News Archives

It’s been in the coming for a while, and now is the time to release it to the webosphere (yes, I said “Web-o-sphere”).

Since Solarbotics Ltd. took over HVW Technologies, we simply couldn’t ignore some of the benefits of microcontrollers. Really, they’re not that scary. Many of them even look like our good friend the 74AC240 IC.

We’re starting our blending of technologies with the PICAXE line of microcontrollers. These have some specific features that make them very usable with BEAM projects:

1. They’re inexpensive. Most of us BEAMers are a cheap lot, scavenging for parts.
2. They’re SIMPLE. Plug in a USB cable, draw flow-charts, and download the code!
3. They offer suitability. With over 13 types from very simple and small (08 series) to the powerful 40X1 series,  you can pick the right tool for the job, without overkill. How BEAM-ish.

So if you’ve become too comfortable with your latest techniques, try something new. Stretch your brain, and check out the PICAXE. We’ve even got starter packs, and a book!

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Besides the PICAXE, we’re also dabbling with the Freeduino SB. This is a project spawned from the Arduino project out of Italy. It’s an open-source hardware and software project using the Atmel ATmega168 microcontroller.The really cool thing is that that it’s open-source, there’s a huge world-wide community of developers and users, so there’s lots of help, source-code, and examples to start with.

It’s more expensive than the PICAXE, but it’s a different beast. Where the PICAXE is generally just the chip, Freeduino is a full system. Besides the microcontroller, the Freeduino includes:

• USB interface (so you just plug it into your PC to use it. That’s it!)
• Programming software usable on Windows, Mac, and Linux,
• Programming language that is C-like, but simpler
• Built-in voltage regulation, indicator LEDs and a FUSE. How beginner-friendly is that? (Very!)

So if you’re more programming savvy than flowcharts and BASIC, check out a Freeduino SB, and do some web-searches. It’s an very useable, handy platform!

Rory Nugent (of Solar Xylophone fame) has posted his thesis presentation to the Interactive Telecommunications Program, which heavily features BEAM devices. By “building things with a sense of life”, he’s documenting what we’ve known for a good while - autonomous devices (”pets”) offer unusual interesting relationships.

Keep up the good work!

ArtBots 2008 was held on September 19-21 in the Science Gallery at the Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The show featured 15 works of art by 16 artists from 9 countries. Solarbotics Ltd was proud to provide several demo robots to the Science Gallery to use during ArtBots for their “hands-on” robot display.

One of the artists at the show was Christopher Kaczmarek with his piece “Untitled”. Other then its raw aesthetics, which is quite striking, it also uses the Solarbotics SCC3766 Solar Cell and GM10 Gear Motor (which really…how could that NOT increase its awsomishisness). Check out the video and crank up the volume to listen to the tappity-tapping of a solar powered egg shell anthem.

Now why would we schedule interruptions? Umm… because it gives us time to enjoy a cookie and milk without the phone ringing. Every accidentally dip your headset mic into a glass of milk? It starts to smell funky in a day or two…

Anyway, it isn’t really our fault - it’s just some local infrastructure around our office being upgraded. So if you can’t get through to us on Friday September 19 2008 for a bit, you’ll know why. Sorry!

I just  have to remember to pack in a fresh bag of cookies and carton of milk tomorrow morning…

We are so historical here, that we are going to be closed for Heritage Day - Monday August 4th.  Never fear we’ll be back on Tuesday 5th!  No orders will be processed or sent out on that day, but we will be shipping on Tuesday.

Cheers,
Solarbotics Team!

Solarbotics and HVW Tech will be closed Monday June 30th in lieu of Canada Day.We will be open again on Tuesday July 1st, and will be answering your calls, emails and general supplications - but will not be shipping as our couriers will not be picking up or delivering that day.

Solarbotics and HVW Tech will be open on Friday July 4th with limited staff in the morning as we make our annual trek to the world famous Calgary Stampede parade!

Actually, it’s been done, but not this nicely. Those guys at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have a nice report on their “microglider” project. They do some fine work!

Bah. That picture is too small! Let’s look at a BIG one!

Ooo! And they have more big pictures here! This one is nice - it shows the mechanics on the oher side. (Don’t you love the intarwebs?)

Well, we’ve been back for a few weeks now, and the demobots still have to be unpacked. It was a blast. From what we understand, attendance was up almost 50% over last year. Traffic was backed-up from the local highway to the fairgrounds.

There were LOTS of new exhibits. We should know - we’ve been to every Maker Faire so far!

Oh, and Solarbotics’ Cheryl was caught demonstrating “Herbie the Mousebot”…

Hi all.

It’s Monday, May 19th, and for some reason, we have something called “Victoria Day” today. We’re not open today, but I promise, we’ll be back in tomorrow, rested and relaxed and ready to process your orders!

Now to just beat these darn springtime allergies…sniiiiifffff….

We had an unexpected delay in San Francisco - so we are not shipping any orders on Tuesday, May 7th.  But we are set for tomorrow so normal shipping will resume on Wednesday May 8th, our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.