[Robotgroup] table top robot platform

[Don Colbath]

I like the flamingo idea.  I'm thinking that with all the wireless stuff 
available these days that a table top or a smallish (no car battery) bot 
could be made with brains off board.  Something
a bit bigger than BOE bot for sensors and motion but the brains in the 
laptop. Sort of an update of the old platform with Linux control and 
joystick that , I think, Glenn did.  One of those little waist high 
segway like platforms might do well for this app.   One thing I would 
like to see is one that would drive around a room and measure distance 
with various sensors.  Turn him loose on your new house and have him 
draw up the floor plan. Saves many hours with a tape measure.  Just 
thinkin....

Don

P.S. I won't be there this week.   Vegas baby!!!
vkonradi at swbell.net wrote:

>Some observations based on experience of building some simple platforms:
>
>Small tabletop size is handy, but can't accomplish anything useful.  Sumo 
>is fun.
>
>Big enough to carry a laptop is nice, but heavy is not.  I'd avoid steel 
>and car batteries for the next one.
>
>2-wheel differential drive is handy, efficient, and computationally 
>simple.  The idler wheel(s) required (unless balancing) limit operation to 
>flat bump-free terrain.
>
>2-wheel balancing e.g. Segway is entirely within available compute 
>power.  It does require sensors, probably balance gyro and wheel encoders 
>at a minimum.  But a very worthwhile goal.  Not something I have 
>implemented personally but I would like to.
>
>A balancing robot with an arm, a gripper, and a camera on the 
>gripper.  Something like a wheeled flamingo - could open the fridge and 
>retrieve a beverage.  Now that's something useful for instance.
>
>I will try to make it to the meeting.
>
>At 09:35 PM 1/9/2007, you wrote:
>  
>
>>Might be an interesting project. I built two mini-sumos and a ring about 2 
>>years back, but no one else wanted to build one. They are a compact size 
>>to build and not too pricey. You can get kits for ~$100 for the 4x4x4 inch 
>>mini-sumos, I believe. Might open up some table-top competitions like the 
>>Dallas group holds. A modified mini-sumo could do line following, 
>>wall-hugging, sumo, and other low-end feats.
>>
>>Paul
>>
>>----- Original Message ----
>>From: Gray Mack <gray_mack at yahoo.com>
>>To: Austin Robotgroup Mailing List <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
>>Sent: Tuesday, January 9, 2007 7:01:58 PM
>>Subject: [Robotgroup] table top robot platform
>>
>>Is there any interest in committee designing a table top robot platform 
>>within the robot group made from simple or off the shelf components?
>>Granted we would have some variances but a basic similarity could enable 
>>us to provide support/quantity buys to members and other people interested.
>>This would be something you could build yourself with common tools like a 
>>hand saw and drill but may require PCB board etch and solder skills.
>>So we could have a how-to or instruct-able that trees out at some 
>>variances and some base code library. (As few variances as possible so we 
>>have a common platform to build upon) Then see where people take it.
>>Some questions for those interested-
>>Is this worth doing?
>>What would be the desired price point over which you would not build it or 
>>you would rather buy a bot or kit?
>>How many hours would you be willing to spend building it to have some 
>>basic functionality?
>>What size, say 3.9 x 3.9 inch (mini sumo size) or 5x8 inch?
>>For drive train, servo motors or stepper motors best or don't care?
>>For construction: Carefully crafted, built, and bolted or inexpensive hot 
>>glue and zip ties?
>>What programming Language- Parallax basic, other basic, C, .net, java, 
>>Something else, or willing to learn any?
>>What things are necessary in the base platform-light sensor,distance 
>>tracking,remote control,bumper sensing, object sensing?
>>What things might you want to add on your own once the platform is done?
>>Thanks for your input here or verbally at the next meeting.
>>-Gray
>>
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