[chbot] Robotics Group meeting, 5 Idris Rd, 630pm, Mon 17 Feb 2025 report

[Mark Atherton]

Hello everyone,

Good turnout with 24 attendees, and lots of huddles-of tech-talk. $51 + 
change (in gold, and flat-money) collected and transferred into the 
robotics loose-change jar (for later banking).

All sales from the trading table should go into the brown box on the 
wall, and are directly for the benefit of our host club, Christchurch 
Amateur Radio Club, NZART Branch 05.

Equipment donations are welcome for the trading table, but no CRT based 
product, printers, toner or items that are likely to be a disposal burden.

With thanks on behalf of the group,

Mark Atherton

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Superb turn out of donated items this evening, including an i3 laptop 
which will be auctioned for the benefit of our host club.

Mark talked about the stunningly simple and clever bi-directional N-CH 
FET level shifter, a pair of which can be used to connect 3.3V and 5V 
I2C devices.

He also talked about the new generation of LEP (laser powered) 
flashlights which have a very well collimated beam.

Robin Gilks talked about his adventures connecting the Power Take Off of 
his tractor via a shaky gizmo to help remove fruit from a walnut tree.

Andrew gave us an update on his low cost SSB generation project.

Rudy talked about hacking the UV-K5 radio, and various off the shelf 
replacement software.

Andy gave us an update on his electric-forklift project, amongst other 
things.

James talked about design issues associated with a roller assembly.

Interesting stuff on YouTube:

Making a Super Burning LASER - Long Range Laser Cutter. Complete with 
user adjustable optics. youtube.com/watch?v=oJsuaxOyGAg

The omni-directional Ball-wheeled Bike youtube.com/watch?v=ZVFB2g25OkM

The 4,000-Joule Exploding Wire Machine youtube.com/watch?v=agwKNLoU6g8