From dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org Fri Jun 1 00:53:57 2007 From: dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org (Dorkbot DC) Date: Fri Jun 1 00:55:03 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] Meeting results Message-ID: <2fd1fa350705312153yd883fdfv706e3ad0d4a1f22f@mail.gmail.com> Pictures from last night's Dorkbot DC meeting are now up at: http://www.dorkbot.org/dorkbotdc/meetings/20070530.html (Thanks again to Matt Billings for taking pix!) Some of you were asking about the make of the helicopter we were flying around the room, it was an Ecoman Microgear Mini Dragon Fly Helicopter. They claim that it is "The world's smallest and lightest mini RC helicopter," perhaps the smallest one in commercial production anyway. And it turns out you can buy it online from Fry's for $25: http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5183726 -Thomas From tim at slagle.org Mon Jun 18 02:29:55 2007 From: tim at slagle.org (Tim Slagle) Date: Mon Jun 18 08:46:26 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] BEAM robot workshop at DorkbotDC meeting July 10th Message-ID: <810509.8879.qm@web30601.mail.mud.yahoo.com> There was talk on the DorkbotDC-blabber mailing list about having a more hands-on workshop at our next DorkbotDC meeting on July 10th. People were interested in BEAM robotics, and despite (because of?) a total lack of experience with BEAM I volunteered to put something together. Solarbotics (http://www.solarbotics.com/) specializes in BEAM and sponsors a nice library of information (http://www.solarbotics.net). I thought it would be nice to have a working gizmo by meeting end so I am proposing that we build one of their kits rather than try to 'roll our own'. A good beginning project seems to be the Solar Speeder ($25): http://www.solarbotics.com/products/index.php?search_id=12 which soaks up solar power and then motors off once it has a full charge. If you've got some electronics experience you are welcome to build a different kit or experiment with your own circuits -- it would be fun to see some different beasties at the meeting. I like the Hex Pummer ($25) because it has flashing LEDs: http://www.solarbotics.com/products/index.php?search_id=29 The Photopopper ($45) is more complex but has more interesting behaviors: http://www.solarbotics.com/products/index.php?search_id=15 Tutorial-wise I will focus on how to build the Solar Speeder, maybe starting with a quick soldering lesson. Shipping from Canada can be expensive compared to the kit cost, so I will put a group order together. If you'd like to build something at the meeting, please email me (tim@slagle.org) your Solarbotics shopping list next week (by Friday June 22nd). You are welcome to add some extra parts but if you want more than ~$40 worth maybe you can prepay using PayPal, or send me a check. Otherwise I will collect cash or checks for the kits at the meeting. If you want to buy your own kit that is great, just email me anyway so I know how many people to expect. I will bring some soldering irons, tools, supplies, and test equipment, but if you have your own please bring them (especially soldering irons). I'll also try to bring some extra electronic components and breadboards in case we get creative. I've never organized something like this but it should be fun, especially if the more experienced dorks can help out the dorkn00bs! --Tim Slagle From dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org Tue Jun 19 22:38:00 2007 From: dorkbotdc at dorkbot.org (Dorkbot DC) Date: Tue Jun 19 22:39:16 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] ARCO 2008 Looking for tech artists Message-ID: <2fd1fa350706191938o63205e4bx715729876681ae95@mail.gmail.com> Lenny Campello has been blogging that ARCO 2008 is looking for artists to contribute to its "Expanded Box," a project curated by Claudia Giannetti, which is a new section that "embraces happening tendencies exploring the influence and/or use of technology in art. It is basically conceived for works requiring a non-conventional exhibition space, and to encourage their acceptance in the contemporary art market." Deadline to present Applications 22 June 2007 More info here: http://www.ifema.es/ferias/arco/default.html http://dcartnews.blogspot.com/2007/06/power-of-web-sunday-i-wrote-about-arcos.html http://dcartnews.blogspot.com/2007/06/claudia-giannetti-arco-and-dc-curators.html -Thomas From tim at slagle.org Sat Jun 23 02:05:40 2007 From: tim at slagle.org (Tim Slagle) Date: Sat Jun 23 12:48:41 2007 Subject: [dorkbotdc-announce] Reminder: orders for BEAM robotics workshop needed this weekend Message-ID: <943725.50473.qm@web30614.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Just a quick reminder: Robot kit orders for the DorkbotDC BEAM Robotics workshop meeting on July 10th are due by Sunday June 24th. (Deadline extended because the Dorkbot list server was down.) Email me (tim@slagle.org) with your kit preference from http://www.solarbotics.com/ if you'd like to get in on the bot-building fun. I will order them all together and you can pay me back at the workshop. I have seven orders so far, including a HexPummer and PhotoPopper. Thanks to everyone that has already contacted me! --Tim Slagle