The 3D Raddict

Just added a little exercise (and solution) for applying FSM to motor control.

Lately, I've fallen behind in catering for the needs of 3DRadders.So, as I have just acquired the latest version 7.22 of 3DRad for the princely sum of $5, I am going to let it see a bit of action. As a start, I am going to make my set of virtual robotic parts available as the learning content for a series of basic robotic programming tutorials, utilising 3DRad and its scripting language, AngelScript.
All of this is to be for personal and non-commercial use only.
The content can be downloaded from  my Robotics page here.
 
The tutorials start on my 3DRad Special Tutorials page here
I will be proceeding at a regular pace with these tutorials, so stay tuned!

Another step forward towards completion.

Last night I was looking through the projects in My Projects and took note of those that had fallen behind through lack of time. Those projects being the Virtual Factory Project, the MindStorms Robotics Project, and
My First Real Game. This is when the Eureka! moment hit me..........why not combine them all into one! Produce a Game embodying the basic principles of each! Hey, I've been working with process control and automation for 28 years, so that side should not present too many problems.......its turning it all into a computer game which will be the challenge!
Anyway, its given me something to think seriously about over the coming days and months.
My other projects - the Meccano Project, the Surfing Simulation Project  the Virtual Workbench Project  and  My Hometown Walkthrough Project will serve as interesting diversions.

Progress has now resumed on the Lifting Shovel
The addition of the Jib assembly has enhanced its looks and weight!

As mentioned in my previous blogs, I have been testing out the Oddity 3D Engine over the past 6 months. I have found it to be exceptional in performance and functionality. I am now happy to say that it has now been released to the public and is available from the Oddity Interactive website. You will be able to download a TechDemo which gives an excellent overview of its many features.
The last month has seen me busy making breaking waves whilst experimenting with water. I now have the beginnings of a decent wave to continue with my Surfing Simulation project.I have added a video showing my progress to date.
As a little break from water, I hope to now continue further with building the Meccano Lifting Shovel.

I'm time-slicing between three projects at the moment :
1) Building the Meccano Lifting Shovel

2) Experimenting with water and terrain techniques (with a view to my Hometown Walkthrough Project )

3) I'll be resurrecting Robbie the Robotic Arm from a 3DRad Virtual Workbench project I did some time ago.

And I'm also working on another robotic arm (named R6) I discovered at Google 3D Warehouse. This one has some nice detail and will be a little more challenging to simulate.

The shovel now owns some rear wheels and a differential. At this stage, due to the detail of the model, I can see that a good graphics card and a fast CPU will be required to obtain decent framerates.

Just lately I've been bobbing about between Meccano Lifting Shovels and Realtime Water. I've always been a water fanatic, both in real life and virtual; so, because I'm surrounded by water in my Hometown Walkthrough Project, I thought it best to start off with the water and get it right. All types of water......shallow with ripples, deeper lagoon water, ocean water, and a pounding surfline with breaking waves. I'll be using the "soon-to-be-released" Oddity engine for all my work (at the moment, I'm using the pre-release version,with some great results!) I've made a video of my first steps with water........see My Odds and Sodds page.

And a quick pic: