DJI has mastered the skies, now the company wants to take its first step into educational technology with the ground-based RoboMaster S1. Loaded with sensors and other technology, this robot is meant to appeal to everyone interested in tech, with its ability to offer fun while still providing a perfect platform for learning about AI, engineering, and robotics. As “Step 1” in DJI’s educational journey, the S1 is an impressive creation, with 31 sensors, a 5MP first-person view camera, an infrared and gel bead Blaster (non-toxic, by the way), and six Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control ports for adding on your own hardware later on.
Fortunate enough to have a hands-on preview of the unit, I can say that the RoboMaster S1 is an incredible device. Its core set of features and performance are top notch and it is a lot of fun. Of course, it is also highly technical. Among the highlights are machine vision technology, a powerful central processing unit, and industrial-grade CAN-bus cable for handling all the necessary data. It is immediately apparent that this isn’t your standard RC toy when you see it perfectly tracking and following a line on the floor while simultaneously reading signs in front of it to determine which direction to head next—and that was simply the first demo.
This initial demo showed two of the six built-in intelligent recognition functions, the other four being a Follow Mode, which can track a specific person using the built-in camera; a Clap Recognition, which can be programmed to recognize distinct clap patterns; Gesture Recognition, similar to many of the options built into DJI drones though the RoboMaster S1 can be programmed; and S1 Recognition, which allows it to identify other S1 units and perform programmed movements. All of this relies on the 120º FPV camera which transmits video in real-time to your connected devices.
The programmability is emphasized with the S1, since users can write Scratch 3.0 or Python code to control many functions of the robot. You can simple write code to control movement or you can delve into the more advanced options and increase efficiency or optimize the torque of the wheels. Each of the wheels is quite unique, as well. The Mecanum wheels each have 12 rollers on them for completely omnidirectional movement—this means forward, backward, and side-to-side movements are possible. A custom brushless motor ensures clean movement, too.
Get yours at B&H
0 comments:
Post a Comment