Hal Android Head

[Sulla]

Hi I am working on an android head to be controlled by my computer. And I am thinking of using Hal but I am not sure how easy it is to use the Hal brian editor to get him to control external servos. I will probably be using this one http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/MotorServoControllers/tabid/160/CategoryID/35/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/346/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName

Here is my concept art of the head.

Larger image http://www.pwlawrence.com/temp_art/Android_Concept01.jpg



And here is an image as it stands now.

[tedathome]

Very interesting, nice artwork! Keep us posted as to your progress as many of us here are interested in robotics in use with hal.[:)][:)]

[onthecuttingedge2005]

Hi Sulla.

after installing the software, I looked in the regedit for COM's but didn't see any that were available nor did I see any .ocx or .dll file to control the interface via code in the C:\Program Files\Parallax Inc\PSCI folders.

I think you'd be better off with a servo software that supports ActiveX
if you can get an ActiveX software then I will hook you up sweetly.

Jerry[8D]

[Sulla]

Well I could always use this http://www.seetron.com/ssc.htm. The only problem is that its not ramping. And if they are not ramping you cant control the speed going from one position to another. I will do some more research to see what all is on the market besides this these.

Oh and thanks for the help:)

[Sulla]

Here is another possible controller with ramping. http://www.oricomtech.com/mscc20.htm

[onthecuttingedge2005]

Hi Sulla.

It seems that http://www.oricomtech.com/mscc20.htm is selling their software, if that is the case then I can't buy it to help you out with
interfacing it with HAL.

two things.
1. it must be a free software, open sourced.
2. it must be built with activeX .ocx or .dll file control ability.

does anyone out there know of an activeX servo controller software that is open sourced?

Jerry[8D]

[Sulla]

Well I just noticed OricomTech  is not taking any more orders anyway. I didnt think it would be this hard to find a good servo controller. :)

[Sulla]

Hmm found some a third party program to control the Parallax Servo controller. Maybe it will have something useful. http://www.crustcrawler.com/software/psc/index.php

[Sulla]

OK after doing more research I have decided on a servo controller. I am going to use the SSC-32 from Lynxmotion. This one has a lot of features, controls a lot of servos and is very widely used and supported. http://www.lynxmotion.com/Product.aspx?productID=395&CategoryID=52

I can also use it with the Roborealm vision system without much trouble. They already have a module to interface with it directly and the code to have it follow movement from a webcam. http://www.roborealm.com/help/Lynxmotion_SSC.php

What I am not sure about is how to interface these things with Ultra Hal.

[Bill819]

Sulla
The two pictures of heads that you show, are they real or just pictures? If they are real, where did you get them?
Bill

[Sulla]

The first picture is concept art of what the secound picture (real) will look like when its finished. I ordered the head from Ebay. It was a mannequin bust then I cut the head section off. The stand is an antique fan base that came from the scrap yard. At the moment it probably has cost all of $50.