Author Topic: First Time Robot Build Help  (Read 1746 times)

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Offline uchiha191942Topic starter

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First Time Robot Build Help
« on: March 04, 2013, 03:18:43 PM »
Hey I am planning on building a simple robot that rolls around and scoops up stuff. This is my first project so I would like some information.
1. Should I use 2 motors to power the lifting action for the scoop or can I just use one to pull both sides?
2. Could I have a full list of parts that I need excluding the body of the actual robot.
3. What is a good high torque, low rpm motor for both lift and tracks?
4. Do I need two microcontrollers, one for lift, one for tracks?
5. Should I use two motors for both sides of the track, or could I use just one?
That's about it. Pic is a really bad idea of what the robot will be like. Any help is appreciated

Offline jwatte

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Re: First Time Robot Build Help
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2013, 10:46:52 PM »
1. One should be enough, assuming you have an idler bearing on the other side of the scoop mount.
2. Time + Money.
3. Pololu has several good metal gear motors with various power, torque, speed, weight, and cost trade-offs. It's impossible to know which is right for you, because we don't know how big your robot is, how heavy things it will lift, how fast it needs to roll, what batteries you will be using, etc.
4. One microcontroller can run all the motors, plus whatever sensors you will need. You will need separate motor controllers for each motor, though. (A k a "H-bridges")
5. You need one motor per side, so that you can steer by driving one track faster than the other.


Offline uchiha191942Topic starter

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Re: First Time Robot Build Help
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2013, 04:57:04 PM »
Okay, so I looked into it I here is what I have currently.
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1591 x6
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1110 x3
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/2191 x1
http://www.robotshop.com/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Lyn-169&lang=en-US x2
http://www.robotshop.com/productinfo.aspx?pc=RB-Lyn-170&lang=en-US x1

I have 6 motors. 2 for the scoop, which I will reduce the voltage for. Then I have 4 to power the tracks. Could I use 2 motor controllers to control all 4 motors and still be able to turn the robot properly? I can't find a 4 motor motor controller that can supply the amps I need.

Offline jwatte

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Re: First Time Robot Build Help
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2013, 10:31:21 PM »
Yes, you can use one controller for two motors in parallel, if the capacity of the controller is enough to drive both motors.

Also, there's a difference between "controller" and "driver." Pololu sells "motor controllers" (also known as "easy controllers" I think) which have both smarts and power handling in a single package. They also sell "high-current drivers" which are just power handling, with typically two or three inputs. You then apply the right input signals, and the controllers turn power to motors on/off appropriately. You have to generate those signals using your own microcontroller.

What I do for a high current rolling robot is to use two high-current controllers (one for each side); two motors per controller (each side has independent drive,) and an Atmega32u4 USB-connected microcontroller to drive those, and a small PC to do all the "smarts" (this is a pretty decent size robot.)

 


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