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Hobby Arm
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About Terrance Fidler
And click here for: Other projects I'm interested In
Education:

BEng in Computer Engineering from the University of Victoria

Robotics & Automation Technologist from BCIT


Hobbies:
Scuba diving, camping and hiking.

Past Hobbies:
Rock collecting, and hatching amphibian eggs.

Future Hobbies:
Nature photography for both above and below the oceans.
 		Terrance decided to pursue computer engineering after he realized that engineers were not working on the projects that he considered important.
Originally, he was interested in the collection and processing of garbage, but over time that interest has become more focused on the need for the reduction of the poisons used in farming. These poisons not only kill pests, who become resistant to them, but kill beneficial organisms and very likely cause and/or promote a lot of the cancers now appearing.
So, Terrance took it upon himself to learn about robotics. He began with a correspondence course in Industrial Electronics & Robotics from the National Radio Institute. Halfway through the course he realized that he enjoyed it and applied to pursue a technology diploma in Robotics & Automation from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to become a Robotics & Automation Technologist. 

After completing the technology diplomas Terrance realized that he might need to make more money than the diplomas would allow him to make. So, he transferred to the University of Victoria to take Computer Engineering.  If he had to keep his day job he may as well  make more money to help pay for his own research in robotics.

Highlights:

Spring of 1998 completed first electrical robot leg with help from another student as part of our final project for the Robotics & Automation diploma at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. The lesson we learned was that it would be better to use hydraulics so that only one motor is needed, and thus reduce the number of motors that need power. This would also allow for most of the weight to be located at the center of the robot, and potentially make the legs lighter and easier to move.

 In 2002 Terrance participated in an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle competition in which he worked on image analysis algorithms and software. He developed his own computer vision routines. Unfortunately, the main program for the AUV was never completed in time so Terrance's code was never tested outside of the lab.

In the summer of 2003, Terrance worked on a project (with the help of another student) to use computer vision to experiment with the techniques that would allow the development of algorithms to detect & identify a couple of insects. They looked specifically for one type of fake caterpillar and one type of fake bumble bee.  They were simple algorithms but at least showed that the approach was feasible, and thus turned out to be a good start in experimenting with algorithms to look for insects.

In the fall of 2003 Terrance worked on edge detection algorithms for color images. Future projects will be for the development of recognizing certain objects.

In 2004 Terrance worked on farm robot designs and a potential product [The Hobby Arm] to bring in financial resources to support the farm robot research.

Presently trying to raise funds for parts for the robot project [and photography equipment] and to higher college, university and/or trade students to work on the project. With Terrance acting as the project manager and keeping his present job.

Other projects I'm interested in:
1. Bird-nest-making tree-burrowing-machine.
- It would be able to climb up a tree, or bbe placed at the correct height, and then burrow into the tree creating a cavity for birds to nest in the tree trunk. The size of the nest/hole would need to be based on the diameter of the tree, and the bird it is hopefully being made for.
2. Computer controlled cameras for nature photography.
- Basically cameras that would only be trigggered when certain types of animals came into view.
3. Efficient herbicide sprayer/applicator.
- Another possible strategy: instead of makking one farm 100% green, using the farm robots, one could instead make a much better toxin sprayer/applicator that could be used to make "30" farms 90% more efficient in their use of toxins. Which is equivalent to making 27 of 30 farms 100% green. But instead of building a robot/system to do just that, a sprayer could be developed to be used on existing farmers machines. Thus making cleaning up the environment happen far sooner and reduce the toxin levels in our foods. And poison less birds, fish,... Only problem is the profit margin may not be great enough for some people to support this kind of project. Just like the farm robots.
4. Health related toys for pets
- To encourage pets to be more active, and less bored.
5. Remotely Operated Pond Explorer
- For photography in ponds and lakes. Also potentially for monitoring bird nests.
6. Robots for processing garbage so that less ends up in landfills.
7. Robotic toys
- During our development of robots I'd likee to keep in mind that some of the technology we develop might have applications for toys. Thus allowing us to generate additional income for farm robot research.

Some of my favourite books:
(1)When Elephants Weep
by Jeffrey M. Masson & Susan McCarthy

Wow! This book really makes one re-think the whole issue of anthropomorphism. Almost any pet lover could tell you that pets experience real emotions and so-called professionals scientists often have an ulterior motive to deny that dogs,... have real emotions.
(2)The Sex Life of Flowers
by Bastiaan Meeuse & Sean Morris

This book is another example of "the truth being stranger than fiction." Few people realize how complex the lives of flowers and their pollinators are.
(3)Crossing the Chasm
by Geoffry Moore

This book points out the difficulty faced by a new product when traversing the barriers of moving into the next profitable buyers group. The problem lays in appealing to the various groups; Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority and Laggards. Each potential customer group must be appealed to and only after the previous group has been dealt with appropriately.


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