engineering

Salvius (robot)

Salvius (robot) is a engineering topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Salvius (robot) rather than just read about it. In short: Salvius ( ) is an open source humanoid robot built in the United States in 2008, the first of its kind. Its name is derived from the word 'salvaged', being constructed with an emphasis on using recycled components and materials to reduce the costs of designing and construction.

Key takeaways

Salvius (robot) belongs to engineering; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Salvius (robot) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Salvius (robot) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Salvius ( ) is an open source humanoid robot built in the United States in 2008, the first of its kind. Its name is derived from the word 'salvaged', being constructed with an emphasis on using recycled components and materials to reduce the costs of designing and construction. The robot is designed to be able to perform a wide range of tasks due to its humanoid body structure planning. The primary goal for the Salvius project is to create a robot that can function dynamically in a domestic environment. Salvius is a part of the open source movement, meaning the robot's source code is freely available for others to use, alter, add and learn. Unlike other humanoid robots, Salvius benefits from the advantages of open source software allowing problems to be quickly addressed by a community of developers. Salvius has been used as a resource by STEM educators to enable students to learn about subjects in science and technology. The name "Salvius" dates back to the time of the Roman Empire, however, it was chosen for this robot because of its similarity to the word "salvage". Names have been a significant part of this robot's development. Salvius is tattooed with the names of the individuals and businesses that have contributed to the project's progress.

Applications Salvius is intended to be a resource for developers to experiment with machine learning and kinematic applications for humanoid robots. The robot is designed to allow new hardware features to be added or removed as needed using plug and play USB connections. Recent changes to the robots design have improved the robot's ability to connect to other devices so that developers can also investigate new ways that robots can interact with the Internet of Things (IoT).

Development

The robots construction has been documented since 2010. Its creation used recycling, and any commercially available parts used on the robot were chosen with availability and economic affordability in mind. Hardware items such as the Raspberry Pi and Arduino microcontrollers were selected for their open source design and their support communities. The robot uses multiple Arduino microcontrollers which were chosen based on the versatility and popularity of the platform across communities.

Software The robot's computer runs Raspbian Linux and primarily uses open source software. Salvius is able to operate autonomously as well as controlled remotely using an online interface. The robot's programming languages include: Python, Arduino, and JavaScript. Python is the supported language of the Raspberry Pi. C is used for programming the Arduino micro-controllers that the robot's main computer, a Raspberry Pi, communicates with. By sending tasks off to other boards it allows the robot to do parallel processing and distribute work load. The [star network] topography prevents a failure in the Arduino procession nodes from damaging the robot. Salvius's API allows users to send and retrieve data. Its wireless connection allows control through a web interface to view what the robot sees. Since all the software is installed on the robot the user only needs a device with a working internet connection and a browser.

Hardware The robot is controlled by a network of Raspberry Pi and Arduino microcontrollers. The Raspberry Pi acts as a server for [high level programming languages] as its control function. The robot uses Grove motor controllers to control motors. Most of the robots motors have been salvaged from alternate sources and reused to construct the robot.

Sensors Sensors allow the robot to successfully interact with its environment. Sensors that have been used on the robot include: touch, sound, light, ultrasonic, and a PIR (Passive infrared sensor). The robot also has an Ethernet-connected IP camera which serves as its primary optical input device.

Specifications

Illustrations

Salvius (robot): Salvius Robot Head Speaker — Salvius Robot Head Speaker

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Salvius (robot)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Salvius (robot) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In engineering, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Salvius (robot) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Salvius (robot) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Salvius (robot)

In research: Salvius (robot) appears in engineering research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Salvius (robot) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Salvius (robot) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2008 robots, Androids, Bipedal humanoid robots, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Salvius (robot) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Salvius (robot) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Salvius (robot) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Salvius (robot) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Salvius (robot) in simple terms?

Why does Salvius (robot) matter?

Because it connects several engineering ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Salvius (robot)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Salvius (robot).