This issue is jam-packed with innovative ideas, practical lessons, and sound solutions for robotics applications. If you’re currently working your way around a design obstacle or looking for inspiration to start that next great project, you just may find the solution in these articles.

In “Robot Localization and Control,” Brown University colleagues Ethan Leland, Kipp Bradford, and Odest Chadwicke Jenkins demonstrate how to create an effective localization system for accurate control of a mobile robotic network (p. 36). Using a Freescale MC13192 evaluation board, this group built a sophisticated ZigBee-based system to control a WowWee Robosapien humanoid robot. They succeeded in creating a system that determines the robot’s position with great precision. It’s not surprising that this project won Honorable Mention in the 2005 Freescale Wireless Design Challenge.

This month, we also have an incredible animatronics system designed by a Hollywood visual effects creator. Peter Montgomery, who has designed stepper-motor-based systems for Disney Studios, created an elaborate display for Halloween (p. 16). Peter’s programmable Freescale 68HC11 microcontroller-based servo animation controller is the backbone of his prop system, which includes a talking skull and an animated raven. Building a similar project looks like a fun challenge. If you start now, you’ll have seven months to complete your own unique high-tech Halloween display to impress your neighbors.

 If you’re looking for an autonomous outdoor robot that can handle rugged terrain, you won’t be disappointed with Beavis, which was designed by a group of Texas Tech University colleagues (p. 24). Paul Beckling, Ray Pettit, Todd Quasny, and Robert Watson worked together in the Abilene AI and Robotics Lab to convert a Fisher-Price motorized Power Wheels Jeep into a sturdy and efficient robot. In their article, they explain how they designed Beavis by adding a Rabbit 3000 microcontroller, various sensors, a motor controller, and a servo.

For more on servo control, read Michael Dvorsky’s article about his budget-friendly serial servo controller (p. 80). Using a Lynxmotion SSC-32 servo controller and an Atmel ATmega8 microcontroller, Michael built a system that enables him to generate stable servo pulses for up to 32 servo channels. It’s perfect for walking robots. In this article, Michael discusses the design process from beginning to end, giving you a complete picture of what it takes to develop a similar application for your own needs.

Those of you who share columnist Jeff Bachiochi’s love of the sciences and mathematics and enthusiasm for sharing that enjoyment will not want to miss his project based on the programmable Scribbler Robot by Parallax (p. 30). Jeff provides a thorough analysis of the Scribbler Robot and walks you through some fun, inexpensive experiments you can do with children to introduce them to robotics.

This issue features a lot of fresh ideas that can be applied in a variety of robotics applications. Get ready to start building!

jennifer.huber@circuitcellar.com