Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Mechanics and Construction => Mechanics and Construction => Topic started by: dell341 on February 27, 2013, 09:03:37 PM

Title: Tips on building Rover/Robot
Post by: dell341 on February 27, 2013, 09:03:37 PM
Hello, I am new here and this is my first post. I am part of a club that wants to build a rover and planning starts tomorrow. We want to build a rover that is roughly 20-25 inches in length and width. We want it to be controlled either through a smartphone, a laptop or both. So far, for the actual brains of the robot, I have looked at Arduino and Raspberry Pi. I have no experience building a robot before, I would like some pointers on what we would need.

Using a kit or building from scratch are both options. I would just like some basic information from people with more experience than me or anyone in our group. And I am a college freshman by the way, if that affects your advice. Thank you in advance.
Title: Re: Tips on building Rover/Robot
Post by: jwatte on February 27, 2013, 11:03:20 PM
What's your budget?
Indoors or outdoors?
What should it actually DO? Robomagellan?
Title: Re: Tips on building Rover/Robot
Post by: dell341 on February 28, 2013, 12:59:17 AM
What's your budget?
Indoors or outdoors?
What should it actually DO? Robomagellan?

Well, our budget is $1000, preferably outdoors. Right now we just want to be able to control it remotely and have it move around. And later on, expand more by adding different parts like a webcam. Would it be easier to just use a kit, and if so what would you recommend?
Title: Re: Tips on building Rover/Robot
Post by: jwatte on February 28, 2013, 09:32:22 AM
A pretty decent kit would be the dagu wild thumper, four or six wheels. Add a cheap RC radio and motor controllers with proper channel mixing. Plus a LiPo battery. You can get the controllers and kit from for example pololu, and the radio from amainhobbies. Other places to check out include sparkfun, hobby king, hobbypartz, and of course trossen (although they aren't so much in the rover business yet.)

Main draw backs to the thumper:
Tank steering rather than articulating wheel joints.
No encoders on the motors or wheels (doesn't mater as much for manual control, but precision automation requires it.)
Title: Re: Tips on building Rover/Robot
Post by: dell341 on February 28, 2013, 10:35:09 AM
Dude, Thank you so much. This will definitely help us out. I'll try to come back with more info an questions if possible.