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Linux-Controlled Segway Robot

Posted by timothy on from the idle-rich-adjust-the-throttle dept.

ptorrone writes "It was just a matter of time until the Segway technology would be used as a robotics platform. University of Southern California Robotics Lab's Segway RMP (Robotic Mobility Platform) has a lot of great information if you're looking to convert a Segway to a robot. On the site there are videos as well as instruction on how to build your own." Update: 07/13 21:30 GMT by T : Dr. Andrew Howard writes with an important clarification about the project: "This is *not* a standard Segway HT that we have converted to robotics applications. Rather, this is a customized, limited production unit that has been specially modified by the manufacturer. The web-site does *not* show how to convert an existing Segway HT into a robotic platform."

16 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. World's most expensive consumer RC toy by curtlewis · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are you laughing at the economic woes of other Americans? Have plenty of money to blow?

    This THIS is the toy for you!

  2. I know evrybbody has laughed at it already but.... by botzi · · Score: 4, Funny

    ....if there's still someone who's not seen the original presentation vids........You don't know what you're missing;o))

    --
    1. No sig. 2. ???? 3. Profit!!!
  3. Controlled Segway Robot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny


    Like this one?

  4. well sign me up! by donutz · · Score: 3, Funny

    I better add another Segway to my Amazon.com wishlist: that way I can have one to drive around myself, and I can train my linux-robot-segway (I'll name him Frank) to follow me around, and guard my segway when I leave it outside as I shop. Unless I can take it into the store, in which case I'll just have to make Frank into a self-propelled grocery cart.

    Excellent!

  5. I just hope... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    it doesn't CRASH

    People will be dying in droves if the stability of my own Linux box is any indication.

  6. I'd rather... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Have a how-to on turning a Segway into something that doesn't suck.

  7. I'm a real man.. by craigtay · · Score: 2, Funny

    I used Visual Basic .NET to build MY Segway robot. These people who use Linux are nuts!

    --
    Paint.NET, a Free Image Editor, with Source Code Available!
  8. Segway marketing department brainstorming session by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 1, Funny
    OK, so we made a semi-stable two-wheeled platform. How can we turn this into money? Try

    1: Geek commuter toy.

    2: Toy robot.

    What next... I guess if you lie it on its side you could sell it as a pottery wheel.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  9. Silly people... by AntiOrganic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dean Kamen is a robot.

    Haven't you seen his house? He has a machine shop next to his kitchen. The only plausible explanation for this is that he eats nuts and bolts.

    1. Re:Silly people... by The+Cydonian · · Score: 2, Funny
      How about, he is a nut?

      (*ducks and runs... err, bolts*)

      --
      More than mere navel gazing.
  10. Re:Catchy headline by arcanumas · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is slashdot man.
    If it run Win XP, the article would read:
    Maniacal robot running Windows XP is unleashed unto the world. How long before it kills someone?

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    Slashdot Sig. version 0.1alpha. Use at your own risk.
  11. Just don't run a server on it... by rasafras · · Score: 2, Funny

    You don't want the /. effect taking a few walls and shelves with it as a rouge segway careens down the halls... unless they put a webcam on it :)

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    webpage
  12. Matt Groening's Dream Realized by Ilan+Volow · · Score: 4, Funny


    Why the fuck would someone want to tear apart an umpteen thousand dollar toy and, in the process, make it even more useless?

    Because it puts us one step further towards the dream of robots that drink alcohol and steal things.

    --
    Ergonomica Auctorita Illico!
  13. Re:falling over by SEWilco · · Score: 2, Funny
    When will someone invent a 2 legged table with dynamic stability?

    Give me $6,000 and I think I can find some epoxy.

  14. Toaster: Check by PhilMills · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well... an Athlon 800, anyway.

    --
    Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, will be quoted out of context on
  15. Re: yeah, torque is cheap by EvilAlien · · Score: 3, Funny
    The typical adult is 200 lbs?!

    If that is the case, its time to ditch the segways and buy friggin' STAIRMASTERS.

    --
    perl -e 'print $i=pack(c5, (41*2), sqrt(7056), (unpack(c,H)-2), oct(115), 10)'