People doing strange things with electricity...in Portland!

• When: March 25th, 2013 - 8pm
• Where: Backspace (map)
• Who: All ages -- open to the public
• Cost: Free!

Self Balancing Robots 101

Glenn Phillips

Glenn Phillips got into the computer business around the era of the Mac Plus. Glenn's last job was the owner of Gorge Networks Inc. a rural Internet provider using fixed wireless and dsl. The business was sold in 2010 and Glenn has been on the Obama plan ever since.

Glenn became interested in the Arduino a couple years ago, but he had no programming experience. At some point in the process Glenn began to control servos and motors from his old RC collection. Computer control of motors was fun, interesting and possibly a job in the future.

Self balancing robots seemed to be the holy grail of motor control! Constant feedback from sensors is processed and translated to power and direction of the motor. Any issue with any component of the system is immediately apparent.

Glenn is also a cheap Yankee so his creations use salvaged parts from electric bikes, scooters, wheelchairs, laser printers and computers.

Glenn's presentation will cover the basics of self balancing robots:

• Overview of accelerometers and gyroscopes
• Control software
• Motor controllers
• Battery and electric motor selection

The Church of Robotron

Learn about the mutant savior and our efforts to save the last human family.

We will talk about the Chuch of Robotron installation at Toorcamp 2012. It involved many different types of materials, skills, and work. We used microcontrollers, plywood, and cast away junk to create a brand new immersive experience of Robotron 2084. On top of that, we had performance, writing, and art to complete the branding of the Church. We will show what a lot of people working together can accomplish.

We hope to inspire you to take up the two eight ways!

Opendork

Opendork is you!

An open-mic session for those looking to show off a project, ask a question, solicit help, or incite collaboration.

PEOPLE DOING STRANGE THINGS WITH ELECTRICITY

All meetings are open to the public. Please feel free to drop by to say hello, ask questions, or show off something interesting! We currently have casual, bi-weekly meetings every other Monday. We also have less-frequent "formal" meetings featuring presentations, performances and other interesting activities like OpenDork (where anyone can have a few minutes to discuss their latest project, ideas or whatever). Watch this space for announcements.

• When: Monday May 4th, 2015 - 8pm
• Where: Bunk Bar - 1028 SE Water Ave (map)
• Who: All ages -- open to the public
• Cost: Free!

Laen
OSH Park - Purple PCBs for People

Laen will talk about the beginnings and growth of the DorkbotPDX PCB Order, and how he turned his hobby into work.

Laen is the founder and owner of OSHPark, and doesn't like writing bios.

Joe Grand
Making Magical Mustaches with Mustache Mayhem

World peace begins with mustaches. Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds, Salvador Dali, Frank Zappa, Freddy Mercury, and Hulk Hogan have all harnessed the power of the mustache. It's time the rest of the world joined their ranks.

Mustache Mayhem is a hardware hack, a video game, and an interactive art piece rolled into one. Based on the short-lived Nintendo Virtual Boy video game console and retro-fitted with a BeagleBone Black Linux computer, the project provides a singular, entertaining goal: Overlay virtual mustaches onto real-world faces for points. In this presentation, Joe details the trials and tribulations behind creating his most ridiculous oeuvre yet.

Joe Grand (@joegrand), also known as Kingpin, is a computer engineer, hardware hacker, product designer, teacher, advisor, runner, daddy, honorary doctor, TV host, member of L0pht Heavy Industries, and the proprietor of Grand Idea Studio (grandideastudio.com).

OpenDork

Your short (5-minute) ligtning talks about an interest or project you've been working on!

PEOPLE DOING STRANGE THINGS WITH ELECTRICITY

All meetings are open to the public. Please feel free to drop by to say hello, ask questions, or show off something interesting! We currently have casual, bi-weekly meetings every other Monday. We also have less-frequent "formal" meetings featuring presentations, performances and other interesting activities like OpenDork (where anyone can have a few minutes to discuss their latest project, ideas or whatever). Watch this space for announcements.

PEOPLE DOING STRANGE THINGS WITH ELECTRICITY

All meetings are open to the public. Please feel free to drop by to say hello, ask questions, or show off something interesting! We currently have casual, bi-weekly meetings every other Monday. We also have less-frequent "formal" meetings featuring presentations, performances and other interesting activities like OpenDork (where anyone can have a few minutes to discuss their latest project, ideas or whatever). Watch this space for announcements.

PEOPLE DOING STRANGE THINGS WITH ELECTRICITY

All meetings are open to the public. Please feel free to drop by to say hello, ask questions, or show off something interesting! We currently have casual, bi-weekly meetings every other Monday. We also have less-frequent "formal" meetings featuring presentations, performances and other interesting activities like OpenDork (where anyone can have a few minutes to discuss their latest project, ideas or whatever). Watch this space for announcements.