Programming for Dummies

[Siren]

Okay, I have heard of people reprogramming Robosapians and such, so I have some stupid questions.

1.) Why reprogram Pleo?

2.) What would/could Pleo do differently reprogrammed?

3.) Could you program a Pleo to do something it otherwise couldn't have done?

4.) Do you need to be immensely knowledged in some sort of computer script to do it or will there be a program for morons like me?

5.) Does reprogramming really make Pleo a better robot than how it was originally?

Thanks all for humoring me!

[mweed]

1) Because we can!

2) Anything we want. There's a thread here somewhere with ideas. Anything from the simple idea of teaching him to do dance to the much more complex idea of speech recognition (sit! come! play dead!).

3) That is the whole idea. You can write scripts to add to his capabilities like I mention in #2. You can also write code to change the way he currently responds.

4) Yes, you will need to understand some sort of computer script. Pleo uses a scripting language called PAWN, which is similar to the "C" programming language that has been around for a long time. How well you have to know the language, how much of an expert you have to be, will depend on what you are trying to program pleo to do. You won't have to become a computer hacker, but we will all know more when the PDK is rolled out.

5) Well, now. "Better" is is an ambiguous concept. To me, speech recognition would greatly improve pleo that how he is now, and would mae him a much more realistic and valuable robot. And to me, teaching him to do the macarena would make him pathetic. But to a eight year old kid, the macarena might be the coolest thing a dino could do! The hope is that as people begin to write new code for pleo, we at owners can pick and choose what we want to add to our pleo to customize him to be what we want in a pleo, which would by definition be better than he is now.

6) One of the key things about pleo being a openly programmable robot, is that it encourages kids to explore and learn about AI and robotics, so that hopefully our next generation will benefit. If you feel so inclined, and get the chance, take a look at some of Kurzwiel's stuff. It's been mentioned here before that pleo is on the cutting of a new wave of robotics. When my toddler who goes bananas for pleo grows up, our world will be a much different place becuase of "toys" like pleo!

[PleoWorldHostCami]

1) Because we can!

ROFL mweed. You made me spit my coffee with the answer to #1. But at least you didn't say "Because it's there."

[Siren]

LOL, thanks.

Another question, since I don't know script, is it something that people can post and share so others can have their Pleo's do it as well? I'd like the Pleo to understand voice commands better and to dance and stuff like that. But wouldn't know the first thing about doing it.

[Bilko]

I'd like my Pleo to do tasks on command, i.e navigate out of a maze, follow a line so he could race against others etc. It may be possible to have these tasks run by sequential touching of sensors etc, although thats beyond my abilities. What do guys reckon could be done?

[heartbreaker4018]

so that valentines thing............. werid

[pleoguy101]

I want to learn how to use PAWN!!! It sounds fun:D!!!!