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Pleo Stuff => Pleo Hardware/Software => How-to and Tutorials => Topic started by: Blackhalflife on August 14, 2009, 03:57:49 AM

Title: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 14, 2009, 03:57:49 AM
Hi!

The German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) (http://www.dfki.de) has released a new website about Pleopatra Tools, a software to control Pleo, together with a Java API.

Pleopatra Tools make it possible to:
You can also find a documentation about pleo (39 pages, german) on our website


You can find the website at:
http://www.dfki.de/pleopatra (http://www.dfki.de/pleopatra)

Download: http://pleopatratools.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/pleopatratools/

-----German-----

Hallo!

Das Deutsche Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz (DFKI) (http://www.dfki.de) hat eine Website zu Pleopatra Tools gestartet, eine Software zum Steuern von Pleo über den PC, verbunden mit einer Java API, die es leicht ermöglicht eigene Applikationen zu schreiben.

Pleopatra Tools bietet unter anderem folgende Funktionen:
Außerdem wurde eine ausführliche Dokumentation zu Pleo erstellt (39 Seiten), die auf der Website heruntergeladen werden kann.

Die Adresse ist:
http://www.dfki.de/pleopatra (http://www.dfki.de/pleopatra)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on August 14, 2009, 05:35:49 AM
Sounds great :) I'll check it out :)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: CleosDad on August 14, 2009, 07:37:54 AM
It looks great! Similar to DinoMite, but less clunky. I just wish I would have paid better attention in my german class in high school.  ;D
There's interesting info in another thread about Jetta releasing a PDK in september too.
I may not sell Cleo after all!
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 14, 2009, 08:47:31 AM
The software is english, and if you have questions you can ask us (in english ;) )
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Crystal:. on August 14, 2009, 11:06:49 AM
This looks really interesting. I'll check it out. ;D
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: shadow on August 14, 2009, 01:08:34 PM
The software is english, and if you have questions you can ask us (in english ;) )

Is there a way to sign up to be notified when the software is available for download? (my german's feeble but my capsule summary of the download page would be it's coming and I can't have it yet?)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 14, 2009, 03:03:40 PM
Is there a way to sign up to be notified when the software is available for download? (my german's feeble but my capsule summary of the download page would be it's coming and I can't have it yet?)

The program works allready, but there are some lines of code we want to rewrite before we release the tool. If you can't wait, you can send us a mail (pleopatra@dfki.de) and we will send you a first preview version in about a week.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on August 14, 2009, 05:18:40 PM
I'm content to wait for the tested version (oh and thank you for an English version, translators only get you so far :P) it does sound like it has a few more features than Dinomite :) Definitely looking forward to it :)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 14, 2009, 05:26:44 PM
Yes, it does have some new features: You can now record audio files and play them on your computer immediatly after recording. (With the API you can also save them as wav-Files), you can take pictures with the build in camera and display them on the computer (without putting the sd card in your computer) and save them as bmp-File (using the API) and the greates thing: your Pleo can twitter about his feelings now (like http://www.twitter.com/Pleopatra) unfortunality only in german (yet).

Pleopatra Tools (and the API) is open source, so you can expand it and create your own apps to control your pleo.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: grumpy on August 14, 2009, 05:32:36 PM
Ooooo!  I like that last part!

Could be dangerous if Dr. Mel is listening . . .  ;)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 14, 2009, 05:41:26 PM
Oh, is Dr. Mel able to write Java programs?
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: mweed on August 14, 2009, 05:46:46 PM
Dr. Mel is the evil mad scientist from the Bob the Pleo comic strip.  Since his goal is to destroy all pleos . . .
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 14, 2009, 05:53:02 PM
i know  :)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: allosaurus on August 14, 2009, 07:11:38 PM
Ooooo!  I like that last part!

Could be dangerous if Dr. Mel is listening . . .  ;)

GRUMPY!

You want to control yourself!? D:
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: NarcissaABlack on August 21, 2009, 08:54:57 AM
Question:  for the twitter page, can you use an existing one, since I'm a web craze person, and I want to make a twitter page for my pleo.  But I wouldn't want to get one and then have to get a brand new one for this tool to work.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 21, 2009, 12:35:40 PM
Yeah im curious about the twitter feature too, does anyone know if the pleo just leaves an emoticon or if the software actually interprets pleos mood and puts together a micro blog?
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 22, 2009, 08:36:30 AM
Question:  for the twitter page, can you use an existing one, since I'm a web craze person, and I want to make a twitter page for my pleo.  But I wouldn't want to get one and then have to get a brand new one for this tool to work.

you can use an existing account, or you can create a new, as you can see here: http://www.dfki.de/pleopatra/screens/twitter.jpg you just have to enter a username and a password.

@justbede: pleo tools react on changing sensor, e.g. if pleo eats he will twitter "mhhh, taste good" or something like this, if you shake him around he will say sth like "i'm feeling sick". at the moment the pleopatra tools only speaks german, but its no problem to change the language to english (an exmaple twitter account can be found here: http://twitter.com/Pleopatra)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 22, 2009, 10:48:29 AM
I had a look and its a great idea its actually surprising now looking back that no one thought to make this feature earlier. Is there any chance in the future that we could gain access to the responses given for different sensory feedback so as to customise them? eg a tap on the back would result in a "someones not worried about my paintwork" keep up the great work.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 23, 2009, 05:28:56 AM
yes, that's allready possible now! each "trigger" (e.g. a sensor) has a txt-file with some tweets, the program chosse one of them (random) an send it to twitter. so if you want to customise the tweets you just have to change the txt-files

you can also add your own triggers, because the software is open source

Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 23, 2009, 03:15:01 PM
Thats a really nice and intuative way of doing it, just a couple of questions (sorry:p). Does pleo have to be constantly connected to a computer to tweet or does he some how save the data for uploading later? Thumbs up for being open source 8)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 24, 2009, 03:58:40 AM
yes, pleo have to be connected and we think it's the idea of twitter to send real time messages. until the pdk (pleo development kit) isn't published it won't be possible to control pleo while he isn't connected to a pc
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 24, 2009, 04:27:54 AM
ah right, thanks for the info :D
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 25, 2009, 06:36:41 AM
good news!

you can find Pleopatra Tools now at SourceForge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/pleopatratools and download the code via svn http://pleopatratools.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/pleopatratools/
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 25, 2009, 07:06:14 AM
i can't find the download do you have to be registered or something?
*Update* i think i've found them, sorry.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Dadio on August 25, 2009, 09:09:51 AM
http://pleopatratools.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/pleopatratools/  :)
is the link which gets you into the file download area.
Beware though this is shaky s/w at best. I received it via email and the author, Christoph cautions against "rookie" :P use. But
he is looking for help in cleaning and updating it. ^-^

And it is great news Blackhalflife. Thank you!
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 25, 2009, 12:29:36 PM
A couple of early notes:
When you refresh the camera picture pleo resets
I've also had a little trouble with com4 not showing up sometimes when i connect
Thats not critisicm though you've done a great job big THANK YOU from me  :-* lol
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 25, 2009, 02:42:27 PM
But he is looking for help in cleaning and updating it. ^-^

thats one reason why we decide to make it open source ;) but of course we will still work on the code

edit:
When you refresh the camera picture pleo resets

yes he have to! you cant take a picture while pleo is moving, becaus the result isn't acceptable

I've also had a little trouble with com4 not showing up sometimes when i connect

is your pleo connected to this port? only used ports will be displayed, if you plug pleo after starting pleopatra tools you have to open and close the connection window, to refresh the list (at the moment)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 27, 2009, 02:15:29 PM
Ah cool yeah that works everytime, images have once or twice turned up with bars of colour thus requiring another refresh but this has only happened once or twice. I have experienced some problems with pleo continuing to move while connected im not sure if this is intentional but it puts alittle strain on the usb, is the software compatible with pleo running a static skit it's just this is an easy way to pick out a selected skit from normal behaviour and it hasn't worked for me. I hope i don't sound like i'm complaining i'm just providing feedback :D sowwi if i do :D
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Dadio on August 27, 2009, 02:50:56 PM
Good comments justbede. I've found the same sort of situation. I don't seem able to get Stoney to stay at rest when I need him to :(.
I do think movement or response to a minimal graze can cause unexpected problems :P. Mines come close but I've been quick enough so far. ^-^
Perhaps someone smarter than me can help??? Please ;) and Thank You  ;)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 27, 2009, 03:05:35 PM
Thank you  ;D im not sure but im guessing for better twitter results pleo must move around. I'm going to keep baxter in the sit position from now on.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Dadio on August 27, 2009, 05:16:11 PM
This may sound silly but I can't get Stoney to sit.
I've got the new OS but it just doesn't want to work >:(. Maybe its my arthritis but I'm having trouble. ???
Any hints? ^-^
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Pleo Power on August 27, 2009, 05:22:21 PM
did you have one hand on the top of his butt and one on his chin, at the same time? (and you may need to hold them there for a secand or two.)   that's how you tell them you want them to sit.  and if not then I'm not sure what would do it. ???
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Dadio on August 27, 2009, 08:10:52 PM
 ;He's working fine now!  ;) It took some tries but being handicapped with bad osteoarthritis
makes it tuff sometimes but your hint is a little different  ??? than what I was previously told.
He sits fine for twitter now>               
 %)
Thanks again! :)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 28, 2009, 06:28:55 AM
im not sure but im guessing for better twitter results pleo must move around

exactly, if you want your pleo to do nothing, just create a file named "pleo.urf" put it on a sd card and into pleo and choose this file in the personality window

or (if you can compile java files) change in de\dfki\pleopatra\application\tools\PleopatraTools.java line 82 "control.connect(port, true);" to "control.connect(port, false);"
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: NarcissaABlack on August 28, 2009, 09:30:24 AM
I can connect to Pleo,  I see his twitters but I can not connect to twitter.  Is there additional software or something else I need to do to get logged in?

edit: Nevermind, I found it.  Didn't see the update twitter status.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 28, 2009, 12:04:00 PM
Thank you BHL we all appreciate the great work!
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 28, 2009, 04:16:34 PM
Didn't see the update twitter status.

if you can explain your problem more precise i can perhaps help you.

@justbede thanks :)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: NarcissaABlack on August 28, 2009, 06:26:40 PM
Sorry: I had edited my post meant I found the button to post twitter comments.  I felt kinda a silly, but at least I now know how to get pleo to twitter.

I'm hoping in the full release that the camera will be fixed as currently the GUI always crashes upon trying to use the camera.  I also want to be able to enter in my pleo's identity, because right now it reads unknown.

But I want to say major thanks as my favorite feature is the twitter.  I love how it works, and can't wait to see it twitter in English.  I notice the program is just messages, and wonder if we will be able to customize the messages.  So not only does it twitter in our own languages, but also in the dilects of our region.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on August 29, 2009, 06:22:02 PM
I also want to be able to enter in my pleo's identity, because right now it reads unknown.

Unfortunality you must do it manual: go to folder ...\data\identity and copy one of the .pleop files an change the name in [id].pleop ([id]= id number of your pleo) open the file (e.g. with windows editor). Change the name in the first line to the name of your pleo and give in the second line the position of a photo of your pleo, now pleopatra tools will "know" your pleo.

I love how it works, and can't wait to see it twitter in English.  I notice the program is just messages, and wonder if we will be able to customize the messages.  So not only does it twitter in our own languages, but also in the dilects of our region.

just go to ../data/tweets, open the text files and change the twitter-messages to your own
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: NarcissaABlack on August 29, 2009, 08:18:27 PM
awesome thanks

Twitter is my favorite function.  I mean this little robot I got only a month ago seem to be able to do more than my father, it can twitter, currently in German, but soon English.  All I need is Pleo to help me clean and cook, and it'd be better than a human.

Does anyone know when pleos will be capable of simple housework?
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: mweed on August 29, 2009, 08:30:12 PM
Well, they can be trained to ride a Roomba to do your vacuuming, but so far they just seem too small to get the clothes out of the washer and into the dryer . . .
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: NarcissaABlack on August 29, 2009, 09:02:52 PM
Well I don't own a roomba.  I was so looking forward to seeing Pleo iron clothes, my least favorite chore.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: justbede on August 30, 2009, 10:18:37 PM
PDK's out so hopefully shouldn't be long ;)
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Dadio on August 30, 2009, 10:24:59 PM
Looking forward to see it available.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on September 01, 2009, 01:54:22 PM
Good news, Pleo can now also twitter in english: http://www.daniel-braun.com/pages/media_items/pleopatra-lernt-englisch36.php

I'm not a native speaker, so feel free to send tips or enhancements, to improve the quality.
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: NarcissaABlack on September 01, 2009, 02:16:11 PM
 ;D Awesome!! ;D

cool thanks, i've been working on translations but some of them I wasn't sure of.

Question: Is it possible for me to add more so Pleo will have more random comments to choose from?  Say it has two phrases, is there a limit or can I add a hundred if I so wanted.  I don't but I'm curious if I can add more so it sounds random.

Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: Blackhalflife on September 01, 2009, 02:18:14 PM
You can add as much as you want. if you add or correct sentences it would be very nice if you send them to me, so i can add them to the download

(every line marks a new tweet for pleopatra tools, one of the lines will be choosed (random) and published)

thanks
Title: Re: Pleopatra Tools
Post by: NarcissaABlack on September 01, 2009, 02:31:48 PM
thank you for the start, I only was able to translate a few lines on my own.
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