From: Andrew P. <ap...@gm...> - 2006-01-03 20:58:56
|
Hi Everyone, Here's another Lego-compatible Gumstix case: http://armyofevilrobots.com/node/378 Spotted it mentioned in the comments of this Make Blog entry: http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/01/how_to_make_your_own_custom_le= .html Enjoy! Andrew. -- If you don't know what to do, do something. |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-04 19:28:06
|
Andrew Plumb wrote: >Hi Everyone, > >Here's another Lego-compatible Gumstix case: > >http://armyofevilrobots.com/node/378 > >Spotted it mentioned in the comments of this Make Blog entry: > >http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/01/how_to_make_your_own_custom_le.html > >Enjoy! > >Andrew. > >-- > >If you don't know what to do, do something. > You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a *great* new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed and an LCDBrix display. -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Andrew P. <ap...@gm...> - 2006-01-04 20:30:08
|
On 1/4/06, Keith Olson <kso...@gm...> wrote:[deletia] > You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the > GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a *great* > new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed and > an LCDBrix display. Keith, I think you're on to something! How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to (re)program in a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to manufacturing and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up some interesting possibilities, business and otherwise. Andrew. -- If you don't know what to do, do something. |
From: Gordon K. <go...@gu...> - 2006-01-04 20:50:51
|
First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are just now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this into the production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. Gordon > On 1/4/06, *Keith Olson* <kso...@gm... > <mailto:kso...@gm...>> wrote: > [deletia] > > You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the > GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a > *great* > new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed and > an LCDBrix display. > > > Keith, I think you're on to something! > > How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive > displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to > (re)program in a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) > > The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to > manufacturing and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up > some interesting possibilities, business and otherwise. > > Andrew. > > -- > > If you don't know what to do, do something. |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-04 21:07:02
|
<BLUSH> Ah, shucks. T'weren't nothin'. Gordon Kruberg wrote: > First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! > Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are > just now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this > into the production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. > Gordon > >> On 1/4/06, *Keith Olson* <kso...@gm... >> <mailto:kso...@gm...>> wrote: >> [deletia] >> >> You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the >> GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a >> *great* >> new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS >> installed and >> an LCDBrix display. >> >> >> Keith, I think you're on to something! >> >> How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive >> displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to >> (re)program in a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) >> >> The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to >> manufacturing and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up >> some interesting possibilities, business and otherwise. >> >> Andrew. >> >> -- >> >> If you don't know what to do, do something. > -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Glyn D. <gry...@gm...> - 2006-01-05 12:03:27
|
You'd probably better have a chat to the people at Lego first. I believe they are rather keen on protecting the brick layout. Also, they just launched a new mindstorms brick, 32bit, USB2.0 and bluetooth. http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=3Dpressdetail&contentid=3D172= 78&countrycode=3D2057&yearcode=3D&archive=3Dfalse Glyn On 1/4/06, Gordon Kruberg <go...@gu...> wrote: > > First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! > Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are just > now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this into the > production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. > Gordon > > > On 1/4/06, *Keith Olson* <kso...@gm... > > <mailto:kso...@gm...>> wrote: > > [deletia] > > > > You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the > > GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a > > *great* > > new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed > and > > an LCDBrix display. > > > > > > Keith, I think you're on to something! > > > > How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive > > displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to > > (re)program in a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) > > > > The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to > > manufacturing and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up > > some interesting possibilities, business and otherwise. > > > > Andrew. > > > > -- > > > > If you don't know what to do, do something. > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Do you grep through log > files > for problems? Stop! Download the new AJAX search engine that makes > searching your log files as easy as surfing the web. DOWNLOAD SPLUNK! > http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=3D7637&alloc_id=3D16865&op=3Dclick > _______________________________________________ > gumstix-users mailing list > gum...@li... > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gumstix-users > |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-05 22:32:24
|
Glyn Davies wrote: >You'd probably better have a chat to the people at Lego first. >I believe they are rather keen on protecting the brick layout. > >Also, they just launched a new mindstorms brick, 32bit, USB2.0 and >bluetooth. >http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=17278&countrycode=2057&yearcode=&archive=false > >Glyn > >On 1/4/06, Gordon Kruberg <go...@gu...> wrote: > > >>First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! >>Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are just >>now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this into the >>production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. >>Gordon >> >> >> >>>On 1/4/06, *Keith Olson* <kso...@gm... >>><mailto:kso...@gm...>> wrote: >>>[deletia] >>> >>> You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the >>> GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a >>> *great* >>> new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed >>> >>> >>and >> >> >>> an LCDBrix display. >>> >>> >>>Keith, I think you're on to something! >>> >>>How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive >>>displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to >>>(re)program in a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) >>> >>>The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to >>>manufacturing and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up >>>some interesting possibilities, business and otherwise. >>> >>>Andrew. >>> >>>-- >>> >>>If you don't know what to do, do something. >>> >>> Talk about /irony/! Right after I suggest GumBrix being the new RCX, Lego announces NXT. <G> I wouldn't worry about lawsuits though - that ultrasonic unit looks just a little too much like something from 'Short Circuit' to make Sony Pictures happy. <EG> -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Richard T. S. <rs...@pa...> - 2006-01-05 23:01:22
|
I absolutely have to have the LEGO NCX system! I can handle the $380 but the LabView thing is going to be an $$ PITA unless a copy is included. I expect someone will make the GNU stuff work with the new processor. Hopefully it is just an ARM7 or something. Richard -----Original Message----- From: gum...@li... [mailto:gum...@li...] On Behalf Of Keith Olson Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 2:32 PM To: gum...@li... Subject: Re: [Gumstix-users] Lego-compatible Gumstix case Glyn Davies wrote: >You'd probably better have a chat to the people at Lego first. >I believe they are rather keen on protecting the brick layout. > >Also, they just launched a new mindstorms brick, 32bit, USB2.0 and >bluetooth. >http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=17278&c ountrycode=2057&yearcode=&archive=false |
From: Doug S. <do...@pr...> - 2006-01-05 23:34:18
|
Speaking of robots, I bought a hexapod kit some time ago, but found it too sluggish, the servos were not powerful enough. Those servos are noisy too! Does anyone have a recommendation for some decent servos for walking bots? How about quiet servos, is there such a thing? -- Doug |
From: Richard T. S. <rs...@pa...> - 2006-01-05 23:57:36
|
If there are quiet servos, I haven't seen them. I built a 3 servo hexapod a while back http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Projects/MiniWalker.shtml and even the extra-midget sized servos are somewhat noisy. Not as big as the standard size but not quiet. I was just thinking that maybe small stepper motors might be the way to go: http://tinyurl.com/bd3sc I suppose with 18 servo walkers this would get out of hand but the 3 servo walker performs quite well. It has two gaits and can turn left or right. Richard -----Original Message----- From: gum...@li... [mailto:gum...@li...] On Behalf Of Doug Sutherland Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 3:33 PM To: gum...@li... Subject: Re: [Gumstix-users] Lego-compatible Gumstix case Speaking of robots, I bought a hexapod kit some time ago, but found it too sluggish, the servos were not powerful enough. Those servos are noisy too! Does anyone have a recommendation for some decent servos for walking bots? How about quiet servos, is there such a thing? -- Doug ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Do you grep through log files for problems? Stop! Download the new AJAX search engine that makes searching your log files as easy as surfing the web. DOWNLOAD SPLUNK! http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=7637&alloc_id=16865&op=click _______________________________________________ gumstix-users mailing list gum...@li... https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gumstix-users |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-06 00:40:37
|
Richard T. Stoner wrote: >If there are quiet servos, I haven't seen them. I built a 3 servo hexapod a >while back http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Projects/MiniWalker.shtml and even >the extra-midget sized servos are somewhat noisy. Not as big as the >standard size but not quiet. > >I was just thinking that maybe small stepper motors might be the way to go: >http://tinyurl.com/bd3sc > >I suppose with 18 servo walkers this would get out of hand but the 3 servo >walker performs quite well. It has two gaits and can turn left or right. > >Richard > > >-----Original Message----- >From: gum...@li... >[mailto:gum...@li...] On Behalf Of Doug >Sutherland >Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 3:33 PM >To: gum...@li... >Subject: Re: [Gumstix-users] Lego-compatible Gumstix case > >Speaking of robots, I bought a hexapod kit some time ago, but found >it too sluggish, the servos were not powerful enough. Those servos >are noisy too! Does anyone have a recommendation for some decent >servos for walking bots? How about quiet servos, is there such a >thing? > > -- Doug > > How about using muscle wire? http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/group.asp?gid=4 -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Andrew P. <ap...@gm...> - 2006-01-06 01:53:11
|
On 1/5/06, Keith Olson <kso...@gm...> wrote: [deletia] > How about using muscle wire? > http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/group.asp?gid=3D4 It can be done, but it's quite tricky. They are silent, but it takes some careful thermal and mechanical engineering to speed up the cooling/stretching/relaxation part of the cycle. The heating/contraction part of the cycle is strong and fast, dependant on how much current you pump through and the thickness of the wire. See the air-cooled rates (in cycles per minute):=20 http://www.robotstore.com/mwfaq.asp There used to be some NanoMuscle linear actuators that were reasonably fast-cooling and could perform several cycles per second, but they're quite mechanically fragile (I still have a few intact): http://3w.gfec.com.tw/english/service/content/elinear_actuator.htm Here's the original, Google cached tech page: http://tinyurl.com/afxoz (original was: http://www.nanomuscle.com/products/tech.html) The wire wasn't the problem - that titanium doesn't break easily - it was the way they'd bonded the wires onto the metal-plate part of the actuator. Didn't take much to separate them. Andrew. -- If you don't know what to do, do something. |
From: Andrew P. <ap...@gm...> - 2006-01-06 04:14:34
|
On 1/5/06, Andrew Plumb <ap...@gm...> wrote: > On 1/5/06, Keith Olson <kso...@gm...> wrote: > [deletia] > > How about using muscle wire? > > http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/group.asp?gid=3D4 > > It can be done, but it's quite tricky. They are silent, but it takes > some careful thermal and mechanical engineering to speed up the > cooling/stretching/relaxation part of the cycle. The > heating/contraction part of the cycle is strong and fast, dependant on > how much current you pump through and the thickness of the wire. [rest deletia] ...and as is usually the case, the stars align and a related paper appears in my "smart materials and structures" feed: http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0964-1726/15/1/034/ "Position control of a single-link mechanism activated by shape memory alloy springs: experimental results" Seung-Bok Choi 2006 Smart Mater. Struct. 15 51-58 =20 doi:10.1088/0964-1726/15/1/034 Enjoy! Andrew. -- If you don't know what to do, do something. |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-06 08:34:51
|
Andrew Plumb wrote: >On 1/5/06, Keith Olson <kso...@gm...> wrote: >[deletia] > > >>How about using muscle wire? >>http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/group.asp?gid=4 >> >> > >It can be done, but it's quite tricky. They are silent, but it takes >some careful thermal and mechanical engineering to speed up the >cooling/stretching/relaxation part of the cycle. The >heating/contraction part of the cycle is strong and fast, dependant on >how much current you pump through and the thickness of the wire. > >See the air-cooled rates (in cycles per minute): >http://www.robotstore.com/mwfaq.asp > >There used to be some NanoMuscle linear actuators that were reasonably >fast-cooling and could perform several cycles per second, but they're >quite mechanically fragile (I still have a few intact): > >http://3w.gfec.com.tw/english/service/content/elinear_actuator.htm > >Here's the original, Google cached tech page: > >http://tinyurl.com/afxoz >(original was: http://www.nanomuscle.com/products/tech.html) > >The wire wasn't the problem - that titanium doesn't break easily - it >was the way they'd bonded the wires onto the metal-plate part of the >actuator. Didn't take much to separate them. > >Andrew. > >-- > >If you don't know what to do, do something stupid, then blame someone else. > > I can think of a couple of solutions right off the bat: 1) Multiple wires - Instead of 4 cpm, you can have 8, 12, 16, etc. 2) Cool the wire faster by putting it inside a fluid-filled tube, allowing one anchor point to act like a piston and slide in the tube. With one-way valves on each end of the tube, or both on one end with one of them having a tube that extends to the other end of the larger tube, the fluid is automatically pumped slowly through the tube, thus allowing both the wire to relax quickly and the subsequently warmer fluid in the tube to be replaced. Small 'wings' inside the tube can keep the fluid moving around in the tube to maximize cooling if the resulting friction is acceptable. -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Andrew P. <ap...@gm...> - 2006-01-06 15:08:20
|
On 1/6/06, Keith Olson <kso...@gm...> wrote: > Andrew Plumb wrote: [deletia] > >If you don't know what to do, do stupid things until brilliance strikes. > > > > > I can think of a couple of solutions right off the bat: > > 1) Multiple wires - Instead of 4 cpm, you can have 8, 12, 16, etc. Yup, that's roughly the trick the NanoMuscles use. In that case it's one long wire folded over several times to get around the maximum 10% (rounding up) length changes - a longer effective wire in a smaller space. Contact with the structural metal at contraction time dissipates heat more quickly, speeding up cycle time. Multiple wires definitely have the mechanical redundancy (and thermal) advantage, but looses the longer effective length. 10 segments of 10mm connected in parallel only contract 1mm, while one 100mm segment has 10mm length change to work with. > 2) Cool the wire faster by putting it inside a fluid-filled tube, > allowing one anchor point to act like a piston and slide in the tube. > With one-way valves on each end of the tube, or both on one end with one > of them having a tube that extends to the other end of the larger tube, > the fluid is automatically pumped slowly through the tube, thus allowing > both the wire to relax quickly and the subsequently warmer fluid in the > tube to be replaced. Small 'wings' inside the tube can keep the fluid > moving around in the tube to maximize cooling if the resulting friction > is acceptable. Yup, that's one way of doing it. Gotta watch out though, that active cooling system is one more piece to break. On the other hand, you could flip it around and make the heated/cooled liquid the "blood" that activates the wire and keep the heat pump completely central. Interesting... Andrew. -- If you don't know what to do, do something. |
From: jc C. <jc...@in...> - 2006-01-06 15:58:05
|
Hi all, I was please to find freetypelib.mk in the make directory and added TARGETS+=3Dfreetypelib to my main Makefile. Executing make did download the needed package, but after configuration the build process fails with: config.mk:25: /unix-def.mk: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden (couldn't find file or directory - or similar) config.mk:26: /unix-cc.mk: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden (couldn't find file or directory - or similar) make[1]: *** Keine Regel, um =BB/unix-cc.mk=AB zu erstellen. Schluss. (no rule to build =BB/unix-cc.mk=AB or so) Anyone who has successfully build freetypelib? Thanks Jens |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-07 09:30:15
|
Richard T. Stofer wrote: >If there are quiet servos, I haven't seen them. I built a 3 servo hexapod a >while back http://www.kronosrobotics.com/Projects/MiniWalker.shtml and even >the extra-midget sized servos are somewhat noisy. Not as big as the >standard size but not quiet. > >I was just thinking that maybe small stepper motors might be the way to go: >http://tinyurl.com/bd3sc > >I suppose with 18 servo walkers this would get out of hand but the 3 servo >walker performs quite well. It has two gaits and can turn left or right. > >Richard > > >-----Original Message----- >From: gum...@li... >[mailto:gum...@li...] On Behalf Of Doug >Sutherland >Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 3:33 PM >To: gum...@li... >Subject: Re: [Gumstix-users] Lego-compatible Gumstix case > >Speaking of robots, I bought a hexapod kit some time ago, but found >it too sluggish, the servos were not powerful enough. Those servos >are noisy too! Does anyone have a recommendation for some decent >servos for walking bots? How about quiet servos, is there such a >thing? > > -- Doug > This might be of interest to some of you: http://tinyurl.com/awwtc -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Michael T. <mik...@ap...> - 2006-01-05 19:38:24
|
Sign me up - for netCF cases and GumBrix(tm). Gordon Kruberg wrote: > First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! > Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are > just now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this > into the production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. > Gordon |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-05 22:33:46
|
Gordon Kruberg wrote: > First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! > Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are > just now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this > into the production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. > Gordon <SIGH> Oh, well. Even with the intro of the NXT, it's /still/ a good idea, especially if you can create a package with BrickOS(http://brickos.sourceforge.net/), the ATAVRISP(http://tinyurl.com/e2964), and the RoboBrix(RoboStix in a custom case and a BrixBus top(i.e. Lego studded top with remapped I/O to special studs to make it easier to connect - Lego's standard electric bricks have two conductors per stud, which should be enough for signalling as well, so you can have 8 connections with a 1x4 brick. For a standard hookup, you would have multiple PlugBrix - some for the signals, one to snap onto a grounding stud, and one(or more) for power. You could undoubtedly find a company that could make them the same size and shape as a standard 1x1 flat bricks easily enough.)) You could sell 1x1 PlugBrix with 1-2' of two conductor wire coming out by the dozen cheaply. -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Keith O. <kso...@gm...> - 2006-01-04 21:05:54
|
Andrew Plumb wrote: >On 1/4/06, Keith Olson <kso...@gm...> wrote:[deletia] > > > >>You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the >>GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a *great* >>new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed and >>an LCDBrix display. >> >> > > >Keith, I think you're on to something! > >How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive >displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to (re)program in >a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) > >The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to manufacturing >and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up some interesting >possibilities, business and otherwise. > >Andrew. > >-- > >If you don't know what to do, do something that won't leave you holding the blame when it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. > Hmmmmm.....Sounds like a good time to talk cross-marketing. Mega Block brand KnowledgeBrix! -- Keith Olson K-Soft Consulting |
From: Michael T. <mik...@ap...> - 2006-01-05 19:37:39
|
They lost the patent suit, so I think they are fair game now. My kids have Megablocks or whatever they are called, they are indistinguishable from Lego now. Cheers, Mike Glyn Davies wrote: >You'd probably better have a chat to the people at Lego first. >I believe they are rather keen on protecting the brick layout. > >Also, they just launched a new mindstorms brick, 32bit, USB2.0 and >bluetooth. >http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=17278&countrycode=2057&yearcode=&archive=false > >Glyn > >On 1/4/06, Gordon Kruberg <go...@gu...> wrote: > > >>First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! >>Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are just >>now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this into the >>production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. >>Gordon >> >> >> >>>On 1/4/06, *Keith Olson* <kso...@gm... >>><mailto:kso...@gm...>> wrote: >>>[deletia] >>> >>> You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the >>> GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a >>> *great* >>> new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed >>> >>> >>and >> >> >>> an LCDBrix display. >>> >>> >>>Keith, I think you're on to something! >>> >>>How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive >>>displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to >>>(re)program in a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) >>> >>>The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to >>>manufacturing and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up >>>some interesting possibilities, business and otherwise. >>> >>>Andrew. >>> >>>-- >>> >>>If you don't know what to do, do something. >>> >>> >> >> >>------------------------------------------------------- >>This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Do you grep through log >>files >>for problems? Stop! Download the new AJAX search engine that makes >>searching your log files as easy as surfing the web. DOWNLOAD SPLUNK! >>http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=7637&alloc_id=16865&op=click >>_______________________________________________ >>gumstix-users mailing list >>gum...@li... >>https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gumstix-users >> >> >> > > > |
From: Andrew P. <ap...@gm...> - 2006-01-05 21:18:45
|
Technical detail and IAmNotALawyer disclaimer, Lego was trying to apply trademark law to the shape+dimensions+function of the blocks (my interpretation). The patents had long since expired, which was the MegaBlo= k angle, which won. As long as a product doesn't reference a Lego trademark, i.e. calling a block a "Lego block" it should be ok. That may or may not include explicitly refering to your product as "Lego compatible" or even "MegaBlok compatible" in documentation; you'd have to consult appropriate intellectua= l property council. Andrew. On 1/5/06, Michael Taylor <mik...@ap...> wrote: > > They lost the patent suit, so I think they are fair game now. My kids > have Megablocks or whatever they are called, they are indistinguishable f= rom > Lego now. > > Cheers, > > Mike > > Glyn Davies wrote: > > You'd probably better have a chat to the people at Lego first. > I believe they are rather keen on protecting the brick layout. > > Also, they just launched a new mindstorms brick, 32bit, USB2.0 and > bluetooth. > http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=3Dpressdetail&contentid=3D1= 7278&countrycode=3D2057&yearcode=3D&archive=3Dfalse > > Glyn > > On 1/4/06, Gordon Kruberg <go...@gu...> <go...@gu...> wrote= : > > First, I absolutely love the GumBrix! > Second, we would gladly undertake to build and sell these. We are just > now working on case-designs for the netCF and we could fit this into the > production plans easily. I think it's a fantastic idea. > Gordon > > On 1/4/06, *Keith Olson* <kso...@gm...<mailto:ksoftcons= ul...@gm...> <kso...@gm...>> wrote: > [deletia] > > You know, as crazy as it sounds, if Gordon & Co. were to market the > GumBrix case to retailers who sell MindStorms, that could be a > *great* > new vector for sales, especially if it came with BrickOS installed > > and > > an LCDBrix display. > > > Keith, I think you're on to something! > > How about a range of E-Ink display bricks? Use them as interactive > displays, or plug them into a GumBrix or standard desktop to > (re)program in a static image. Holly, you readin'? ;-) > > The recent win by Mega Bloks (here in Canada) with respect to > manufacturing and selling implicitly Lego-compatible blocks opens up > some interesting possibilities, business and otherwise. > > Andrew. > > -- > > If you don't know what to do, do something. > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Do you grep through log > files > for problems? Stop! Download the new AJAX search engine that makes > searching your log files as easy as surfing the web. DOWNLOAD SPLUNK! > http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=3D7637&alloc_id=3D16865&op=3Dclick > _______________________________________________ > gumstix-users mailing list > gum...@li...https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/li= stinfo/gumstix-users > > > -- If you don't know what to do, do something. |