Make A Palm into a PalmBot

Posted By: Ed Sunday, April 21, 2002 2:18:17 PM

Palm OS handhelds can be used for lots of things, from keeping track of phone numbers to writing the Great American Novel. For those looking for an unusual way to use their Palm, consider making it into a robot. There are several kits available for a range of skill levels, from the amateur to the expert.

J. Osborn has developed a robot controlled by a Palm and a Pontech serial interface module. His website gives a complete description on how to make one. The materials for this add up to less than $150, not counting the Palm, of course.

Lud's Open Source Corner has instructions for making a PalmCybot, a PalmBot based on a robot kit sold by Eaglemoss Publications.

Acroname sells kits for making a Palm-based robot. They have two versions, the BareBones Kit for $260 and the Easy Kit for $300. The BareBones kit requires users to download the instructions, modify the servos, glue the connector, and wire the serial cable. The Easy Kit includes the instructions and requires only a screwdriver to assemble.

Thanks to Ludovic D. for the tip. -Ed

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Old News...

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 2:52:04 PM #
Sorry Ed, but this has been around for at least a year, and it was widely reported then. There is nothing new in this. That's not to say that it's not neat, it's that it's not news.

Must be a slow news day...

-Brett Blatchley

RE: Old News...
Ed @ 4/21/2002 2:54:38 PM #
Brett, I strongly suggest you don't pick up a Sunday paper. The fact that it is full of articles on dog grooming, skateboards, and relating to your mother-in-law is going tie you up for the rest of the day writing letters to the editor complaining that none of that stuff is new. Sorry, I realize that sounds kind of obnoxious but I think puts this article into perspective.

Of course it's a slow news days; its Sunday. On weekends, I like to run articles that aren't necessarily timely but might be interesting to a good number of readers. Sometimes these are about products that might be available in the future. Sometimes these are about products that have been out for so long that people may have forgotten about them

As always, just because a story isn't interesting to you, doesn't mean it isn't interesting to anyone. I try but it isn't possible for everything that I write be interesting to everyone. Please feel free to not read anything you aren't interested in.

Have a good Sunday.
---
News Editor

RE: Old News...
scaught @ 4/21/2002 3:15:04 PM #
that was the most carefully and politely planned and executed "handing of ones ass" ive ever seen in an online forum. high marks from all the judges.

WOW --- OLD
nuopus @ 4/21/2002 3:24:24 PM #
Who was the bright one that posted this new story that has been out for close to 2 years or more? I bought my PalmVx when it FIRST came out and I remember reading about this story .. then old, and wondering if I could use my Vx for it.

RE: Old News...
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 3:28:11 PM #
Wow, you read about the PalmCybot 2 years before it was created? You are astonishing!!
^~^
RE: Old News...
skytraveler @ 4/21/2002 3:52:15 PM #
I had no idea you could make a Palm handheld into a robot. Thanks Ed for the info. Even though some readers in this forum think everything should be according to their wishes, I'm glad you are reporting interesting information about Palm. Thanks again.

The SkyTraveler
RE: Old News...
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 4:02:44 PM #
So do I, I haven't heard of anything about PalmBot or anything similiar. Thanks for enlighting us, Ed!
RE: Old News...
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 4:18:33 PM #
Hey here's more news about Palm:

1992 - Invented by Jeff Hawkins and marketers Donna Dubinsky and Ed Colligan

1995 - U.S. Robotics buys Palm Computing for $44 million

1997 - 3Com buys U.S. Robotics and Palm becomes a subsidiary

July 2000 - Palm separates from 3Com


Posting this since a lot didn't know the history...

:)

The picture is old but links are new !
ldrolez @ 4/21/2002 5:26:55 PM #
Sorry, but Osborn's bot and the palmcybot links are new !
I know since I'm the creator of the PalmCybot !
Just release 15 days ago !
And It's the 1st palm robot with all source release under the GNU GPL. (open source) !

CLICK THE LINK!
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 8:41:19 PM #
Did any of you whiners bother to click the link to the CyBot? If not, then ****!
If you actually clicked the link you would see that the CyBot that this story is really about IS NEW! The picture that Ed posted in the article itself is the old one from two years ago (or whatever). The bot on the other page that the article links to is new. I'm not sure why Ed picked the old bot to post a pic of, but it doesn't really matter anyway. It seems as if the article doesn't say "blah blah SONY blah blah..." then you just complain about it. Get a life, and let other people live and enjoy their own lives.
Geez.
WOW --- OLD
nuopus @ 4/22/2002 12:29:43 AM #
Uhhhhh no This is NOT new. The original picture and designs with IO layout are from MIT a few years back. I was looking at the servos and boards to get for it a while back. This is just someone who took the SAME EXACT ROBOT and is trying to sell it.

The robot itself is NOT new. The only thing new about it is it is actually being marketed and sold as a kit.

RE: WOW --- OLD
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 1:07:31 AM #
Whoa! Cut Ed some slack, would ya? If you don't wanna read the article then don't. In fact, don't even come to PalmInfocenter if you don't want to. There are tons of other good Palm News sites out there, like... hmmmm... can't think of any. Why don't you start one and give us all the URL? And then be prepared for responses from a bunch of dorks as soon as you post an article that they don't like.

- kb

RE: Old News...
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 3:27:39 AM #
To the original poster,

Are you stupid of something? If you don't like what you see, why do you keep coming back to read? You must be really bored and really stupid. You should get a real job or something.

RE: Old News...
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 10:05:49 AM #
I suppose that the Clie worshippers will think this sux because it doesn't have an MP3 player.
RE: Old News...
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 11:08:21 AM #
"I suppose that the Clie worshippers will think this sux because it doesn't have an MP3 player."

Please look in the mirror and ask yourself, "why do I hate people so much?"

RE: WOW --- OLD
jjsoh @ 4/22/2002 11:29:05 AM #
Taken from Merriam-Webster @ http://www.m-w.com :

Main Entry: news
Pronunciation: 'nüz, 'nyüz
Function: noun plural but singular in construction
Usage: often attributive
Date: 15th century
1 a : a report of recent events b : previously unknown information
2 a : material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast b : matter that is newsworthy

Quote:
-----

"The robot itself is NOT new. The only thing new about it is it is actually being marketed and sold as a kit."

-----

So, then how is THIS STORY not NEWS? By the definition above and by YOUR OWN admission, it's what it is, whether in parts or as a whole: news.

Maybe Ed should stop posting ANY related news about ANY Palm because posting any story about a palm that has already been released is so old hat.

Besides, it's news to me as I'm sure it is for many other PIC readers especially newcomers.


Jim

RE: Old News...
swinginjonny @ 4/22/2002 2:12:01 PM #
I really liked the Clie comment. I DOES seem like something someone would post here. (Don't get me wrong, I would buy a Clie if I wasn't a poor college student. But the Sony supporters do tend to be more vocal.) I guess I'm just saying that this whole bulletin board always cracks me up so just keep taking things way too seriously and I'll just keep laughing!

(Self-confessed Palm Geek)

Springboard Module?

terrysalmi @ 4/21/2002 3:07:28 PM #
As I recall, wasn't their also a springboard module for Visors in development to do the same thing?

RE: Springboard Module?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 6:13:29 PM #
Yes, but instead of releasing the VBot Springboard, they gutted some of the circuitry and came out with the Power napping module instead.

Even earlier Palm Robot version.

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 4:48:57 PM #
This is also interesting robot hack, goes all the way to Palm pilot days. (PPRK only goes to Palm III)

Direction, schematic, and download.

http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~suu/PalmRobo/PiloRobo_e.shtml

A use for old palm's

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/21/2002 5:11:04 PM #
With so many new palm's out there, this article might remind or be of interest to people to give them something to do with that old palm just sitting around doing nothing but collecting dust.
RE: A use for old palm's
WireLes @ 4/21/2002 11:26:51 PM #
Looks like I know what my...err I mean my Son's next Science Fair project will be..... o)

Re-Think Anonymous access.
TDS @ 4/22/2002 1:23:17 AM #
Looks like it is time to rethink access by "I.M. Anonymous". These personal insults against Ed would push me over the edge. I vote that Anonymous users should not be allowed to post.
Doug

Re-Think Anonymous access
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 1:31:08 AM #
>Posted by: TDS @ 4/22/2002 1:23:17 AM

>Looks like it is time to rethink access by "I.M. ?>Anonymous". These personal insults against Ed would >push me over the edge. I vote that Anonymous users >should not be allowed to post.
>Doug

Well, I really don't see the difference between "TDS" and "I.M. Anonymous", especially "TDS" is actually "Doug".

Don't get me wrong, I don't like personal insults either. But I would think disabling anonymous posting will reduce activities and thus traffic. That's not something Ed wants to see, IMO.

Being too sensitive ?
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 2:53:06 AM #
At first glance, one can be forgiven for thinking this is just a rehash of an old story.

You can't get positive press all the time. So I'm baffled at the level of apparent touchiness from Ed and some self appointed defenders on this Robot article.

Telling your readers to go read something else just because they expressed an opinion that they found the story dated is not exactly wonderful.

(and pls. stop this 'anonymous' thingie. Being able to register any alias, effectively makes anyone anonymous: 'crustyloaf' or 'i m anonymous' - NO DIFFERENCE).


No More I.M. Anonymous

I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 3:30:16 AM #
Ed,

Would it be possible to turn off I.M. Anonymous access on the comments section?

RE: No More I.M. Anonymous
Lock @ 4/22/2002 6:44:27 AM #
Yes, there are registered users and their names are shown, but since a lot of ppl don't want to register, it would be more clear if there's a field where to insert their names, at least the forum would be more understandable.

Or, at least, put a banner or a button convincing ppl that registration is free. :]

It's so difficult to understand who's talking and who's answering.

Thanks :]

RE: No More I.M. Anonymous
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 10:08:59 AM #
****.
im anonymous stuff rocks.
RE: WOW --- OLD
jjsoh @ 4/22/2002 11:51:27 AM #
-----

Posted by: I.M. Anonymous @ 4/22/2002 3:30:16 AM

Ed,

Would it be possible to turn off I.M. Anonymous access on the comments section?

-----

An IMA asking to disable IMA posts? Hilarious! :)

Anyway, I'd have to agree with the others. I personally don't like IMA's, but disabling IMA posts will not keep the insults from coming. We'll just know who they're from.

Besides, though I hate to admit it, sometimes.. trolls post funny stuff. ^_^


Jim

I.M. Anonymous. Dead or alive.
orb2069 @ 4/22/2002 4:51:15 PM #
Other options:
  • Limit a given IP to one anonoymous post per hour

  • Display IP addresses of the source of unregistered posts.

  • Only allow anonymous posting through registered accounts.


Yes, I KNOW the children will still do their best to piss in the oatmeal - Why not make it as difficult for them as possible?

I /am/ the eggman.
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