Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 02:38 pm
I'm in Portland for the Open Source Bridge conference until Friday. My presentation is tomorrow, and I should really finish the slides. But I spent the weekend writing sample SIFT matching and object classifier applications, so the hard part is done. (I'll post the slides and links to the code once it's all done.)

I also got a complete test frame for the sunglasses cut out of wood. Unfortunately, they cracked as I was drilling the gear mounts on them. (Normally, I would drill first, but I wanted to start getting experience with the new jeweler's saw.) So, I'm going to give up on the wood frame idea. They're just too fragile, and I don't want them breaking on the playa.



(Oh god, I do so hate my cellphone camera.)

I also got the electronics completely working, with the photoresistor integrated and everything tested with the new miniature servo I ordered. Next step: a real metal frame, once I have access to my drillpress again next week.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 09:47 pm (UTC)
It occurs to me that, in order for them to be properly steampunk, they need to be goggles.

Possibly *helpful* on the playa...
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 10:14 pm (UTC)
Pretty!

So, if I may ask, what is the current deal with your degree plans?
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 10:59 pm (UTC)
What kind of wood are you using? With the proper wood, the saw would break before your project does.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 11:03 pm (UTC)
This was oak. But it broke when I was drilling, not when I was sawing. I'd just as rather do it in metal anyway. Wood was fine for prototyping, but not quite the look I was going for.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 11:17 pm (UTC)
Ah. I thought you were going to go with brass, but figured that wood can be steampunk as well. Looking forward to the final product.
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 11:43 pm (UTC)
Oak can be snappy. Redwood's a lot stickier. You could also soak the wood in polyethylene glycol or once you've gotten the form cut but before you drill dip it in epoxy and let it dry.
Thursday, June 18th, 2009 03:36 am (UTC)
Yay for next steps! Boo for the wood cracking.
Friday, June 19th, 2009 05:01 am (UTC)
do you plan to rotate the lenses (which filter light according to polarization), as a way of adjusting contrast?
Friday, June 19th, 2009 05:09 am (UTC)
Yup! I have electronics to drive a servo to do the turning, with a light sensor so it can automatically darken the glasses in brighter light.
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 06:44 pm (UTC)
Graduate... sometime this fall? I should be working on my thesis right now.
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 06:50 pm (UTC)
...and this is the Master's? (I mean, you started about the same time I did, right?)
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 06:55 pm (UTC)
Yeah, a Master's. And then I'm done! I need to go work on random different projects again, this focusing on one thing for month after month does not suit me. And machine oil. I need more machine oil in my life.