For those interested the file is called alpha_rex.zip and is found later down the page on this site:

http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/samples/index.html

Unzip it and the .nbc source can be read in the text editor. The source code includes also how to make the robot talk and walk. That's what I needed!

So now I have two references out of the way, I can start building. Like mentioned, it's going to be awhile as the rex itself takes a couple days. Then I have to print out and see how to fit the paper costume.

I'll post pics as I go along. I also want to get a web site up for the project too. I probably will work on that today than the build, we'll see. On the site I'll have more specific instructions.

[goldcylon1]

neat project keep us posted

[RavenLX]

Thanks! Hey, you got the same name as the leader here. I'll have to remember to not confuse you two.

Update: I now have a web site with my project on it in the Tech Lab page:

http://sitesplace.net/orion/index.html

That's the main site. Just click the Tech Lab menu item. So far I have my overall plan and instructions for setting up programming the NXT in Linux, and a link to the Alpha Rex source code that someone wrote that is a good base to work from.

I was working on the site all day so I didn't get to do any building. Hopefully soon I'll be starting to build up the Alpha Rex. After that I'll do the programming and finally will get to the fun part: Costuming!

[Cylon-Knight]

VERY cool Raven - Love seeing another Basestar up and running

[RavenLX]

Thanks! And it's run on Linux.

Orion is actually the name of the BaseStar I have been kicking around in my head for an alternate universe fanfic. So I decided on that for a name.

I was going to name the site "I am a Cylon" but didn't want to scare too many humans.

BTW, I'm so glad to see this smiley:



I'm a huge fan of Gary the Cylon! He's hilarious! My favorite episode is where he gets "fired" and they chase him off the base ship. Watching him running through the hangar deck was hilarious!

I'm hoping to spend my evenings this week building Alpha Rex. Thanks Cylon-Knight for recommending Flight Leader Zeta as he's been PMing me and helping me work out the costuming stuff. I have to thank FL Zeta as well for taking the time for this. This will be awesome!

BTW, what do folks here think about me maybe buying a couple T-shirts or some similar cheap fabric to make the suit and skirt with? I can't be exact-perfect as I'm trying to keep cost down but I don't think I want the entire thing in paper as it may rip when the bot moves the arms and legs.

[RavenLX]

I don't have too much to report. I been a bit sick lately so the majority of the time was spent either sleeping or getting things done that took priority. I did manage to get out and buy 2 sheets of white and 1 sheet of black poster board, and I found a pair of small size black yoga sweat pants in the discount shelf at Walgreens for under $4.

I do want to give a HUGE thank-you to groupleaderzeta for his help as well. He's been in communications with me and hooked me up with some good patterns, which I'm also working on making into a more "complete" form to post on my web site. I'll probably do that when I start the costume build.

Looks like I might start the robot build this weekend. Of course I'll keep everyone updated on the progress.

[RavenLX]

The Alpha Rex is built! It took about 2.5 - 3 hours total, actually. Wasn't too bad a build. I haven't ran any programs on it or tested it yet but at least it's a start.

I think the feet may need either some adjustment in size or the costume will have huge boots! LOL!

NXT Mindstorms 2.0 Alpha Rex Robot - base for the Cylon Centurion Robot.