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<TITLE>Introducing Myself</TITLE>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">Hi, </FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">I am in The Woodlands, north of Houston. I am a semi-retired software developer (C/C++, Windows, embedded systems) and ham radio operator. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">I started playing around with robots a few years ago by working on a platform that would carry laptop as the computer. That got put aside. A short while ago I got an iRobot Create and the Command Module (CM) for it. The CM is an AVR 168 microcontroller system with a reasonable amount of capabilities.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">I have it running a behavior based system after Jone's "Robot Programming". It does the drive, bump, and escape. It has a battery charger docking station and I am working on the docking behavior. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">The next major effort is I2C communications with a compass module and 8 IR sensors. The goal with the IR sensors is for it to wander the house without bumping into everything. Percolating in the back of my head is how to get it to start from the docking station and hit specific waypoints given only their coordinates. (HAH! First major trick is what is the coordinate system?)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">I will wander through your web site and email list for information. Already have some of D. Anderson's work and would love to get a jBot. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">I have a least one question but that can wait for another email. </FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Comic Sans MS">Any one on the list also in the Houston area? All the Houston groups I find on the web seem to be defunct. </FONT>
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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">- 73 - </FONT>
<BR><B><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Comic Sans MS">Rud Merriam K5RUD</FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"></FONT></B><BR>
<FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Comic Sans MS">ARES AEC Montgomery County, TX</FONT>
<BR><I></I><A HREF="http://TheHamNetwork.net"><I><U></U></I><I><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS">http://TheHamNetwork.net</FONT></U></I><I></I></A><I></I>
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