Robot Overload Docking with Lego

Tom Larkworthy of Edinburgh Hacklab has done an excellent article on optical feedback for cheap robotic systems. Details on the Software and hardware been  used may well be of interest to members and visitors alike.

 

 

Robot guidence in realtime!

Ubuntu LTS 12.04 at 12.04 BST No Service on the website..

So for those waiting for the latest LTS release – seems there must have been overwhelming amount of you trying to get it at 12:04 locking up the website.

I downloaded it late last night and am trying it on a spare old Acer 1642z laptop – I’m still not sure about Unity. I may comment later when its finished a long install which (if you want) can download/install updates and let you use the computer while it installs, its over an hour now.

I’ve had a friend tell me the install is flakey in the 64bit version – so I’ll leave that alone for a while.

Anyone else want to comment on the new Ubuntu LTS?

April Meeting review – another successful evening

Thanks very much to David Philzacklea for the talk and answering questions on how Linux / open source is used to keep his company  Jumbo IT Service Ltd of Newport going. The company process data for many organisations – both public and private – for whom all the term ‘mission critical’ is very real. Much of the work was done by our own Lee Cashmore.

David gave an interesting talk / presentation to show how systems and data that are so important to the company (and other companies / organisations) is made available to process and kept secure. He described how effective yet economic hardware is used through investment in programming open source OS’s and applications. The core of value is extracting what Open Source can enable and making best use of it – not just trusting what other global organisations tell you that you need and having to trust them with it.

Working on databases or monitoring them is their job – they have solid back up, restore and disaster planning which could enable them to walk away from any of their workplaces should the worst occure – and be continuining operations either from home or mobile locations within promises made in SLAs. Having such important data and its value, really focussed their activity on making sure that nothing is broken or lost . He also described their use of VM machines for efficiency and as part of protecting from disasters.

David talked about how hardware continues to operate (but with planned replacement if need be – without effectiving the organisation. It was a refreshing thing to hear how a successful company is not romanced into handing over substatial control and funds to corporates who operate on FUD.

Thanks David – he offered to do a follow up talk – we’ll be scheduling one in late in the year.. Search “Jumbo IT Services Newport”  for more information on them.

All in I think we had 15 attendance – continuing the good numbers we are getting now we have regular talks and demonstrations.

Look forward to next months meeting at Telford College – but after that till September we’ll need a Summer Datcha to relocate to. Dave H

 

April Meeting-David Phizacklea talks about his use of Linux in a corporate environment

David works at a local Shropshire Oracle consultancy he will be talking about his use of Linux in business and how  it has enabled them to continue to use otherwise obsolete hardware for development and test scenarios thus reducing their costs. David will be discussing the tools used and the ideas involved in successfully using Linux in business

Colour your PI

 

 

Raspberry Pi Cases Now Available

We have designed a case for the Raspberry Pi. Made from acrylic it serves to both protect and show off your RPi to the world. The case is laser cut from sheet acrylic and bolted together, the design will be released under creative commons for folk to cut their own. If you don’t own the facilities to produce the case don’t worry you can either win one of 10 Raspberry Pi cases by subscribing to the Youtube Blog Here or if you want to sure you get one now our EBAY shop.

March meeting – a busy successful evening about Cloud computing

The UKITA/BCS took on our evening and provided two excellent speakers from industry. We counted 45 people at the meeting – which included a class of HND Computing students from the College.I t opened at 6.30, arrivals chat and tea/coffee and  7pm  the event began.

The first speaker of the evening was Phil Oakley who presented a clear and simple explanation of summing up the gathering of services current and historical to provide the concept of Cloud computing – clearing out some misconceptions about it being something new.
The second speaker, Victoria DIggines spoke on the security concerns and legal consequences of where Cloud users data might be actually physically located in the world. The local laws can be a surprise and potential heavy financial risks if legal agreements  are not put in place before taking advantage of the ‘Cloud’  When moving data storage and virtual – buyer-beware!

If you don’t pay for something – expect same level of support at worst. Free Cloud computing for example, like Googles docs, storage and apps are fine but based really only on you valuing your data at how much you pay for them.  Many of us store personally owned data and files in our online emailers – fine if you know you’re taking a risk.  If you have a business you need to assume the worst and get advice so as not to put your business at risk.

Ed Bedell introducing the evenings speakers Phil Oakley and Victoria Diggines. Inset, more images from the evening.

The evening finished with a set of questions which could have gone on well after 9pm the default closing time for the College. People who came along all passed good comments on the event and location – special thanks to Ed Bedell  of UKITA/BCS for the organisation and promotion of the event.

The  requirement of our access to a free room for meetings is to provide an event  that would be of use to students at the College. This certainly was. This event was an example of the voluntary sector (us!) enabling young people to make valuable contacts directly into industry.  Here’s hoping this is the seed of future success. The Colleges head of computing, Ed, is looking for us to repeat this type of event – but about VMware in the next College year (September onwards).

Next month is a return to normal service – but this event certainly was a success.