wandering automation

The concept of automation is one I enjoy both doing and thinking about. In particular, I am all about using Machines to automate tasks that are harder for humans. I would share some of my automation projects today as a kick-off to 2023. It is a topic that comes up often here and on my longer HubPages articles. (I normally have less than 400 words on this blog, and Hubpages has a minimum of 700 words.)

1. Home protection: I use Astro from Amazon as my main floor protection system. I have Canary Cameras in the house, but the advantage of Astro is it saves information to the cloud, and it moves. In moving, someone breaking into the house won’t know where Astro is!
2. 3d Printing, I have wifi connected 3d printers; it is so much easier than taking a USB key to the rpinter1
3. Buddy auto, yes, automated squirrel image capture
4. automated (automat beer brewing)
5. iRobt Roombas (automated vacuum cleaners)

Automation can accomplish many tasks in a shorter, more consistent time frame. There are so many other ways that automation is used in my life. These are the quick hits. I am working on other automation projects and didn’t share them this time. My automated Rover project is another one I am designing but haven’t started yet.

Astro does scare one of the dogs, so I am only running Astro at night. The Roombas run during the day. With four dogs (soon to be two and then sadly one), our house has a lot of hair on the main level!

.doc

On connection and 3d printing!

This is not an overall review of the Ankermake M5 printer. I will wait until the last external components for the printer ship in February. But this is a quick update; I am know a huge 3d printer geek. I am printing sand toys right now; yesterday, my first print was a zen rake. Today I am printing the tower portion of a sand castle. 3d printing is all about the creation and ability to take something from the 2d (computer screen) to the 3d (physical object). 2 things I have noticed about the printer that I will share a pre-upcoming review. First, this printer is a lot faster than my old printer.

By faster, I mean 2-3 times faster. What took me 58 minutes on my old printer was done in 11 on this printer. Part of that is speeding up network segments, but overall, the new printer is fast.

The other quick hit I love is the connection to my iPhone. Awesome job so far on both of these very cool features.

It is truly interesting to me, overall, if we consider the impact of the cellular device going forward. The impact is growing and growing fast from tablets, hotspots, and 5g. I know that the IoT-type devices I look at now, I start with the does it have a phone application? (I have an Android phone for work and an iPhone for personal). There are so many things you can do. It is amazing to me. I started in the world of PPC phones, and the connection was interesting but wasn’t where it is today. I remember having a lot of connectivity but not many things to connect to back in the day!

Ah, connectivity, the joy that comes!

.dco

The cesspool that is crypto

I should be more open to the concept, but the more I hear, the more I see, and the more closed I am. First of all, (and this applies very broadly across the spectrum), only people with something to hide work hard to hide things. People with nothing to hide don’t care. That said, the reality of Crypto Currencies continues to worsen. I’ve had three people approach me on Social Media this week with a plan to make money trading Crypto. I can honestly say that before they approached me, I was suspect of crypto, but now, I am becoming anti-crypto.

First, and reason one is the whole FTX thing. When you find a bad tree in the forest, you cut it down, and the forest continues to grow. But if the tree is diseased, you must check the entire forest. I suspect FTX was diseased. Therefore all crypto has to be verified before doing anything.

The number of cryptocurrencies launched and then lost 40% or more of their value is too high.

The purported anonymity of the process is terrifying. To buy and sell crypto, you have to use an exchange. To buy and sell on an exchange, you must have a driver’s license, which the exchange must vary. They are liable if they choose to validate a fake ID, so they trust but verify that. But this also means that you and your “crypto” transactions can be tracked. If someone wants that information, it is a public record in the Blockchain. Remember this rule of investing in anything “If only I had acted earlier.”

I want to remind everyone of the concept of a Ponzi scheme. It is simply that everyone entering the scheme is PROMISED returns. But the reality is that only some people can get 20% or better returns. If one person wins, someone else has to lose a bit or be winless. As we have seen with eh crypto value fluctuations in 2022, that market is volatile. Only those with a good system can win more than half the time. But even people with good systems lose.

Take away all the illegal activities that Crypto supports; I suspect it would be safer. Take away the reality of being the only currency that can cross borders, and Crypto becomes useless. But, because everything is recorded in the Blockchain, if someone wants to catch you, they will. Plus, you have a nicely rendered publically available record of what you did wrong.

Cryptocurrencies have value in the monetary and exchange world. But for the average person, they are far too risky to be worth the potential loss.

.doc

Introducing Fish Buddy!

On Sunday, as I was crossing the busiest street on my walking path (I took three days off this week to rest my foot), I nearly got hit by a van. I understand the concept of a rolling stop; I’ve done a few where I rolled up to an empty intersection and then drove on through. However, in all cases, I slowed down, and I stopped if there was a pedestrian. A white van going close to 30 didn’t even slow down for the stop sign; it just blew on through. On all my routes, this stop area is the second busiest street I can walk near and the busiest on the route I normally take. Not a good place to blow through a stop sign.

I got an email from a friend yesterday that made me laugh hard. He started with the formal, Dear Doc; we are sorry to inform you that your constant posting of Dogs, walks, Robots, and squirrels have caused us to respond to you. My friend went with the usual holiday greetings and asked about the Bird Buddy. He was curious about adding one to his collection. I sent him the link, and then thinking about what he said, the cease flavor of the letter, I laughed!

Overall I am enjoying Squirrel buddy, or I could change the name to Occasional Bird, mostly squirrel buddy.  (time stamp on this picture and the video shows the bird triggered the motion sensor but wasn’t visible this was take with my camera!)

That did get me thinking, though, on a more whimsical side. You could do a waterproof version of Bird Buddy (Fish Buddy). You could do a version of Bird Buddy for baseball stadiums (Hot Dog Buddy). If you wanted, you could put Buddy cameras everywhere. They would take over the world! I would love to see Fish Buddy. That would be amazing. The camera would need to be modified as there is less light underwater. There are already home dog cameras designed to allow you to watch your dog while you are away. But the concept of the Fish Cam – that would be so cool!

.doc

i have to ask

Not, mind you, that I am condemning, simply pointing out that you get fired when you lie in the real world on a job interview (and by the way, running for congress is a JOB INTERVIEW). It is a simple fact that you get fired on a job application if you lie about college degrees. Of course, it is also a simple fact that if you have classified documents in your possession that are not treated by the rules of those types of documents, you lose your clearance. There is a loophole I have found, however, and it might be the saving grace here. If a deity (you chose the diety) comes to earth and changes your document to classified documents (or vice versa), that is a diety get-out-of-jail-free card.

I’m sorry for the political rant. I am sliding into the apathy of another one with these political statements floating around.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed the Occulus Quest Pro; the big-screen ability makes editing books much easier. Not many people do that just because I do it, and it is much easier to do with a bigger screen. Plus, I can lean back in my office chair, see the computer in front of me and use the keyboard on my lap! Years ago, I took a typing class in High School (ok, I will acknowledge now that my father was right. He made me take the class, and he was right!) I learned how to touch type, so I don’t have to look at the keys while typing. That, combined with the Occulus, means I can recline and type while editing!

The last thing I do on my catch-up vacation time is work on the 3d printer. The AnkerMake is a really interesting device so far. It is officially up and connected to my phone and my PC. The next thing is to load the plastic (today) and start a small print. I always like to do something short and small the first time, so you don’t have to spend as much time loading the files, etc. It is also fun to print small things to have around my office. But mostly just easier to load. I am going to try running a print from my PC first. More out of comfort on my part than anything else!

.doc

The bell is ringing and it is not a phone call

Could you ask not for whom the bell tolls? Because the church plays its bells every hour on the hour. It tolls for time!

One of the reasons I got the AnkerMake M5 was the mobile application. I’ve had several 3d printers. This is the first one with a mobile application for managing and using the printer. The reason is that I can start a longer print and then check in on that from my phone remotely. It allows me to do longer prints even if I am not home. Now the M5 is not as large a printer as the soon-shipping Artisan (Snapmaker says it will be shipping those in Jan, so we should all expect a Feb arrival). But the thing that was the most fun for me was where I put the new 3d printer.

Many years ago, my grandfather made a desk. I always thought the desk had been made for my father. But my mother told me that my grandfather had made it for me, my father used it after we returned from Thailand, and I had my wonderful teak desk (handmade in Thailand, I still have it). Dad had a plaque made for the desk (made by my grandfather) so using that for 3d printing feels perfect. That connects me to my mom, dad, and grandparents while doing something that disconnects me from them (3d printing). The other thing I need to do is clear the area where the Snapmaker will sit.

Currently, other things are stacked there, so that a January project will be clearing that space.

This winter season, the last thing to do is put new rotors on the drone, clean up, and charge the ROVs. I want to be out on the lake looking down (Drone), looking up (ROV), and, of course, taking surface pictures (my go-pro). There is something about being on the water that is incredible for me. It goes back a long time to some of my earliest memories!

.doc

setting up a 3d printer

I got the Ankermake 3d printer setup. Now it is the final configuration and software installation process, and then I can print in 3d again. I am more interested in the world of 3d printing than most people are. For me, it is the ability to create something virtually and then prints it. However, my drawing skills could be better. I do have and use the handheld 3d printer called 3doolder. That lets you literally “draw” an object in 3 dimensions. My drawing skills are not good enough to utilize the 3doodler artistically. I use it as a patching system for 3d prints I make that have small issues, cracks, or pieces that get broken!

I’ve had a 3d printer for the last eight or so years. I am on my 4^th, although, in fairness, I did end up giving two to the nearby school. It was more charitable as the school needed a new 3d printer, and I was waiting for another one, so win-win. Most of the schools in this area have 3d printers and fairly nice technology labs. I have been to several giving talks with the students about STEM/STEAM careers (I like the addition of art, scent technology, engineering, and math or STEM. The other version is Science Technology Engineering, Art, and Math with steam)!

One of the things I should do is write what to look for in 3d printers. I’ve run into every type and every problem in the 3d printing world. I will end with that list now!

1. Before you buy, check out the software – frankly, the software can make 3d printing much harder than it needs to be or make it a lot easier!
2. Look for systems that can use both PLA and ABS
3. consider the 3doolder pen in addition to a 3d printer (by the way, 3doodlge can print more than plastic)
4. 3d printers are loud, get a place in your house/apartment that you can put it that won’t distract you
5. Get a printer that allows WiFI connections; carrying a USB key isn’t hard, but WIFI is so much easier, particularly when you have to update the printer!

These are just some simple rules I have developed over the last few years.

.doc

a hodge-podge christmas share

I played a bit with Astro and am still learning the options. I like the ability o say, “Astro Take a picture,” and it does; the camera extends 2-3 feet above Astro and automatically saves the picture to Amazon pictures. It is a pretty good camera, and nearly human eye level makes it an interesting addition.

I know; I am a huge functional camera or specialty camera geek.

My other big geek thing is watches. I have chased geeky watches my whole life. The evolution for me was originally a Seiko watch; then, I moved to the Casio multi-watch (altimeter, compass, and barometer). From there is moved to the cool Sunnto watches (GPS) and then the Garmins. There was a brief sojourn into the Spot watches, but when the radio signal was turned off, I moved to the Garmin watches. I have a few of the original watches in my watch case. I then moved to the Pebble. Pebble was the very first true smartwatch. Pebble lets you load applications and change watches’ faces on a whim. I loved the pebble (I still have one in my watch case).

The smartwatch I wear now is the Apple Watch. It functionally does more than any watch I’ve ever owned. Add the phenomenal Wristcam, and you have the Dick Tracey watch. Yes, you can receive and make calls with cellular on the Apple Watch. You get a GPS integrated into the watch. You also get several other bits of information, including heart rate. With Wristcam, I can take pictures and videos and call on my watch. That is such an incredible addition to the power of the smartwatch. The other thing about the Apple Watch that is so cool is you get to see what information is coming to your phone without having to take your phone out of your pocket.

As a long-time watch-wearing person, the power of the smartwatch is all you can do!

.doc

Cold Weather Gear

Normally I try to get out of the house around 8 am on Saturday and Sunday for my long walk. Today I am waiting until a little closer to 9. With the current temp at around 4 degrees F outside, I would at least like the warm-up to begin before I hazard the freezing weather. It is time again for my annual cold weather gear post!

Considerations with cold weather

1. Slippery conditions
2. Wind and wind speed
3. Actual air temperature

So the first one is easily fixed with a great product called Yakima. It is a second tread added to your shoes. Overall, I have walked in ice and snow without sliding or slipping—a great solution for problem 1. Slippery conditions are hard enough without worrying about falling, so the Yakima treads are awesome!

The wind chill is harder but requires a face covering (ski mask) and an outer jacket that repels the wind. I use the Ravean Down Jacket for weather like this. It keeps me warm! The ski mask also covers my face. If it gets below zero and extremely windy, I consider not walking outside. But only if it is below 0 F.

I have two weather stations to measure the actual air temperature. (the warmer reading is the image above) One is in a near-sun area; the other is in the shade. That way, I get a more accurate actual temperature by comparing the two. In the summer, that can be as much as 7 degrees different (directly in the sun and in the shade), but in the winter, it is usually only a 2-3 degree difference!

Staying warm is possible; my issue is if I overdress, I get hot while walking (yes, hot in the winter). Then you have to figure out what you can safely take off without risking freezing if you take it off!

.doc

Shameless review of Bird Buddy!!!!!

I know I am a camera geek. I can’t help it. I enjoyed yesterday’s share from the #birdbuddy of a video, a squirrel eating my birdseed. Well, it isn’t mine; well, it is mine. But I put it out in the bird feeder for the birds. Not sadly for the squirrels. Anyway,y the goal today is my review of the Bird Buddy. Bird Buddy is a camera with a bird feeder built around it. It is easy to put together (it comes 90% assembled when you open the box). You only have to screw on the base so that you can mount the Bird Buddy outside. It even includes a very nice Bird Seed refiller.

What I like:

• Light and easy to setup
• Solar panel on the top of the bird buddy adds two days (in sunshine) to the camera battery
• The camera takes stills and video
• Camera is high resolution, and the image quality is amazing
• The software is awesome!

What I don’t like

• Really, the only thing is that the solar panel adds two days when it is sunny. You only get 2-3 days of battery life when it isn’t.

First, this is the device to get if you love birds and pictures of birds. It connects to your home WiFi, and you can use the application on your mobile phone. The software is very cool. It will identify most birds very quickly. I have four bird species visiting my feeder, and I share those images on Instagram and Facebook. So far, my ratio is around 25 squirrel visits and 250 squirrel pictures for each bird visit. But the squirrels will hibernate soon. Then the winter birds will stop by, and I will get more bird pictures. The software is amazing, and the identification of birds is amazing.

Heck, even the videos and images of squirrels look good!

I give Bird Buddy a 10 out of 10.

#birdbuddy

.doc