Saving a Prototype Logging Robot
Added 2023-11-26 15:34:53 +0000 UTCIt's awesome!
Comments
I believe one is for the remote control and the other is for the autonomous part of it.
Talented Dust
2023-12-03 00:41:19 +0000 UTCR & D primarily meaning 'Reel back in alarm when it moves!' & 'Drink heavily so onlookers will 'reel back...'. Never underestimate the sheer terror that alcohol and random machinery can bring to your next family bbq...
Dwayne de Lung
2023-12-02 20:34:03 +0000 UTCI am sure you will figure it all out. Either way I am happy to watch!
Christopher
2023-12-01 17:30:38 +0000 UTCYou may be able to control it with a smart phone now!
Roger Howell
2023-11-30 04:18:52 +0000 UTCI’ve observed the same phenomenon. Let me know if you need me to come bring them into my flock so they don’t have to die the death of scrap. Alternatively, I have a complete 1986 parts bike that you’re welcome to, should you desire another. You could combine two junk bikes to make one junk bike.
Dale Tractor
2023-11-28 02:42:15 +0000 UTCI will look him up. I'm thinking a homebrew with some Arduinos and a radio transmitter would do the trick.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:34:34 +0000 UTCJust don't tell your financial advisor. Or mine for that matter...
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:33:45 +0000 UTCComing as soon as I get time to work on it.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:33:21 +0000 UTCThey keep multiplying. I was going to scrap them all this spring but I just couldn't make myself do it.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:33:06 +0000 UTCAnd electronics!
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:32:27 +0000 UTCYeah the professor told me they were just a decade or two ahead of their time and the wireless control was so expensive the machines were not viable.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:32:13 +0000 UTCHah! The term "fuzzy logic" definitely dates it to the early 2000s. I was in college then. Any time we couldn't figure out a controls problem someone would chime in "use some fuzzy logic".
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:31:10 +0000 UTCR&D ain't cheap I guess!
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:29:21 +0000 UTCNot really sure. There was a line of people who wanted to buy it, so I think I could be rid of it quickly if needed.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-28 02:29:03 +0000 UTCI really don't know. It may have been an add on to give it more functions.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-27 23:12:02 +0000 UTCVery cool! Takes me back to a time before streaming video.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-27 23:11:22 +0000 UTCYeah I was hoping to gain a little insight about the remote unit. All you can really tell is that it’s some kind of shoulder strap mounted gizmo
Carson Zimmerman
2023-11-27 15:49:07 +0000 UTCVery cool! Too bad we don't get a clear shot of the remote. Man bit rot is real...
Noah Orr
2023-11-27 15:47:13 +0000 UTCThis thing is super intriguing. Why are their 2 radios? Maybe backup like we had on the drones in the army... Also no cameras so it's definitely line of site operation. So I can't see gps being necessary. Also no antenna for that. Now I just have more questions 😂
Christopher
2023-11-27 10:39:02 +0000 UTCOn their old website, there's a (very potato quality) video of the machine in action. Not sure if it will be of any use but it's kinda cool nonetheless. https://web.archive.org/web/20080723192359/http://www.forestrobots.com/Logg_Dogg/videos.html
Carson Zimmerman
2023-11-27 10:14:19 +0000 UTCJoined your patreon just to say this would be an awesome collaboration with rctestflight. The guy is from the Seattle area and makes great videos about building autonomous tanks/boats/planes using hobbiest grade components. It's incredible what off-the-shelf components are capable of these days.
Ben Paske
2023-11-27 05:52:56 +0000 UTCIf my Patreon contribution hadn’t already paid for itself with existing content (which it has x10 at least), this would have easily justified a full year of contributions. So excited for what’s coming…
Bill
2023-11-27 04:58:56 +0000 UTCNice work Wes. This is awesome content. Can’t wait to see more
Sam Ellison
2023-11-27 04:01:39 +0000 UTCI know this isn’t the point of the video, but I feel the sudden need to add another gold wing to the gathering of misfit gold wings outside your shop. If a bonus wing shows up one day you know what happened.
Dale Tractor
2023-11-27 02:42:20 +0000 UTCWow! Let no one say that Wes is afraid of a challenge that involves internal combustion and hydraulics.
Michael S Wilhelm
2023-11-27 02:28:42 +0000 UTCMan that's cool!
Kowyn Hibbert (Warrior of the Rusty Wrench)
2023-11-27 01:06:00 +0000 UTCThis is a return on the taxpayers's investment. Low impact logging for Off Grid families. Your investigation of the cost of developing a control unit will be interesting, and the trail of this unit from its inception to where you found it.
Roger Howell
2023-11-26 23:45:59 +0000 UTCIf I did not have to pay to join I would have gotten you the article “This article presents the development of a small, radio-controlled (RC) log skidder and also discusses the results of a preliminary investigation into using fuzzy logic for autonomous control of the skidder. Small skidders can reduce the environmental impact of logging and help improve timber stands. With previous small skidders, the operator walked in front of the skidder and reached back with one hand to operate the controls on a handle. The RC skidder allows the operator to be removed from the immediate vicinity of the skidder, thus making a safer operating environment. Field trials of the RC skidder were conducted and are discussed. “ https://elibrary.asabe.org/abstract.asp?search=1&JID=3&AID=27836&CID=t1995&v=38&i=1&T=1&urlRedirect=%5Banywhere=on&keyword=&abstract=&title=&author=&references=&docnumber=&journals=All&searchstring=&pg=&allwords=John%20near%20Canning&exactphrase=&OneWord=&Action=Go&Post=Y&qu=%5D&redirType=newresults.asp
Tom Hollowell
2023-11-26 20:45:48 +0000 UTC“These vehicles will reduce the cost of removing small diameter trees and provide an effective tool for reducing the fire hazard in many forests. “ $375k ! https://www.sbir.gov/sbc/forest-robots-llc
Tom Hollowell
2023-11-26 20:33:48 +0000 UTCNow what are you going to do with it.
Bill Scott
2023-11-26 19:58:45 +0000 UTCThats a great find. Nice work.
Chris Jenkins
2023-11-26 19:55:05 +0000 UTCYes. There is actually a 9th solenoid whose purpose I do not know. It might be some kind of master control valve.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:35:53 +0000 UTCMy dad didn't think it would lift it.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:33:59 +0000 UTCInteresting. I did hear back from the professor. More on that in the next video.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:33:32 +0000 UTCThat would make sense!
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:33:00 +0000 UTCEveryone I have shown it to just loves it.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:32:40 +0000 UTCYes. I'm not sure where the SBIR funds come from, but I assumed it might also be through the USDA.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:31:58 +0000 UTCHe was proud of that as well!
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:30:57 +0000 UTCThere's gonna be a bit, that's for sure!
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:30:40 +0000 UTCRight! No one else could afford something this crazy.
Watch Wes Work
2023-11-26 19:30:18 +0000 UTCSince reading the article Noah linked, I've had my mind nagging on just what features would want to be on the hand remote Fwd/Rev Left/Right Park brake. Blade up/down The grapple wants another four--up/down, in/out That gives eight on the hand controller, well within a 20 channel. Now, the second antenna probably is, as you surmise, for GPS and reporting purposed, as this would need extensive documentation for research purposes (e.g. getting the paper written) .
CapnMac82
2023-11-26 18:38:37 +0000 UTCAnd the Clark forklift shrugs off a one ton lift once again.
CapnMac82
2023-11-26 18:32:23 +0000 UTCAlso, if you use the wayback machine you can find the Forest Robots web site. Machine is called the Logg Dogg. https://web.archive.org/web/20141217041737/http://forestrobots.com/ See also the ABOUT page (and scroll down), and the CONTACT page.
Peter Facey
2023-11-26 18:07:26 +0000 UTCI've got faith in you Wes. You will get it going someday..Be careful , it looks like its a deceptacom !!
dozerman53111
2023-11-26 18:03:33 +0000 UTCMan Wes this thing is AWESOME! The potential for modification is off the charts. Probably, no, definitely the coolest thing I've ever seen someone find on Market place hands down. I'm really hoping that one lead blows this case open.
Kowyn Hibbert (Warrior of the Rusty Wrench)
2023-11-26 17:59:30 +0000 UTCI expect you read the relevant bit of the article Noah found. Dean Edwards said "USDA did agree that our work demonstrated feasibility and they encouraged us to seek funding through a small business initiation research (SBIR) grant. In order to apply for these SBIR grants, I founded a company, Forest Robots, LLC. Through this company, I was able to apply and was awarded both a Phase I and II SBIR grant. In Phase I, we implemented a more powerful antennae for our radio control so we could maintain control of our vehicle out to 1000 ft even through the forest canopy. In Phase II, we developed a vehicle called Forest Crawler (see Fig. 11), and a commercialization plan. Unfortunately, the forest robot was not very close to commercialization, and this was true even at the end of Phase II. No more funds were available to us after the Phase II SBIR."
Peter Facey
2023-11-26 17:53:21 +0000 UTCIt's nice to see your dad is still prepared to still shake hands with danger - the part where he was riding two planks like a pair of skis had me laughing! Great video Wes, this is going to be a huge challenge but very interesting as well.
David Yates
2023-11-26 17:51:18 +0000 UTCI love everything about this. Im in for as much forestry robot content as you want to make! Awesome Wes!
Chris Jenkins
2023-11-26 16:42:26 +0000 UTCCool beyond reason. The government contract explains a lot.
Eric Corse
2023-11-26 16:37:55 +0000 UTCVery interesting piece of equipment. I also thought Scandinavian as well. A good friend of mine worked for a company called Brokk out of Sweden who specializes in making robotic equipment for demolition, mining, and construction. In the 2000s patents ran out and Husqvarna started to copy their designs and make their own. It almost seems like this could have been a Husqvarna prototype for the logging industry.
Matthew Irizarry
2023-11-26 16:08:00 +0000 UTC
