JDroid
Yobotics'
Java Robot
Simulation &
 Construction Set

      


      

      
 RealTime Java
robots invading
the real  world

Yobotics (http://www.yobotics.com) has released a Java-based robotics Simulation Construction Set. It is almost unbelievably cool. You can use a free 30-day demo, or purchase it for $995. If you are serious about engineering robotic structures and controlling them from Java code, this may be a bargain. Yobotics wrote this program to save time in developing  their own mechanical legs. You can move the simulation code into your Java-based control system with few or no changes Yobotics was started by a group of whiz kids from the MIT leg lab and has been featured on the cover of Wired magazine. These guys are serious about what they do, and their stuff really works. I had a quick visit and tour recently and saw some mind-boggling demos and videos. For example, they are currently developing a powered knee brace.

Installing and Using the Yobotics Construction Set
Download and install the free demo system. Also download and read the first few pages of the documentation PDF.  The software insists on installing to C:\ and expects JBuilder5 to be present in C:\ also (aargh) but my JBuilder is on e:\.. But there is an easy work-around: 1) modify the yobotics setup.bat file references to JBuilder and 2) modify the Start menu demo shortcuts to also refer to JBuilder's actual location. These two changes let me run the demos without a hitch with JBuilder installed on my drive E.
Here is a screen capture from the  hexapod demo using the simulation construction set. This hexapod is being simulated including the balanced ball and stick on its back. The code to do this is 100% Java including  the on-screen display and GUI. Click on the image for a larger version.
Here is a very short QuickTime movie clip created in the yobotics hexapod simulation.




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