Assembly, Finland
Well here I am, on a gorgeous day with clear blue skies and bright sunshine, in Finland attending the Assembly. A huge event attracting thousands of your technology enthusiasts. The Hartwell arena is filling up fast as attendees bring their beloved computer kit to participate in this four day technology fun-fest!
I have succeed navigating Heathrow Terminal 1 with a borrowed iRobot Create and a Lynx Motion 6 axis arm. Together with my flight case containing my 5.8Ghz wireless camera and blimp parts.
The blimp is now assembled and has been tested flying across the stadium. It is slightly heavy but this means it is tending downwards. Fixings are also much better than at Mashed so I hope not to go home with it stuck in the roof this time! The camera output is to be used several times during the event by the event organisers to give the birds eye perspective. Should be cool as they turn the lights out in the stadium at 18:00. I've attached a strobe light to the bottom of the blimp so it can be seen!
I have also been working hard on my presentation. I have 105 minutes to show off Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio to the 16 to 25yo (mainly) attendees. At 39 I'm feeling old - you should see some of these guys play Guitar Hero 3! 'Through the Fire and Flames' Expert level :-O. Apparently the Finnish Guitar Hero 3 final is to take place over the event - the winners go on to compete in Germany.
Anyways, apparently my presentation will be broadcast not only on the Alive web channel but it is also being picked up on some Finnish cable channels - so my audience could be as much as 300k! The blows out my FY09 audience figures :-) I'll have to busy myself with other stuff the rest of the year ;-)
I'm pleased to report that - with the help of my friends in the XNA UK user group - I now also have a working R2D2 as my simulated demo robot. R2 is equipped with Laser Range Finder and web cam but still uses the differential drive system - nope I haven't implemented his leg rockets (yet).
It sure is going to be fun!