The Powerful Trio

Okay, so your robotic arm does not pick heavy objects and you cant keep adding Gear Systems (there are really expensive!). So what do you do?

Maybe, you should use the Powerful Trio - Force, Surface Area and Pressure into use. Let me first give you the definitions of the three concepts:

Surface Area: A mathematical term that tells us how much surface is exposed
Force: Any external influence that makes an object move.
Pressure: Force applied per unit area.

Using all three, you can spread the force to an area. Lets take an example of this object lifter:

This lifter has a cool gear system. But notice the Arm is attached through the small axle. It has a small area of contact on the Long L Clip.

Less the surface area, more is the net pressure on the area of contact. And the resultant force on the shaft of the motor makes it difficult to pick objects.

Here's the solution. Design the robot in such a way so that the pressure is distributed to different contact points.

This Object Lifter can lift greater load as we now have two points of contact where pressure is well distributed.

The Powerful Trio definitely makes your robot more powerful!!

At the Right Angle

What is Torque?

Torque is a force that tends to rotate objects. Any rotating body has three parts:

1. Origin of axis: The point around which the body rotates.

2. Distance of arm : The origin and the point at which force is applied

3. Angle of force: The angle between the arm and force applied.

The angle of force is very crucial. Any force directed parallel to the particle’s position vector does not produce torque.

Torque is applied in various parts of the robot:

1. The robot base:

If you require the robot base to move, we need to turn the robot. The torque at the base depends on the force applied by the motor. Force is a function of mass and acceleration. Hence both speed of the motor and weight of the robot matter in the robot base.

2. The robot arm:

The concept of torque is important in a robot arm. Here torque is generally applied on the shaft of the motor. We can increase the torque in the arm using Gear Systems. The application of gear systems is given in another document.

So next time you design a robot, remember to keep the angle right!!

Degrees of Freedom

Degree of Freedom(DOF) is a very important concept in robotics. A robot arm can have movement either in one, two or three dimensions. Based on the the movement, the robot arm can have the following Degrees of movements:

1. One dimension will have one degree of freedom. This means it can only change its location form one point to another. Similar to a sliding door.
2. Two dimensions will have three degrees of freedom. The object can change its as well as rotate along an axis.Similar to a pendulum.
   
3. Three dimensions will have six degrees of freedom. The object can move as well as rotate along all three axis. Similar to a human hand.

So, while you are creating robotic arms, do keep the DOF in mind!

Robotics Fun in Bloom School!

We just began The Robomania wworkshop at the Bloom Public School, Vasant Vihar. The kids at the workshop were excited about the concept of Robotics. They also gave me a few suggestions on robots which I would like to share:

...robot that could carry a school bag fro the me

...Ma'am , can we make a dancing robot today?

...I want to design robots that can help my mom!!!

Which such creative ideas, I am pretty sure that these kids will do wonders in the field of robotics!

What's a Robot??

We just had demo on Robotics at the Mt. Carmel School and had an interesting point to note - kids are more informed about robotics than I am!!!

We had a small talk on what robots are and how they work, and I asked the kids if a fan is a robot. Mostly, the answer was no - it does not have intelligence.

But one kid answered "Ma'am, but it still has intelligence.When we turn the switch on"

Well, he has a point. The fan is intelligent enough to start moving when we turn on the switch.
But this puts us in a dilema, what exactly is a robot?

Joseph Engelberger, a pioneer in industrial robotics, once remarked: "I can't define a robot, but I know one when I see one." (quoted from Wikipedia -did some googling on it)

While we all have our own ways of defining a robot, there is one thing that I am sure - everyone loves robots around them!!!!

Robomania - Learning by Doing

Robomania at East of Kailash

You may remember what you read, but you'll never forget what you do. Robomania is a robotics workshop where you make robots while working practically on Science, Mathematics and Computer Science!!
For a Robomania Workshop /Seminar a your school, visit www.bulo.in or call 9818403093.

Robomania Gurgoan Summer Camp!

Soccer Robots, Tank Robots, Lifiting Robots.... phew....the Gurgaon Summer Camp May 2010 included all this more.
With the Robotornics Lite Kit, participants created Robots tha can move pick and throw!
View the glimpes of our Camp below:


If you missed the fun, you can join the Gurgaon Batch 2 from 21st June to 25th June!
Log onto http://bulo.in/RegisterForClubs.aspx to register today.Hurry! Limited seats!

Robotics at British School !

Robomania conducted an Object Lifter Competition at The British School. The task was to create a robot that could pick robots and drop them in a basket in just 3 minutes!
Watch the classy designs participants created with Bulo R0botronics Lite.

If you wish to have a robot competition at your school contact at +91-9818403093 or visit http://www.bulo.in/.

BuLo RoboChamp on the Go!

Hi Friends!

We are proud to announce the launch of an exciting competition for school students from Class 4 to Class 9 - The BuLo RoboChamp.

In this competition, the partiticpants will be given a problem statement based on which they need to design a robot on the Competition Form. In 5 days time, the Competition Forms will be collected from the schools.

The winners will be gifted a BuLo Robotronics Lite Kit and given a title of BuLo RoboChamp Jr. and BuLoRoboChamp Sr. !

Watch out for this space for more updates!

Whats Your After School Program?

The concept of after -school programs was developed with the vision of engaing children in activites. It gives an exposure to kids to develop thier skills differnet from those taught in normal classrooom studies.

To make After School activites more engaing,Building Blocks devised the Robomania workshop. The curriculum of these workshops effectively combine concepts of Science and Mathematics with robot building activites.

To conduct these workshops in your school/institute , you can can contact us at +91-9818403093.

Robotics in Education

Hi Friends,

Robomania is all set to launch new series of workshops in the new academic session. In these workshops, kids get to create and design exciting robot models. And also, learn the application of Science Concepts.

Our workshops come in 3 ranges:

1. Robomania Lite: This is a crash- course workshop usually conducted as the Autumn Wokrshops and Spring Workshops. This course lets you learn about basics of Robot Designing and Motion in Robots.
2. Robomania Mini : Robomania Mini is popular as Summer Workshops and Winter Workshops. In this 5-7 day long workshop, kids engage in designing Robots beginning with the basics to the advanced level.
3. Robomania Full : Those interested in developing high-end robots should join the Robomania Full Club. Kids learn robotics concepts in this year-long course.Divided into 4 modules of 3 months each, this program gives full practical exposure of Science and Mathematics concepts.

If you are interested to join the workshop, call 9818403093.

Mechanical Designing Basics

Hi Friends,

To design the basic structure of any robot, we need to first design its body.

Kids at the Robomania Robotics Club learn the basics of Mechanical Design in Module 1. In first few sessions, the kids design a Formula 1 Robot. And while creating this robot, they practically apply the concepts of Motors and Motion.

To get more information on the club, call us at 9818403093.

New Concept

Practical learning is the new buzz word in the education world. But what exactly is meant by this term?

Practical Learning means learning by doing. Its understanding the application of concepts taught in class in real life.

Based on this form of learning, kids at the Robomania Robotics Club create moving robots and understand how Science and Mathematics concepts are used in real life.

For more information how Robomania can help in understanding concepts, log onto www.bulo.in or call us at +91-9818403093.

Robotronics on TimeOut

Our Robotronics kit has been featured in TimeOut.

bbWorkshop in The Hindustan Times

Here's an article on the Summer Workshop at Cairn India.

Inter School Robotics Challenge

Here's the article on the IRC.

Real Numbers - 1 Marks for CBSE HOTS

A sample test on Robotics - if you are participant, lets find out if you learnt anything. If not well another reason, you should join robotics club