Automata online forum FAQ:
- What are Automata? Because of their diversity, automata are difficult to define. Here is our loose definition of them: "Machines that replicate human, animal, or inanimate objects’ motions, capabilities, and/or everyday tasks. These can be hand cranked, motor driven, or computer controlled.” This definition may be expanded as time flows.
- What is this Automata online forum for? This forum is to enhance communication within the Automata community. All topics related to Automata are welcome here, including design, construction, tools, materials, collecting, history, restoration, and more. In addition we have provided a sub-forum for "Buying, Selling, and Wanted" conversations.
- How do I subscribe to the Automata online forum? Go to this link and follow the instructions.
- After I subscribe where will I find the messages? The default setting for the forum is that all message threads will be emailed to each subscriber. You can reply to messages and begin new ones from your email app. Additionally, you can view and reply to the messages on the Automata online forum website. There are other options that you can see/choose on your subscription page on the Automata online forum website.
- Can photos be posted to the Automata online forum? Yes, photos are welcome. Note that all photos submitted will be resized to be no larger than 1024 X 1024 pixels.
- Can Video be posted to the Automata online forum? Sorry, no. We have limited storage space. Please post to another service (YouTube, for example) and then post a link to your video.
- Can I post messages to this forum without subscribing? Yes. All messages from non-subscribers will be approved by a moderator before appearing as a forum post.
- What is the advantage of becoming a subscriber? As a subscriber you will have message delivery options. Non-subscribers must visit the Automata Forum website to view the messages. Subscribers will automatically receive new messages.
- Why are my messages moderated? In an effort to eliminate spam from this forum, the first two messages from all subscribers will be passed by a moderator. Once approved, the messages will become public. All messages from non subscribers will be passed-by a moderator for approval. The 'moderation delay' will rarely exceed four hours during the business day.
- When was this forum started? This forum began in June 2019.
- I want more help understanding this forum platform: Take a look at this GroupsIO help page, or post your question here in the forum and someone will help you.
- Are you going to sell my information? No, we are not.
- Why are some Automata online forum features disabled? The following features have by default been disabled: Calendar, Chats, Database, Files, and Polls. Any of these features will be enabled as need arises.
- How do I make a New Topic post? There are two ways:
- From your email application address an email to the group (automata@automatamagazine.
groups.io). Fill in the Subject, and then type your message. Then Send. Your new message will be sent to all members of the group. - From your browser go to the Automata Magazine group forum on the Internet (https://automatamagazine.
groups.io/g/automata). Scan down the menu until you see New Topic. Click on New Topic and you will be taken to a screen that will let you post a new message.
- First, note that video files are too large for this group forum...so they won't be accepted. You should instead send a link to your video. Your video may be hosted anywhere. I host mine at YouTube.
- If you are using your email application to make the post simply attach an image(s). The image(s) will be resized by the groups.io platform to max dimension 1000 pixels.
- If you are posting your new post from the forum website, look up into the toolbar and you will see an "Add Pictures" icon.
- There is no drop down that shows a list of topics.
- If you want to make a post about "My Favorite Suppliers" simply include that text in the subject line. Same with "What's on My Workbench". Simply include in the subject line something like this..."What's On My Bench: This is how I animate a lizard tail".
- From your email application address an email to the group (automata@automatamagazine.
Re: What's on my Bench?
Hi Ron...and Jim L. I've been watching your Arduino thread with interest. I am very pleased that you are able to work together this way...and that you've made good progress. One of my take-aways is that if/when I start using Arduino that it might be good to include indicator lights (for things that you cannot see operating) in the design. And the Bliss Kolb paper crow looks interesting. Thanks for your post. Cheers -Jim Coffee- one of the Automata Group Moderators Creating automata near San Diego, California
2 (more or less) projects. Put together a Bliss Kolb paper crow. Interesting kit, I have two others to assemble plus a laser cut out kit.
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Re: Some of my YouTube Automata Links
Hi Ron... Interesting videos. I love Uri's sense of humor (and his skills). I've added these links to the Wiki. Many thanks. Cheers -Jim Coffee- one of the Automata Group Moderators Creating automata near San Diego, California
Kazuaki Harada
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Some of my YouTube Automata Links
Ron K
Kazuaki Harada
Lets make automata part 1 Lets make automata part 2 Thomas Kuntz The Widow's Jar Babylon Vampire Uri Tuchman I make an automata
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What's on my Bench?
Ron K
2 (more or less) projects. Put together a Bliss Kolb paper crow. Interesting kit, I have two others to assemble plus a laser cut out kit.
The most important is the project with the Jim Larson (can't express my thanks enough) code. Hard to make out, but the yellow LED is lit indicating the passive infrared (PIR) is in a "High" state because it has detected motion in the preceding 8 minutes When the PIR has not detected motion in the preceding 8 minutes it returns to a low state. When the PIR returns to a "Low" state it triggers the servo motor on. The servo remains activated as long as the PIR is in low state. Ron
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Ron K
An anti-frustration fyi: 2 of the five PIR modules I purchased through Amazon tested bad. And, no joke, one was the first out of the box and the other was one I purchased previously. Some have on-board manual timing and sensitivity potentiometers and there are variances I had to play with in testing. For a switch operated automata, this won't be a problem.
I had already invested in a servo tester and had similar results with the cheap plastic SG90, and tested the one I'm using just to be sure. The servo tester is a bit of a PIA, the pins are at 90 degrees to the diagram and I haven't seen a good diagram, YouTube appears to be the place where people are kind enough to share how to use the thing. Many of the instructions are for using it with RC modules so you have to find the ones that show you how to test with only the tester. I'll get something typed up and put in the files. Ron
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Re: Updated Wiki Page: Videos and Links
#wiki-notice
Hi David... Excellent recommendation. Many thanks. I've added them to the Wiki. These are excellent resources. Cheers -Jim Coffee- one of the Automata Group Moderators Creating automata near San Diego, California
Hi Jim,
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Jim Larson
Good news, Ron! So glad it's working. Keeping track of all the
little gotchas will be really helpful for anyone trying to
replicate your work. Very valuable. Do you have a servo hooked up, or would it be easier to just
light up a led? It looks like the led comes on whenever power is
applied to the PIR. Is that what you observe? If so, we can move
the PIR power to another pin so we can use the led. Also, are you running the code I sent you that's marked "original"? I have a some modifications that should make the action happen after 5 seconds of no motion. -jimL On 1/17/2021 2:22 PM, Ron K via
groups.io wrote:
Jim, I have zero expectations and deep gratitude for what you can do when able. We all have lives and I would simply assume things had come up.
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Ron K
Jim, I have zero expectations and deep gratitude for what you can do when able. We all have lives and I would simply assume things had come up.
Got the Adafruit, a great source for Arduino, Pi etc., PIR tester to work for me after: A) Finding a post informing me that the PIR on module adjustment needs to be made after the module has activated B) Reducing the time between scans C) Re-attaching the module back up to the rthe computer and in the Arduino programming app under |Tools| turning on |Serial Monitor| to echo the "Motion detected and Motion ended" Fun, huh? So now we know the PIR is working.
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Jim Larson
Hi Ron - I'm on West Coast time and a late riser, so I'm just starting to look at this. Sorry for the delay. Let me see if I can get a really simple test for you to use. -jim On 1/17/2021 11:27 AM, Ron K via
groups.io wrote:
Hi Jim and all. It's 2:08 PM EST. I've been working straight through since my last post at 11:24 AM EST. I've been testing on the simplest code I can find, and the PIR doesn't appear to be switching out of "High." I've swapped in three different PIR modules, covered the module with a black high density foam box, and walked out of sight of the PIR module for ~ :06 3 times.
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Ron K
Hi Jim and all. It's 2:08 PM EST. I've been working straight through since my last post at 11:24 AM EST. I've been testing on the simplest code I can find, and the PIR doesn't appear to be switching out of "High." I've swapped in three different PIR modules, covered the module with a black high density foam box, and walked out of sight of the PIR module for ~ :06 3 times.
I've spent the past :90 looking for code that will test/light up one LED when the PIR is in "High" and a second LED when it is in "Low" just to test the PIR module. This is why I walked away from this last time. I need to know code to test the component to see if it or my code is the problem. And I don't know how to code. For the life of me as a former mechanic, I don't understand why there is an assumption the PIR will return to a low state and no one else has ever needed to check both states. "IF" I could see LED being triggered in both states, I would know it is coming out of "High" and returning to low OR play with the sensitivity until either it does, or doesn't meaning the PIR is bad. Jeez I feel stupid . . . Arggggggggggg
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Ron K
Ops,meant to add this.
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Ron K
On Sat, Jan 16, 2021 at 06:03 PM, Jim Larson wrote:
Your scheme for tracking changes is a good one. I would add a version number or date code to the file name since I do my work mainly on Linux and last modified dates don't always work as I expect them to when viewed in Windows. Like you, I often find that the comments I thought were "obvious" really need more explaining. Maybe we can keep each other on track here?LOL, I know I need others! I probably just as often do both a date because sometimes a couple of weeks pass between working on things and version number as I work through stuff that day At work, I "hack" at VBA in Excel, one eyed person and all that. I grew tired of doing the same things ad nauseam and started on macro recording. The in-line notes and comments were from other superior Excel users passing on their hard earned lessons. R
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Re: Updated Wiki Page: Videos and Links
#wiki-notice
David Gell
Hi Jim,
I would like to suggest the following links for the Wiki page; The House of Automata (Michael and Maria Start) Website: https://thehouseofautomata.com YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/69mechanikAutomata Many thanks, David
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Re: Updated Wiki Page: Videos and Links
#wiki-notice
Hi everyone... Just a reminder that there is a Wiki available to us. There are just two pages at the moment...one is a FAQ and the other page offers Automata related links. It is my vision that this link page becomes much more robust. I'm happy to add any automata related link that members of this group would like to suggest. Just email me (via the group) and I'll add the link. Cheers -Jim Coffee- one of the Automata Group Moderators Creating automata near San Diego, California
On Fri, 15 Jan 2021 at 18:36, automata@automatamagazine.groups.io Notification <noreply@groups.io> wrote:
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Re: Welcome to the new publishing team
Hi Sharon... When I saw that your responsibility is Social Media I kind of squirmed. Social Media is such a foreign term to me. I used to belong to Facebook and LinkedIn...but I discontinued them...and my life has been better. It is my sense that all of this is so new...and that our society is learning how to use these social media tools. We are in the early phases of this learning process...very early, IMHO. That said, I believe that marketing the 'automata world' is very important...else it will die. And I think that social media is not going to go away. It will morph and mature over time. So if there is anything that you would like to use this forum for as you conduct your Social Media responsibilities please do so. At the very least it would be appropriate to teach us how we can assist you. Wishing you the best with your Social Media responsibilities. Cheers -Jim Coffee- one of the Automata Group Moderators Creating automata near San Diego, California
On Fri, 15 Jan 2021 at 07:57, Sharon Fraser <sharon.fraser@...> wrote: Hello Jim,
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I've been using the word "automata" incorrectly
The world turns, time flows, and we learn things. I added Marc Horovitz's website to the Wiki last night, and in the process of doing that I read this intro: ~~~~~~ An automaton (plural: automata), as defined by the dictionary, is "...a machine that appears to imitate spontaneously the motions of men, birds, or other animals." The quest for a mechanized human was one that was taken very seriously in the 18th and 19th centuries, and many beautiful automata were produced. ~~~~~~ I've been using 'automata' as both singular and plural. My spell checker has been having problems with me doing that...but I blew it off thinking it was wrong. Anyway...now I know. Cheers -Jim Coffee- one of the Automata Group Moderators Creating automata near San Diego, California
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Jim Larson
Hi Ron - Glad you're excited! Hope you won't be disappointed. Let me know when you have the base (original) version of the code working. We'll start with that and modify it in steps. Your scheme for tracking changes is a good one. I would add a
version number or date code to the file name since I do my work
mainly on Linux and last modified dates don't always work as I
expect them to when viewed in Windows. Like you, I often find that
the comments I thought were "obvious" really need more explaining.
Maybe we can keep each other on track here? -jimL On 1/16/2021 12:04 PM, Ron K via
groups.io wrote:
Hi Jim, thanks!!! I'm kinda shaking my head at the idea that anyone would ask for help and then not take on some of the responsibility for success . . . of course.
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Re: Arduino Code to 8 minute Delay Detect Motion has Stopped
Ron K
Hi Jim, thanks!!! I'm kinda shaking my head at the idea that anyone would ask for help and then not take on some of the responsibility for success . . . of course.
On the base code: "I think so." but will make sure. More to follow, hopefully will report tested later today. For me, this is great, I have added a couple of notes. Yes, That's exactly what I was trying to manipulate. You probably figured out I track changes by file name suffix numbers. I often also append the date though tend to rely on seeing the "last modified" date in a file explorer. I'm also the first to admit how often I kick myself for failing to keep good notes in the code.To try to assist in change management, I've added to the top block notes: /* 13 JAN 2010 /* == Revisions by Jim Larson (JL) == /* Notes updated by Ron Kellis and after line 30 (long unsigned int pause = 5000;) /* == JL revisions 13 JAN 2010 == */ Ron
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Updated Wiki Page: Videos and Links
#wiki-notice
automata@automatamagazine.groups.io Notification <noreply@...>
The wiki page Videos and Links has been updated by Jim Coffee.
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Re: Welcome to the new publishing team
Sharon Fraser
Hello Jim,
Thanks so much for your recognition of the new team at Automata Magazine. Although I play a small role It is exciting to be a part of this international group and gratifying to to see the Automata Magazine continue. I am still on a learning curve with social media and I welcome any input and suggestions. I also want you to know Jim how much I enjoy the Forum and appreciate your dedication. I read it daily and marvel at the ingenuity that is so generously shared. Warmest regards, Sharon Fraser Sarnia, On, Canada
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