Weekly Robotics #109
Image Credit: DrGuero2001
Awesome Weekly Robotics, a curated set of projects from a curated newsletter, is currently at 199 stars on GitHub. If you are looking for some open source projects then I recommend checking it out, and if you think there are some projects that I’ve missed then don’t hesitate to let me know. The most clicked last week was the Roadmap for US Robotics with 13.8% opens.
Biped Robot Challenges Floor Exercise
In this video, you will see a servo based bipedal robot having some very good CoG control. I highly recommend going through DrGuero2001 channel for some more interesting videos of robots balancing (I liked this one showing the robot on a tightrope).
2020 ROS Metrics Report
If you are wondering how is ROS growing year-to-year then these statistics might give you some idea.
Dealing With A Hacked Brain; Let’s Talk About Depression
This is not your usual Weekly Robotics entry but I think the issue is so important that it’s worth highlighting it. In this unusual Hackaday post, Bob Baddeley shares his experience on dealing with depression in the days of Pandemic. Take care of yourself and if you want to grab a virtual coffee with someone then feel free to send me an e-mail.
Finalists Announced For The 2020 Hackaday Prize
While we are visiting Hackaday this post highlights some of the finalists of the Hackaday 2020 Prize. Some of the projects listed are fascinating (some of them even appeared in this newsletter already). For a full list of finalists and categories check out this list.
Boston Dynamics CEO Talks Profitability and the Company’s Next Robots
Did you know that BostonDynamics sold around 250 robots up to date? Or that Handle is the next robot in the pipeline for the Company? You will learn this and a bit more from this interview with Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics.
GITAI Sending Autonomous Robot to Space Station
GITAI (WR #32, WR #106) is going to space, this time instead of telepresence focusing more on autonomy. Looking forward to seeing how everything works out on ISS!
Zipline Partners With Walmart on Commercial Drone Delivery
If you’ve never heard of Zipline then check out this 10 minute video that explains how the company operates in Rwanda. I’m not a fan of drone deliveries mostly due to noise pollution, a small hope is that the fixed-wing is way more quieter than a multirotor but as Evan Ackerman mentions in the article it might be quite challenging to drop a package with a parachute exactly where you want it.
Publication of the Week - Design of a Low-Cost Open-Source Underwater Glider (2018)
This paper describes a design of a <$1k open-source underwater glider. This robot is built from 7 subassemblies, containing many 3D printed parts. The glider can change buoyancy by taking in the water into surgical syringes using a piston system. To learn more about the project this Hackaday page contains a video and a link to the project repository.
Sponsored
Huge thanks to all of the Weekly Robotics supporters helping this project through Patreon and the following business partners:
Careers
6 River Systems
Senior Software Engineer - Movement/Behavior, Sr. Software Engineer Robotics (Perception)
6 River Systems (6RS) is a Shopify (SHOP) company leading the way to faster fulfillment. We’re revolutionizing warehouse automation with collaborative mobile robots driven by artificial intelligence and advanced cloud-based software.