Wot u do with .net : Mashed

Assembly, Finland

paulfo — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:29:29 GMT

Well here I am, on a gorgeous day with clear blue skies and bright sunshine, in Finland attending the Assembly. A huge event attracting thousands of your technology enthusiasts. The Hartwell arena is filling up fast as attendees bring their beloved computer kit to participate in this four day technology fun-fest!

I have succeed navigating Heathrow Terminal 1 with a borrowed iRobot Create and a Lynx Motion 6 axis arm. Together with my flight case containing my 5.8Ghz wireless camera and blimp parts.

The blimp is now assembled and has been tested flying across the stadium. It is slightly heavy but this means it is tending downwards. Fixings are also much better than at Mashed so I hope not to go home with it stuck in the roof this time! The camera output is to be used several times during the event by the event organisers to give the birds eye perspective. Should be cool as they turn the lights out in the stadium at 18:00. I've attached a strobe light to the bottom of the blimp so it can be seen!

I have also been working hard on my presentation. I have 105 minutes to show off Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio to the 16 to 25yo (mainly) attendees. At 39 I'm feeling old - you should see some of these guys play Guitar Hero 3! 'Through the Fire and Flames' Expert level :-O. Apparently the Finnish Guitar Hero 3 final is to take place over the event - the winners go on to compete in Germany.

Anyways, apparently my presentation will be broadcast not only on the Alive web channel but it is also being picked up on some Finnish cable channels - so my audience could be as much as 300k! The blows out my FY09 audience figures :-) I'll have to busy myself with other stuff the rest of the year ;-)

I'm pleased to report that - with the help of my friends in the XNA UK user group - I now also have a working R2D2 as my simulated demo robot. R2 is equipped with Laser Range Finder and web cam but still uses the differential drive system - nope I haven't implemented his leg rockets (yet).

It sure is going to be fun!

Mashed 08: Wotudo Blimp

paulfo — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:31:11 GMT

It start out as a simple bit of fun but with the help of old and new friends at Mashed 08 it turned into a real 'mashed activity!

It first flew with simple Wotudo.net branding (my other blog) - I wasn't sure if the vinyl lettering (from Signprint.co.uk would be to heavy,but it worked perfectly thanks Steve and Melissa!

Then with the addition of a wireless camera and my spare blimp balloon - to balance buoyancy - it flew again transmitting to the main screen as if journeyed around the venue. Flight controls were a little heavy and the important MSDN pen had to be taped closer to the gondola to reduce swing - but it flew and got plenty of attention :-)

So specific details: The balloon is the RC 4 channel, bomb dropping Blimp Bomber by airtech and sold in the UK by Urban Junkie. I lugged their disposable helium cylinder up to the venue to inflate with (it weighs only about 3kg so not hard).

The wireless camera is the standard small 2.4gb wireless spy camera. Powered by a PP3 9v battery (yes with both blimp balloons we still had to add ballast to achieve neutral buoyancy). The standard receiver was plumbed into the AV rig by the BBC technicians.

I'll leave you with picture of the moment: Sarah Blow, myself and Andrew Fryer.

BBC Mashed

paulfo — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:53:00 GMT

Planning on attending the BBC Backstage Mashed event 21st/22nd July Alexander Palace, London? I hope to see you there!

I'll be attending to show off Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio. I'm working on a simulation environment to provide lots of fun for attendees during the 48hr event.

First, in the simulated world will be a number of video screens enabling coders to plug their web services/web site mash-ups into them to create the 'mashed event of the future'.

Next, a simulated Sumo challenge in which sumo robots can be have their strategy behaviours tweaked to deliver the ultimate Sumo Bot. The simulation will allow delegates to compete against each other and will be the Sumo simulation demo available from the Robotics site hosted inside the simulated world.

Additionally, for fun, there will be a variety of simulated robots within the world which delegates can control and program.

For those able to demonstrate a interesting solution combining the simulated world and Microsoft Live Services there will be an MSN USB Missile Launcher (limited number, available on a first come first serve basis!) which if I can manage it will also have programmable services enabling them to become your ultimate desk protector when combined with the Volts-IQ visual recognition services which include object and FACE recognition services :-)

Don't stand still or you'll get fired at.