Robowaifu Institute of Technology - User contributions [en]

Python

2024-01-31T06:54:00Z

SchaltkreisMeister: added some starter information and general tips

{{expand|This page needs to be beginner friendly, giving an idea what Python is capable of and how to start using it.}}
'''Python''' is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose [[programming language]]. Python's object-oriented design emphasizes code readability and aims to help programmers write clear, logical code for small and large-scale projects.

== Get Started ==
Generally the only really necessary component in your setup is a Python installation on your computer. Python has a small IDE integrated which is really barebones and not recommended to use. It's not wrong or something, it just lacks a lot of features you would expect from a proper modern IDE.

There is Python 2 and Python 3, use Python 3. The support for Python 2 was dropped some years ago. So if you come across some package/tutorial using Python 2 a general advice is to look somewhere else.

Recommendations for IDEs:

* VisualStudioCode: search for python setups, you will probably want to install some plugins. do not confuse with VisualStudio(violet), '''VisualStudioCode is blue'''
* PyCharm: this is a really good IDE for Python development. you have to search for the community edition on the website, it is a little bit hidden. this is a very convenient way to program in python, especially the module management/version stuff is really a breeze in there

== Modules and Versions ==
You will notice really fast that there are a lot of python versions available. This leads sometimes to compatibility issues. As most modules are freely available and opensource the updates to the newest python version isn't always guaranteed. If you use pip for installing, this can cause some headache.

This is where PyCharm is really really convenient. It creates environments with specific python versions you want to use for your project. No more installing and reinstalling different Python versions and mapping them in your system variables.

== Considerations ==
Python's ease of use comes at a cost of generally running 75 times slower than [[C]] and 50 times slower than [[C++]]. Compiling Python code with [[Cython]] can generally achieve up to a fifth of the speed of C++, but it cannot be optimized the same way as C++ unless the generated C code is modified.

This problem can be mitigated by refactoring computation heavy code in C/C++ and exposing it to Python. This ways you can use the best of both, ease of use (scripting) and speed (compiled languages). So if you want to '''start programming''' just go for it '''in python'''. You always will be able to get into the nitty gritties of C/C++ later.

== External links ==
* [https://www.python.org/about/gettingstarted/ Getting started with Python]
* https://code.visualstudio.com/
* https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/

[[Category:Software]] [[Category:Programming languages]]

Servomechanism

2024-01-31T06:20:29Z

SchaltkreisMeister: added some examples of servo motors

A '''servomechanism''' (or more simply a '''servo''') is an electromagnetic device that converts electricity into controlled motion using negative feedback mechanisms. It can generate linear or circular motion depending on its type. It consists of a mechanical device, such as an electric motor, that is connected to a sensor and a controller. The sensor measures the output of the system and sends it to the controller, which then adjusts the input to the system in order to keep the sensor's output within given parameters.

== Examples ==
Here are examples of servos used in the [[InMoov]] project:

* TowerPro MG995
* HiTec HS-805BB
* HobbyKing HK15298

If you want to use them you will need at least something with pins like an [[Arduino]] or [[Raspberry Pi|Raspberry]] and a servo controller board like the [[PCA9685]] is recommended.

Blender

2024-01-29T20:50:20Z

SchaltkreisMeister: mentioned workflows in blender and difference to cad software

Multi-purpose software that is useful in the creation of media. Commonly used to create 3D and 2D computer generated media. https://www.blender.org/

You can use Blender to create 3D models. The 3D models are polygon based in contrast to CAD which is a surface based modeling approach. The main difference is, that you want to create objects out of triangles in blender. You have to 'tell' Blender where to put the vertices and the edges of the triangles you want to show. In CAD you specify the surface as a mathematical equation. This surface can also be triangulated to be shown as polygonial mesh, but it's not that easy the other way around.

(don't get discouraged to use blender, it's more like you will spend another day to port a nice blender model to a cad file by matching the surfaces to your model. starting in blender and creating something worth making a cad file for is way more important)

As the polygons which can be sculpted in Blender are so small, it doesn't really make a difference for our DIY approach. Blender has a ton of tutorials available and there are a lot of meshes already available.

There are plugins for Blender which make it easier to use it for modeling of 3D printable parts.

Polygon modeling has generally two approaches:

* Hard surface modeling / Modifier based modeling
* Sculpting

In the first one you generally try to get the rough shape by modifying vertices and creating a blocky low poly model. Then you apply various modifiers to reach the final result. This creates nice smooth surfaces.

If you want to design something more organic and irregular, you would go for sculpting. This is more hardware demanding because you usually have a pretty high triangle resolution for sculpting. If you want to use these models somewhere else or even animate them you would have to look into retopology.

Arduino

2024-01-29T15:31:08Z

SchaltkreisMeister: Added programming languages and a note for usage with servos

Arduino is a hardware prototyping platform originally based around Atmel AVR [[Microcontroller|microcontrollers]], intended to ease physical computing prototyping. Originally released in 2005 by Massimo Banzi & colleagues at the Italian firm Ivrea Institute, it was inspired by the BASIC Stamp microcontroller by Parallax Inc., allowing hobbyists easier creation of electronically interactive objects. The first boards were produced by two Italian manufacturers, Smart Projects and Piccolo Electronics, before being acquired by SparkFun Electronics. They can interface with many types of sensors such as; [[Thermal sensor|thermal]], [[Humidity sensor|humidity]], [[Light sensor|light]], [[Ultrasonic distance sensor|ultrasonic distance]], [[Touch sensor|touch]], [[Hall effect sensor|hall]], etc.Though the pins of an Arduino cannot provide significant current, they can drive [[LED|LEDs]] and control [[Transistor|transistors]]/[[Field effect transistor|FETs]] to control [[Motor|motors]] and other high current devices.

The Arduino ecosystem includes IDE software, libraries and shields allowing a user to attach functional modular “building block” components to an Arduino to expand its functionality. Arduino boards are widely used due to the ease of entry into the ecosystem. There are many forums and projects which demonstrate seemingly endless possibilities for these boards. A notable use is in [[robotics]] where the IDE and libraries help the robot coordinate its actuators with sensors and desired states.

Arduinos are typically programmed in the arduino programming language. It is very similar to [[C++]], to the point that some argue it is just a library. [[MicroPython]] was implemented as language as arduinos became more widespread. MicroPython is a lightweight implementation of [[Python|Python3]] and has a subset of the functionality. It has the typical easy syntax of Python.

Using a Arduino you will find yourself pretty fast in the situation of a lack of out pins, especially for servo motors. For this you want to search for the [[PCA9685]] 16 channel servo driver. You can control 16 servos with one [[PCA9685]] board. It is connected to the [[I2C]] pins. This way you can theoretically drive 992 individual servos with two arduino pins by chaining 62 PCA9685s. There are usually two pins dedicated for I2C communication on an arduino. The board also separates the power source of the motors from your arduino, which is also very important.

References:

https://www.arduino.cc/

https://docs.arduino.cc/learn/starting-guide/whats-arduino

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/projects-arduino/

[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Microcontroller]]

Unreal Engine

2024-01-28T21:17:29Z

SchaltkreisMeister: Some information about Unreal Engine, licensing, source access and tutorials

Unreal Engine is a game engine written in C++ from EpicGames. It is a private source engine and requires to sign up at Epic Games and to connect your Epic Games account to your Github account to see/download the source.

As of today there is no payment required to get the source and to use the engine. The game development license is revenue share based. The first million is sharefree, and after that you also have to meet specific criteria to have to pay fees. The linear content (e.g. movies) licensing will be changed in the near future to a subscription model.

All other use cases like architecture or engineering are free without any payments or revenue share (as far as I understand it).

If they change their licensing in the future it only affects the following releases of Unreal. You don't have to go with the new licensing if it sucks. So if you download the source and compile it yourself you are safe to work with it as long as it suits you.

Epic Games also provides a lot of realistic assets through their asset store. There are monthly free asset packs with varying quality.

The most interesting part is, that it's also used for robotics simulations.

The engine is widely used and there are a lot of good free and paid tutorials out there.

Sources for tutorials are:

* [https://dev.epicgames.com/community/unreal-engine/learning Epics Learning Community]
* Youtube, Mathew Wadstein provides good tutorials
* Udemy and other course sites

Robotic specific tutorials are rare.

Game development

2024-01-28T16:05:33Z

SchaltkreisMeister: added paragraph about game engines and alternatives

{{tidyup|message=I wrote this sleep deprived so I cannot guarantee its quality.}}
[[File:Boingboing.webm|thumb|right|[https://twitter.com/Waifuinc/ @waifuinc] et al. 2022.<br>Boing Boing Is All You Need.]]'''Game development''' is the process of creating fun video games you want to play, not to be confused with shovelware development that has industrialized the fun out of everything. Gamedev usually involves an excruciating journey through creating a game design, programming it, testing it, throwing your work away, redesigning, reprogramming, art, music, sound, marketing and more. The process usually starts with a simple concept which is then fleshed out with more ideas, that become more ideas, that become too many ideas, that become 1/10th as many ideas but still too many.

If you're fortunate (or really unfortunate) the development process may involve multiple people of different specialities, such as idea guys, programmers, artists, musicians, voice actors, and others you have no idea what they do. All who want to do their own thing. Or maybe you're a one man army who does everything because you'd rather be a masochist than end up in a situation where the artist is fixing a problem the 'lead' programmer had with his code for the past week in 5 minutes. Either way you're in for a treat.

You can use a game engine to develop your game. Possible game Engine are [[Godot]] or [[Unreal Engine]]. The source code of both engines is available without any payments but only Godot is truly open source. You don't need to use a game engine, you can hack also something together with a graphics api like [[OpenGL]] or [[Vulkan]] and a programming language of your choice. These graphics apis are important to be able to use your graphics card.

As for [[Robowaifu|robowaifus]] in gamedev, it's mainly about creating a virtual environment or game world for a robotic character or waifu to live in and interact with. This may also include doing 3D modeling, rigging, animation, [[artificial intelligence]] (including, but not limited to, text generation, natural language understanding, voice synthesis, voice recognition, image recognition, and more) and lots of [[UI design|UI]] and [[UX design]] because damn waifus love to have a million settings and no one is going to click on any of that if it doesn't feel good. And if you're a one man army, you'll probably want to outsource at this point before you waste four years of your life just trying to get your half finished virtual waifu model to sit on command. Robowaifus with significantly advanced or customizable personalities may require special attention and extra testing to ensure that their interactions with the user are suitable for the game environment.

<blockquote>I'm sorry, Anon, I'm just a large language model. How am I suppose to know my kneecaps are through the floor?
― Anon's waifu</blockquote>

Godot

2024-01-28T15:49:49Z

SchaltkreisMeister: Added some information about versions

Free game engine with wide compatibility. https://godotengine.org/

At the moment there are two versions 3.x.x and 4.x.x. Version 4 is actively developed and has the newest features, version 3 is just maintained a little bit.

I think a lot of stuff was changed in the background and the way signals are used from 3 to 4. Also they dropped the visual scripting support.

What makes this worth mentioning is that a lot of available information is about Godot 3.x.x because it was out there for very long. If you use GPT or other chatbots for coding, be careful it may spit out the wrong version or worse a mixture.