[Robotics] Blender Free and Open Source Robot Worker

[Will Jackson]

The notion of humanoid robot as worker is an odd one - there really is 
no good reason to do it - we are already surrounded by highly
optimised 'robot' workers.

There are however some reasons to build a humanoid robot that IMHO are 
valid - interaction with humans, entertainment and education.
These are the areas where a human body model makes practical sense.

There is an often repeated assertion that in order to operate in a human 
centric world humanoid robots are necessary - this is simply not true 
and is proven by all the functional robots
already in use.

Humans are actually poorly adapted to many manual tasks - which is why 
we have developed a large range of power tools to assist us, the essence 
of good design is suitability for purpose why start out with a design 
model that is unfit?
I acknowledge a long standing and passionate desire to create mechanical 
/ artificial  representations of humanity - but why?


On 30/04/2010 13:49, robotuser118txu wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I sent this email to Ton, and he directed me to this mailing list. My idea
> is simple - to create a Blender robotics side of Blender. I say this because
> I find Blender to complement this notion that I had very well - both appeal
> to the same things, and both suit and complement each other perfectly. I
> cannot call this a project because it would be too simplistic to call it so.
> It's thus better to call it a notion - because that is what it is, a
> movement, in its most basic (and only) form.
>
> Dear Ton,
>
> All in all I believe this to be very exciting. The beauty of it is that it
> goes hand in hand with what you are trying to do. Believe it or not, this
> has the potential of changing our world into one which does not need to
> thrive in capitalism in order to survive. This complements, if not augments
> and extends, what you are trying to do with the free and open source model,
> which it will help immensely, as you can imagine why.
>
> You have seen the power that free and open source development has, with
> Blender gaining strides with each day that passes.
>
> It only takes good will to do this, of which you have plenty. I developed
> this notion because I believe that the free and open source model relates
> significantly with a society that does not need to depend on money in order
> to survive. I contacted you because I am impressed with what you have been
> able to do with Blender, given too that I am a user and also because I see a
> relation between Blender and the notion of a free and open source robot
> worker. Please give it serious thought. In order to thrive, this project or
> ambition needs a centralized direction, and you are the one that is best
> capable of providing that, given how successfully, enthusiastically and
> transparently you have managed Blender.
>
> There are many of us that wish that technology be used for the good of all,
> and this along with Blender are going to be the most important developements
> in human history, if I may take it lightly. Please tell me what you think of
> it.
>
> Thank you for your help and consideration,
>
> - Thomas
>
> Free and Open Source General Robot Worker
>
> Layout and guideline
>
> Two principal tenets of one fundamental principal, movement:
>
> 1) Actuators
>
> 2) Programming
>
> 1) Image recognition
>   2) Sound waves - sonar, echolocation
> Objective is to minimize recognition errors in relation to 3d model, in
> order to aid its movements as well as possible.
>
> - Create and recreate 3d map / model continously.
>
> Additional characteristics:
>
> - Light weight (aluminium, carbon fibre), soft body, moderate carrying and
> handling loads. All three will help in minimizing unwanted damage due to
> error. The objective is to ideally make it as least dangerous as possible.
>
> - Programmed through Opencl - parallel programming and computing.
>
> Challenges that have prevented robots from gaining foothold and that will
> need to be solved or are in the process of being solved:
>
> 1) Actuators - robot needs to be bipedal (with subset of robots being of
> other types) and with two arms and two hands, which is the most effective
> and natural of types in relation to movement and nature of work. Actuators
> need to be gravity-based - need to work with gravity (i.e., unlock/dislodge
> and lock) and not against it with regards to all of its movements, which is
> again the most normal and effective way.
>
> Point will be reached soon (through technological subsidies - i.e. moore's
> law generalized for entire branch of technology) whereby actuators will be
> good enough in relation to the necessities and nature of work, i.e. "good
> enough". This point can be reached more quickly through an effective open
> source technology/design.
>
> 2) Battery - assume limitless, point will be reached whereby batteries will
> be sophisticated and powerful enough to power robot for many hours. Can be
> solved partially by providing a remote source of energy, i.e. remote vehicle
> with power generator (through gas, oil) or battery tank which can serve as a
> recharging base for robot worker.
>
> 3) Programming - both dynamic (one branch will be everchanging without
> regards to improvement, the other continously updating/improving, noting
> that the two are not mutually exclusive) and static (which is not mutually
> exclusive with dynamic, assuming that a part of the dynamic side can be
> considered "almost static", i.e. various degrees of dynamic / static
> interoperability). There are only two true static parts that are static laws
> / definitions that do not and cannot be changed or updated by the robot:
>   1) Never put in danger other living beings.
>
> 2) Always create and recreate 3d map / model so that it is possible to work
> in the environment in relation to the first law and in relation to not
> damaging the environment, which is defined as causing any change that is not
> wanted when performing the task at hand, which ultimately always relates to
> the first.
>
> 4) Computing. The advent of parallel computing through cGPUs has brought the
> possibility of using many teraflops of computing power without a
> proportional increase in power usage, heat, space requirements, and cost.
>
> Objectives:
>
> To replace primary / raw labour
>
> 1) Construction. Houses, buildings, public necessities, and other subsets of
> construction, some of which may or may not be directly considered to be
> related to "construction" in the way that it is primarily defined.
>
> 2) Raw Material aggregation - mining, extraction, farming.
>
> 3) Agricultural.
>
> 4) Recycling.
>
> Eventually, to replace all of labour in public service.
>
>
> Challenges to Open source model:
>
> - Management. General management and direction through internet and website
> is needed in order to direct and motivate developers. Blender is an example
> of successful management.
>
> Advantages of Open source model:
>
> - Unrivalled values and unrivalled motivation. The best of ideas and the
> best of dedication come from the purest and most virtuous of ideals.
>
> - Number of workers working on a unified (when properly managed)
> development.
>
>
> Disadvantages:
>
> - Difficulty of proper execution, which can be solved through proper and
> indirectly centralized management - again, Blender is a successful example
> of proper execution.
>
>
> Types of work needed and available:
>
> - Programming
>
> - Engineering / Design
>
> --
>
> Hello Ton,
>
> Thanks for your reply :) Managing Blender must indeed be a very time
> consuming work, and I understand why you would like to schedule less work so
> that you can rest more.
>
> My idea is very simple - creating a free and open source robot worker is not
> that hard, it only takes good will and motivated people, who are guided by
> noble virtues and sentiments.
>
> The problem, as I explained, is that for a project like this to be
> successful, it needs to be directed as well as possible. This could
> apparently go against the notion of "free and open source", but it does not,
> because 1) it prevents the project from being fragmented or destroyed (thus,
> a momentum type of problem, where proper management makes the project gain
> momentum as greatly and as well as possible) 2) the direction of the project
> will still be democratic as long as the centralized management is as
> transparent in what they do as possible.
>
> Blender is as I said, the primary example of proper management. The idea
> behind this project is to be synergistic with Blender, in all of the
> intended forms that Blender was conceived to be, which are 1) the program
> itself 2) the will and community behind it, that are able to make Blender as
> good as possible (advantages that commercial applications by their nature
> cannot have). Thus, this project needs to be a subset of what Blender
> actually is, not merely/only a 3d program, but an all-important device that
> is able to turn the most noble and thoughtful of dreams into reality.
>
> I see that Blender also hosts a robotics related mailing list. That's great
> to know :) I'll register and send them them this.
>
> Regards,
>
> - Thomas
>
>    
>
>
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>    

-- 
Will Jackson

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