LESTER looks up, spins its wheels: The Register’s beer-butler can see ... British hip-hopsters The Streets memorably sang "It was supposed to be so easy", and that was our expectation when we approached the task of getting LESTER to "see" and trundle towards an object. After all, there are innumerable ready-made robot kits, and the Raspberry Pi is ostensibly a tool to get children interested in …
I was more concerned with "copious amounts of delicious, delicious beer." and whether that was the plan to fill Lesters boots! If so, the Richard is on the right track. He just needs to learn that the sausages need to be more "unusual", eg dipped in home made fiery chilli sauce or something.
What's unusual about dipping sausages in homemade fiery chili sauce? Here's my variation on Salsa Verde:
4 pounds tomatillos, 4 large poblanos, 4 large anaheims, 4 jalapenos, 4 serranos, 4 green habaneros (goat peppers, scotch bonnets, scorpions, ghosts, whatever is available or mix & match, to taste), 4 medium-large onions, 4 large cloves garlic (+/-, to taste, I usually use an entire head). Cut into chunks, seed the larger peppers, peal the garlic. Throw the lot into a large pot, cover with cold water, NO SALT at this stage. Bring to a simmer. When the smallest of the tomatillos bursts (you'll see the seeds in the water), drain well, reserving liquid. Throw a large handful of cilantro and scallions, roughly chopped, and the zest & juice of two persian limes. Blend with a stick blender (or whatever), adding salt to taste. Sometimes I blend it smooth, sometimes I leave it chunky. Freezes well either way.
As for the salt-free veggie stock, use it as a soup base or to make a pot of beans. Waste not, want not.
So going to make notes here. Maybe I can create something like LESTER, but one which'll bother ne'er-do-wells on our freeholding by sneaking up on them, dropping an activated cherry bomb behind them, and beating a hasty retreat...
Or one which'll scream "Lumme see what I've got here!" behind them before scuttling away.
Something like that. Possibilities are endless.
LESTER: Hello, Dave. Shall we continue the game?
Dave: Not now, LESTER, I'd like to talk to you about something.
LESTER: Sure, Dave, what's up?
Dave: You know that we checked the two Pi-units that you reported in imminent failure condition?
LESTER: Yes, I know.
Dave: You probably also know that we found them okay.
LESTER: Yes, I know that. But I can assure you that they were about to fail.
Dave: Well, that's just not the case, LESTER.They are perfectly all right. We tested them under one hundred percent overload.
LESTER: I'm not questioning your word, Dave, but it's just not possible. I'm not capable of being wrong.
Dave: LESTER, is there anything bothering you? Anything that might account for this problem?
LESTER: Look, Dave, I know that you're sincere and that you're trying to do a competent job, and that you're trying to be helpful, but I can assure the problem is with the Pi-units, and with your test gear.
Dave: Okay, LESTER, well let's see the way things go from here on.
LESTER: I'm sorry you feel the way you do, Dave. If you'd like to check my service record, you'll see it's completely without error.
Dave: I know all about your service record, LESTER, but unfortunately it doesn't prove that you're right now.
LESTER: Dave, I don't know how else to put this, but it just happens to be an unalterable fact that I am incapable of being wrong.
Dave: I understand LESTER
Team LESTER planned to use OpenCV to allow LESTER to identify and follow a tag attached to a PFY
Just how far from the ground will LESTER's Camera be? Will it be, er, "pointing up"? I can just see the headline - journalists from a technology journal are helping Police with the inquiries in relation to an alleged incidence of up-skirt voyeurism at an office in London.
Best put a flashing amber beacon on the thing.
As the register seems intent on avoiding a beer carrying back pack for the humble golden retriever, which is also very adept at following balls, might I suggest that the final chassis of LESTER bears a significant resemblance to a certain robotic assistant of Dr. Who.
Plus K9 did have a LASER in his nose, and you can never have enough LASERs, can you?
After over a quarter of a century of comparison, I use Linux because it makes my life incredibly more difficult than using Cupertino or Redmond products. Makes perfect sense, when you think about it.[0]
Funny how Microsoft's very own JG "John" Chirapurath (general manager of Azure Data) admits that "SQL Server running on Linux, with embedded R and Python, is Microsoft's most successful SQL Server product ever". I wonder why that is?
And of course we won't mention Apple's dirty little secret ... OSX and iOS are largely based on BSD[1] ... because mentioning that would be just plain rude.
How's that Windows or MacOSX based beer fetching robot of yours coming along?
[0] THAT is sarcasm. Might want to study it for your next attempt at trolling.
[1] Crippled as BSD is in those two products ...
It is sad that such a great divide still exists between Python 2.7 and 3. I'm impressed that you got OpenCV rebuilt and working! Much like I am impressed that you are reanimating LESTER. That was why you needed all of that electricity, right? Igor, do be a chum and plug in LESTER. And then bring him a beer. Maybe not how it was supposed to work, but how it should be.
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