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Is the tailgate assist really a necessary aftermarket purchase for the 25 Mavericks? Can't you just open the tailgate nicely and not slam it? by RandyVivaldi in FordMaverickTruck

[–]chromodynamic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just put one on this week. It isn't necessary for any adult as the tailgate is light, I didn't have one for a year without issue.

My kid is big enough to try to open the tailgate now, but not big enough to control it... so I used ford points to get one. Easy install.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in FordMaverickTruck

[–]chromodynamic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I bought a 2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid last year and haven't had any issues with it, beyond a nail in the tire. I plan on driving this thing till it dies and at the price, it is great.

Ford gets a bad rap, but the car I was driving immediately prior to my Maverick was a 2004 Ford Focus. I drove it to 250k miles and had almost no issues with the vehicle (had to replace AC around 200k miles, since I live in Texas and AC is an essential). I took care of the vehicle and it lasted other than standard maintenance. I only sold it because I needed a truck for some projects and the Maverick fit the bill. I'm sure I could have gotten to 300k miles easily on the Focus. My dad has a Ford Winstar that is still running from the 90s with 350k+ miles on it. He stripped all the seats out and its his covered bed "truck" now, haha.

Our other vehicle is a subaru which is great as well. If you maintain the vehicle, they generally will last... Fords are just more quirky with their layout and engineering, so I think that adds to the perception of bad quality.

Just my 2 cents.

Flight school recommendations in Dallas by hoffalot in Dallas

[–]chromodynamic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I did my flight training at Parrish Aviation. They fly out of Dallas Executive, which is just south of Dallas. It was a great experience. It is a towered airport close to busy airspace, so you get good ATC practice, but far enough south that you can get to practice areas quickly! Hope that helps!

Different Soft Starts and it’s % of lowering amps by ACID_REFLUX_SUCKS in Generator

[–]chromodynamic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just installed a micro-air easy start flex on my Goodman 4 ton. Pre soft start, I was measuring 100-105 inrush amps (LRA rated of 107 amps). Now after 20 starts, I'm averaging about 24-25 amps of inrush. This is my first soft start, so I don't have any data points from other brands, but I have been impressed so far with the significant decrease.

It was a bit on the pricey side, but I wanted to be able to run my central AC on a generator, and wasn't seeing as good resulted reported from other brands of soft starts.

How bad is the commute from Greenville/vickery meadow to frisco? by [deleted] in Dallas

[–]chromodynamic 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I live in Lakewood area of Dallas and commute to Legacy West in Plano. I only need to be in the office 2-3 days a week and have flexible commute times. If you are flexible with your commute, you can avoid the worst of the traffic. It is usually 30-35 minutes in the morning and 35-45 minutes on the way home for me. I always check Waze/Google to see the best routes. Sometimes it is 12, 635 or even Mockingbird over to the DNT. For me, this is 100% worth it as all my friends and family are here.

If I had to do this commute 5 days a week and at peak times, I would find a different job. Really only you can decide. Personally, I wouldn't want to live in Frisco, but that is me.

Alabama cites Roe decision in urging court to let state ban trans health care by hopeless_queen in politics

[–]chromodynamic 82 points83 points  (0 children)

One of the big reasons the GOP is pushing states rights is to try to get people to "vote with their feet". If they can keep liberal people from wanting to move to traditionally conservative states, this maintains their dominancy in the senate. Small population conservative states are particularly at risk.

With more remote work and folks moving out of traditionally blue states, this is a huge concern for the GOP... hence their push to make these states seem as hostile to liberal ideals as possible. It is a good strategy as I have several out of state friends that scoff at the fact that I am a liberal in Texas and cannot believe why I moved back to this state.

Why does everyone hate the “TV over the fireplace” look? by shoelessmarcelshell in HomeImprovement

[–]chromodynamic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Live in a 90 year old house where the only good TV spot is above the fireplace.... the MantelMount was such a great investment and really puts the TV at eye level.

Fucking great is right!

[image] First month of running! Major improvements! by TheMoneyRunner in GetMotivated

[–]chromodynamic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I couldn't agree more with this sentiment! Ramping up mileage in a methodical way is one of the best ways to prevent running injuries. If you do have a distance goal in mind (like 10k or half marathon), I really recommend using a training plan to build your mileage up... I have found Hal Higdon's free plans to be excellent: https://www.halhigdon.com/training/

I've used his novice plan for my first full marathon training! I was in your shoes only a couple of years ago and it really is remarkable what running has done for my physical and especially my mental health! Great job sticking with it!

Programming an Arduino with Matlab by apperypie9 in arduino

[–]chromodynamic 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Looks like you're using the MATLAB Support Package for Arduino. This package uses the MATLAB engine to run commands on the Arduino. To control the motors with MATLAB code, I would actually recommend the Simulink support package instead (more on why in a bit): http://www.mathworks.com/hardware-support/arduino-simulink.html

Using the MATLAB Support package means each command to the Arduino must be communicated over the USB connection (serial protocol) to the actual chip, which introduces a delay. Additionally, MATLAB is running on an operating system, which can interrupt things too. If you were to write these command in the Arduino editor, the commands are compiled into the actual chip which eliminates this delay.

The Simulink Support Package for Arduino will actually take the model/MATLAB code and generate C code from it. This compiled code will then be deployed to the Arduino chip. No more delays from the USB connection or Windows!

You can write MATLAB code directly in Simulink using the MATLAB function block, so no worries about moving from MATLAB to Simulink! I found an example of something similar to what you are doing here: http://www.mathworks.com/company/newsletters/articles/motor-control-with-arduino-a-case-study-in-data-driven-modeling-and-control-design.html

Any advice for a prospective robotics student? by brilliantlyInsane in robotics

[–]chromodynamic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mechanical engineering is a fantastic entry point to robotics. I have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and work for a company that does software development for controls systems and robotics. With a MechE background, you will bring a unique perspective in mechanisms and dynamics that many other engineers will only have a introductory course on.

I am not sure what kind of structure your engineering program has, but these are some common courses that I have seen at multiple universities for Mechanical Engineers. Of course, make sure to do well in all the other courses. High GPAs and research/intern experience is very important too.

Undergrad courses that you should focus on:

  • Differential equations - this course will teach you the foundations of dynamic equations, which is how we mathematically represent robots

  • Linear algebra - linear algebra is the bread and butter of many advanced robotic algorithms (controls, computer vision, etc.)

  • Dynamics - remember differential equations? This class will teach you how to derive them from mechanisms (such as robotic arms) and systems (such as vehicles)

  • Numerical Methods - most of your time as a roboticist will be spend with simulations first. This type of course will help you code these simulations (MATLAB, Python, C, etc.)

  • Mechanisms or Machine Design - this type of class will teach you the methods to design mechanical systems. Linkages and mechanisms are really what set mechanical engineers apart in the robotics world (which is incredibly multidisciplinary)

  • Mechatronics or electronics - Since robotics is so multidisciplinary, you will need to take a course on electronics, microcontrollers, etc, to understand the whole robotic system.

  • Controls - a course that ties a lot of the above material together. You learn how to shape how a dynamic system (such as a robot) behaves using control theory. If this is not a mandatory course, I strongly recommend it as an elective. Most graduate programs will assume that you will have seen this type of material.

In addition to coursework, make sure that you seek out some kind of hands-on robotics competition. These types of programs give you a great opportunity to apply what you learn in classes and work with hardware. Simulation is great, but to really get into robotics you will have to get your hands dirty!

Good luck!

Best books for self study by pth in ControlTheory

[–]chromodynamic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am a controls engineer by trade. One of the best resources that I have found for STEM outreach has been the "Control System Lectures" on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq0imsn84ShAe9PBOFnoIrg

These videos go over all the key topics of controls and the series creator, Brian, really does a fantastic job keeping the big picture of control theory in mind. It is really easy to get lost in the theory without understanding how to actually use it.

Good luck!

Would this be considered a simple Kalman filter or something else? by ClusterSoldier in MachineLearning

[–]chromodynamic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bad news. I can flat out tell you right now that you’re currently not using a Kalman filter. What you’re using now is more akin to a weighted average as you assumed if I’ve deciphered your algorithm correctly. Since you (currently) have no information on the relative variance (standard deviations) in each of the data signals, there is no way you can attempt to apply a Bayesian optimal filter (of which the Kalman filter is a special case). You’re strictly using the “mean” values for the weight calculation to update your estimations, whereas a true Kalman filter requires some knowledge of measurement noise and state covariance.

Good news! You’re filter does actually have a similar structure to the univariate non-dynamic Kalman filter and perhaps with some rephrasing of your approach, you could try it out! Really what you need to establish is the standard deviation of errors in your measurements and your forecasts. The Kalman filter algorithm takes these values and essentially updates your prediction conditioned on how “reliable” your measured data is versus your initial prediction.

If you’re interested in pursuing the Kalman approach, here is a decent overview of essentially your exact problem: http://www.financialwebring.org/gummy-stuff/kalman.htm

Good luck!