Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Mechanics and Construction => Mechanics and Construction => Topic started by: mmnouman on February 03, 2013, 04:08:16 AM

Title: Need help to construct Small inspection vehicle
Post by: mmnouman on February 03, 2013, 04:08:16 AM
Hi,

I want to build a small Remote control inspection vehicle that can move around obstacles and provide a visual photage to operator using wireless system.
It can also pick and drop small object/dowel etc.

Please help how can I contruct such vehicle.
Title: Re: Need help to construct Small inspection vehicle
Post by: MrWizard on February 03, 2013, 04:26:17 AM
Do you have more details of your plan ? This rough sketch is to open for suggestions..

Size, power, what to pickup, environment...etc etc
Title: Re: Need help to construct Small inspection vehicle
Post by: mmnouman on February 03, 2013, 04:44:31 AM
Vehicle Requirements
1. The vehicle must be powered by rechargeable batteries.
2. The device must be controlled through a wireless transmitter/receiver radio link. The following requirements pertain specifically to the device controller:
A radio transmitter may have its own batteries rechargeable or non- rechargeable.
The transmitter/receiver radio link may be any commercially available model controller.
During the trial, the device must be completely controlled via the radio link no other contact, interaction or influence is permitted.
One team member must control the device throughout the trial.
All radio controllers will be impounded and shut off during the competition, except during the team’s run.
The operator will be behind a protected barrier in an operator area without a direct visual view of the course. The barrier will be a curtain to separate the operator from the course.
A camera system will be employed to provide the only visual recognition of the course
for the operator.
3. All devices must have a readily accessible and clearly labeled master shut-off switch.

There are five tasks to be accomplished.
1. Navigate around simulated obstacles.
2. Inspect the area and locate the digital pressure gage and report the reading.
3. Go to a simulated control panel and push a button that initiates a simulated cooling pump. See drawing for location. The simulated button will be a 25-mm
red button on a white 100-mm by 100-mm white background. The button will be
vertically oriented so it can be actuated with a horizontal push.
4. Pick up a simulated remote radiation sensor and return the sensor to home. The
simulated sensor is made from 25.4-mm diameter by 50.8-mm high cylindrical
wooden dowel. The 50.8-mm dimension will be parallel to the vertical direction.
5. Drop off a simulated remote radiation sensor at a specified location. See drawing
for location. The simulated sensor is made from 25.4-mm diameter by 50.8-mm
high cylindrical wooden dowel. The 50.8-mm dimension will be parallel to the
vertical direction.

Title: Re: Need help to construct Small inspection vehicle
Post by: waltr on February 03, 2013, 05:59:53 PM
Did you do a search of the forums here and read, read, read????
There have been a number of projects like this posted and many more in which solves part of your requirements.
Did you read about the remote snow plowing robot?
Just change the plow with a gripper.

Which school competition is this for?
Title: Re: Need help to construct Small inspection vehicle
Post by: mmnouman on February 05, 2013, 08:36:00 AM
Its student design competition.

I am totally new to robotics.........I need guidance to make robotic arm or claw that can pick and drop dowel.
Title: Re: Need help to construct Small inspection vehicle
Post by: jwatte on February 05, 2013, 01:46:13 PM
I would look at buying as much as possible off the shelf.
I would start with a 1:8 or 1:5 scale remote control "monster truck" or "rock crawler" type car.
Then I would add a robotic gripper/arm.
Then I would add a wireless webcam, if that's not provided by the competition (it's unclear from the rules.)
I would use a multi-channel transmitter, rather than the two- or three-channel one that comes with a car by default.

Lift off the plastic chassis on the car, and drill some holes to mount the gripper/claw and camera.
Add some electronics to drive the gripper/claw with the extra channels. This could be driving the servos directly (somewhat hard to control) or using an Arduino, Axon, or other microcontroller that reads the remote control, translates to claw movements, and then controls the servos.

Example truck:
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_44_1257_2612/products_id/140126/n/HPI-Wheely-King-4x4-RTR-w-Bounty-Hunter-Body (http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_44_1257_2612/products_id/140126/n/HPI-Wheely-King-4x4-RTR-w-Bounty-Hunter-Body)

Example arm:
http://www.trossenrobotics.com/p/PhantomX-Pincher-Robot-Arm.aspx (http://www.trossenrobotics.com/p/PhantomX-Pincher-Robot-Arm.aspx) (note: uses serial communications, not servo-type PWM)

Example transmitter/receiver:
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/61_433/products_id/23777/n/Futaba-7C-24GHz-FASST-Helicopter-Radio-System-w-R617FS-Receiver (http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/61_433/products_id/23777/n/Futaba-7C-24GHz-FASST-Helicopter-Radio-System-w-R617FS-Receiver)