Pondering

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Recently I’ve been planning a few things that I want to post on my blog, and some other sites. Check out the list!

• Probability Intro & Bayes Theorem Tutorial
• Bayes Filter Algorithm Tutorial
• Bayes Filter Algorithm Example
• BubbleBoy Tutorial

I could extrapolate this idea into a special bloggy tutorial week where I post something each day!
Also in the works is my line following robot, and some acoustic modeling stuff. I’m pretty sure my method for the acoustic modeling will work well. Basically it will analyze the time where the waveform hits a 0, minimizes and maximizes. I’ll apply some sort of filter algorithm (not sure which one(s) yet) and then compare that result with a database of results, complete with the other mins and maxs. I can’t really explain it well yet, as it’s still in my head. After that I’ll have to implement the language model, which will choose the right word from the results of the acoustic model based on the previous words uttered and the topic!

From what I’ve seen… some recognizers are trying to skip the language model step by listening for specific phonemes in the acoustic model to try to figure out what the word is. Then, the LM’s job is to just ensure that that word makes sense in the sentence.

That process is overly complicated, all you have to hear are the words that are uttered- not all the phonemes. It is true that we don’t pronounce words the same… (nu-clee-ar vs nu-cu-lar) but essentially if one has an accent, the maxs and mins should still be comparable to the word in a “perfect” sense. (This is where the various filters and algs come in)

So yeah…

Thanks to Ron for donating $200!! It’s going to go towards a serial servo controller, a soldering iron and other things I’m so humbled by their generosity
It will definitely keep me occupied while I wait to go to university in January!

Posted in: Other, Programming, Projects, Robot.

Astonishment

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

You know that Cylon contest, over at MAKE and DVICE?
Well, I may not have been able to enter, but they featured my Styrobot!

I went from $200 to $700 to $1000 in a matter of hours. I’m quite flattered, really!

I’d just like to shout-out to everyone that has helped! This means all the anonymous people, thank you all so much! Also, Jon, Win, Norri, Adrenalynn from Trossen Robotics Community Forum for buying my three Styrobots (and wanting me to autograph them XD), RoboJenny, Mike, Chris, Laurel, and (a different) Chris!!! Thanks so much to all of you. I really appreciate it.
Also, thanks a bunch to Steve who made the article on Robots.net and Kevin who made the article on DVICE.com. I really appreciate it! :D :D
I updated some stuff around as I had spare time,

• Posted pics of Teachers Styrobots
• Posted pics of Rube Goldberg machine
• Posted pics of uCHobbygoo

It has been an amazing few days, thanks to everyone! I really do appreciate it, really!

THANKS!

And thanks a bunch to Miss Gierus!

Posted in: News, Projects, Robot, Robot News, Tech News.

Delivery, Donation, and a Feature!

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Sunday, June 1st, 2008

My Styrobots have reached uC Hobby successfully! I’m really happy that they didn’t get damaged! They look as awesome as can be! I’m sure they will be really happy there. Thanks!

Here are ‘high-res’ pics of uCHobbygoo and Jigglygoo.

Pretty neat! I made the logo part with a sharpie
I’d really like to thank Pablo Bleyer for his donation of $50! Thanks a bunch! It’s a really generous donation. He has some really cool projects too, like javabotics! His website is so neatly organized with the news and who what when where why how part on his projects. Everyone should do this. I’m going to be sending him a Styrobot, after I get back from the trip. Thank you!!

Last but not least, there’s an article at robots.net about my Styrobots! WOW! Thanks so much to them! I really love that site, I found it when I was playing around with my MANOI AT01. I’m so honoured!! THANKS!

Posted in: Projects, Robot.

Styrobots #6 and 7

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Friday, May 30th, 2008

Okay, so two ‘new’ Styrobots have been posted on Etsy.

Here are the next 10 that will be made

However… before I put the next 10 Styrobots on Etsy, the 4 that are on Etsy have to sell. (I need money to buy the parts!)

I’m going to upload lots of pics of Styrobots tonight to the MAKE flickr pool, maybe it will draw some attention to this!

Posted in: Projects, Robot.

$100 from my mom

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

My mom just donated $100 towards my BubbleBoy project!

Wow - all this generosity in a few days!

THANK YOU!!

Posted in: Projects, Robot.

NanoQuébec to receive $11 million in Quebec government funding

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Friday, November 30th, 2007

Today at a major gathering of businesspeople and scientists, NanoQuébec it to be awarded significant Quebec government funding, to the tune of $11 million over the next three years. The announcement will be made by Mr. Raymond Bachand, minister of economic development, innovation and export trade, tourism minister and minister responsible for the Montreal region. The occasion is the official launch of NanoQuébec’s funding program for key research facilities selected through a recent competition.
In the long run, this funding will help consolidate Quebec’s leadership position in Canadian nanotechnology and create wealth in Quebec by accelerating the development and adoption of nanotechnology in the province’s industrial sector.

This is great news, but how is Quebec affording everything?? They are making a huge, extravoguent park with waterfountains and glorious gardens in the middle of new huge boulevards. Also, they are going to be spending gazillions on roads and overpasses. And, what happened to the new two hospitals they are going to build? Something doesn’t sound right…
Link.

Posted in: News, Tech News.