Society of Robots - Robot Forum

General Misc => Misc => Topic started by: jshalcott on March 30, 2007, 04:31:30 PM

Title: microcontroller
Post by: jshalcott on March 30, 2007, 04:31:30 PM
ok, i'm confused. my robot is going r/c controlled, not by itself. so do i need a microcontroller.
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: dunk on March 30, 2007, 06:57:19 PM
nope.
you are making a radio controlled vehicle so there is probably no need for a microcontroller.

dunk.
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: JesseWelling on March 30, 2007, 07:18:16 PM
That could depend....does he want a 3 wheel omni bot with x and y inputs? You could do this with pure analog electornics but I don't think it would be fun.

Describe the operation and design of your robot and then we may know more.

Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: jshalcott on March 31, 2007, 12:05:11 AM
this is my first robot so i'm keeping it simple with the 2 wheel design using differental steering
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: JesseWelling on March 31, 2007, 02:29:23 AM
you should be fine without a microcontroller.

Just use a reciever and 2 modifited servos.
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: Tsukubadaisei on April 02, 2007, 02:13:29 AM
I cant get it. If you are going to use differential steering, then why don't you use 4 wheels? Usually people choose 2 wheels + caster combination because by doing so you don't need to worry about differential steering. If you place the 4 wheels, the 2 motors and the differential gear set with skill it will not only improve your control while steering but it will make your "robot" look better.
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: ed1380 on April 02, 2007, 08:28:33 AM
More motors=more power usage, highers costs, etc
But if he wants to he could easily later add the other 2 motors
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: jshalcott on April 03, 2007, 09:28:40 PM
if i were going to go with the 4 wheel design, but still with differental steering. Could I just hook up a gear to the motor and and a gear on the back wheel, plus on the end of the wheel shaft have a sprocket and a chain that connects the front tire.
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: ed1380 on April 03, 2007, 10:23:35 PM
Something like this with a longer wheel base would work http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_asme.shtml
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: Admin on April 16, 2007, 01:44:49 PM
Quote
If you are going to use differential steering, then why don't you use 4 wheels?
a disadvantage would be much higher turning friction :P
tank steering is one step even further, with yet even higher turning friction losses . . .
Title: Re: microcontroller
Post by: Ro-Bot-X on May 18, 2007, 11:54:11 PM
I have built many drive train styles using Lego. It all depends on what kind of surface you are going to drive the robot. The car style robot (one motor to power the wheels and another to steer) is not very maneuverable sometimes. And the differential steering may take many forms:
- tank treads
- 4 wheels like a BobCat
- 2 wheels plus one or 2 casters
The differential steering is a lot faster in maneuvering but needs skills to do it right.
Here are some samples:
DiffSteeringCar
(http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4168/dsc00045nm2.th.jpg) (http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00045nm2.jpg)
MiniSumoRobots
(http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7650/aliensvs8x8sq2.th.jpg) (http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aliensvs8x8sq2.jpg)