Sensors, actuators and other issues

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all doing well.

The sensors and actuators I could identify in the Pioneer 3, (the biggest one) are the following:

·         SICK laser: The laser of this sensor allows it to make a sweeping of the environment in order to construct 2D or 3D mappings.

·         Gripper: The gripper allows the robot to manipulate objects. In the case of this robot’s gripper I could observe that it functions with a small motor and an acme screw that enables its movement. I was reading that grippers used for this kind of applications usually have pressure sensors , however, I wasn’t able to identify them clearly in the Pioneer.  

·         Pan tilt system: This system is intended to hold either a camera or a sensor. It is composed by two servos that would enable the camera’s movement in two directions.

·         Wheels and motors: The robot has four monster wheels and several motors.  

The smaller robot is currently missing, however I was talking to Marissa and she told me that she is having a meeting tomorrow with the students that have been working on it. We hope to have information about the location of the robot as soon as possible.

I am also shearing every time period I have available for working in the project in order to see if one of them agrees with yours ‘.  I think it is convenient to have personal meeting besides communicating through the blog.

Mondays and Fridays: I am available between 1 pm and like 6 or 7 pm.

Wednesdays: I am available between 1 pm and 6 or 7 pm as well unless I have physics laboratory which I usually finish by 3 pm.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: I have a free hour from 1:30 to 2:30 pm and then from 4:00 to 5:30 pm.

I was also wondering if it is necessary to install Player/Stage in Ubuntu and if it is I would like some advice on how to do so.

Have a nice day, see you soon!