First Test Run of my Robot

[gary_ramsgate]

Here's the first test run of my robot.
It only runs in a straight line and doesn't have any sensors yet.

Robots First Movement

I've documented everything so far and have included a link to a pdf file.

http://www.garyandrowena.plus.com/Data%20Sheets/robot7.pdf

[SeagullOne]

Looks like a cool robot. Appears you've put a lot of work into this project thus far.

Send us another video when the sensors are operational.

What kind of sensors are you planning to use for the "heat" detection for living beings? PIR? Other?

Do you have any ideas yet for how the "navigation" programming will be implemented?

[Joker94]

Brilliant jobb so far.

can not wait to see it with the sensors intergrated

[gary_ramsgate]

I will first try using one or more of the sharp IR range finders.

I'm not sure what heat detector I will use yet.  My plan is to have the head of the robot rotate and tilt with an IR detector on one side and the heat detector on the other (like eyes) .  I'm not sure how practical this will be, but it will be interesting finding out.

I haven't given navigation much thought yet.  I think I will start by just enabling the robot to make certain maneuvers, such as : Forward, reverse,  right turn etc.  This is what I am currently working on. 

[SeagullOne]

That's what I did with my robot NINA: giving the robot round-about maneuverability I mean.

I'm also planning on having NINA track living beings using PIR sensors. The plan I'm going with is to have two PIR sensors hooked into ADC's on a microcontroller: one PIR sensor on the left and one on the right of a "head" module. A sharp IR sensor will be between these sensors. So if someone walks to the left, the left PIR sensor will pick up more readings and the robot moves its head to the left. Vise-versa with the right PIR sensor. The IR range finder is good for finding out how close the living being is.

I haven't actually tried this yet, but this is my plan. Maybe you can try a similar approach?

[gary_ramsgate]

I like your idea for the layout of the sensors.  It seems like something that could work.
My plan is to interface my sensors via the parallel port of the motherboard.  I plan to use a MAX187 12 bit AtoD and have the various analogue inputs conditioned and then multiplexed into the AtoD.  It's all experimental, so hopefully it will work.

[radhoo]

the platform looks good, and I like the big battery - good thing your robot can carry it.

a few things I'd like to point out:
- don't use LPT1 . some time ago it was my first approach since it is so easy to connect things to the lpt1, but is it very limited. Instead learn about microcontrollers, and do a little board with a simple atmega8 that would handle the sensors. It is very easy trust me (if you did that platform learning about MCU's will be a joke). Then the atmega8 can communicate with the motherboard via a serial port. You are no longer limited to 8 lpt1 pins and working with sensors is easy.
- you might want to use bigger wheels, the motors will have a bigger load, but it will be able to walk over small obstacles.
- for sensors you can use: DS18S20 digital temperature sensor, PIR sensors detecting motion reliably, ultrasonic sensors for distance (expensive, but you can build your Own)
- if you decide to use a MCU, you'll be able to hook-up a GPS module (instead of connecting it to the Motherboard).

Looking forward to your next videos.  good luck

[kpmcgurk]

wow, I love the fact that you put in all of the time to make the documentation on it!!! I am pretty sure that from here it would be quite easy to translate it into a tutorial! Great quality robot if you ask me!!

[MangoBot]

this looks liek a nice robot, cant wait for more info